Academic Programs

International Students

Drexel offers international students a variety of master's and doctoral programs through 12 colleges and schools.

Gwenaëlle Proust, a 29-year-old Materials Science and Engineering PhD candidate from France, chose to pursue both parts of her graduate education at Drexel. "I researched a number of American and English universities online," she says, "and Drexel had a curriculum I really liked."

Master's Programs

A master's degree significantly increases your chances for higher pay and advancement in your chosen field. Earning a master's degree at Drexel typically requires two years of full-time study (usually 45 credits) and a thesis.

Doctoral Programs

If your career plans include teaching at the university level, a doctorate is a must. Earning a PhD at Drexel usually requires two years of full-time study (typically 90 credits, including the 45 credits earned at the master's level) and one to four years of original research culminating in a dissertation and oral defense before a board of examiners.

Faculty

Drexel's teaching staff includes more than 1,200 educators, with 653 full-time teaching faculty and 655 adjunct faculty (many of whom are working professionals who teach in their areas of expertise). The ratio of students to full-time faculty varies by program, but the average for the university as a whole is about 1 to 10. Nearly all full-time faculty members hold the highest possible degree in their field (usually the PhD), and many were once international students themselves.

The professors at Drexel strive to inspire their students while maintaining strict professional standards and their own demanding research schedules. "The faculty have high expectations of the students," says Ramon Toledo, a 50-year-old Information Science and Technology PhD candidate from the Philippines. "They will make you work, but they will really help you focus on earning your degree."

The Colleges and Schools of Drexel University

For more information about specific programs and the research interests of individual professors, please select a college or school below.

Academic Calendar

The academic year at Drexel is based on the quarter system — four terms of approximately 12 weeks each. View Drexel's academic calendars.