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Pre-College Programs

It’s never too soon to start thinking about your future.

Below you can find information about all of the Westphal College’s summer educational opportunities for high school students.

Dates for summer 2025 coming soon

Drexel Summer Dance Program (In Person)

This one-week non-residential program is designed to allow students the opportunity to explore the intersections of technique, choreographic process, and dance as a healing art. Each day will consist of two technique classes, a seminar on careers in dance, choreographic process, and choreographic work time. Students enrolled in the Drexel University Summer Dance Intensive will have the opportunity to investigate dance as a college student, while enjoying the benefits of being in Philadelphia. This ne-week intensive will allow the workshop participant to understand the intersections of technique, creative process, and dance as a healing art.

Eligibility: We welcome mature high school students, 14‑18 years old.

More information on Drexel Summer Dance Program

Discovering Architecture
July 7-July 20, 2024 (Residential or Commuter - In Person)

The Discovering Architecture summer virtual program will include a combination of workshops, studio work and tutorials in 2D and 3D software, team building with cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a series of evening enrichment lectures and activities. You'll experience what it's like to study architecture in college. You'll attend classes taught online by Drexel architecture faculty in virtual studios, just like Drexel architecture students. You’ll hear from notable speakers and try your hand at architecture while working closely with an instructor. Our program will introduce you to this fascinating profession while helping to build your portfolio.  The program culminates with the students presenting their projects to professional jurors followed by a family Gallery Exhibition of work.

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors that are at least 16 years old (Those that are not sixteen are possible with a strong recommendation letter from a teacher).

More information on Discovering Architecture

Discovering Interior Design

The Discovering Interior Design summer virtual program will include a combination of workshops, studio work and tutorials in 2D and 3D software, team building with cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a series of evening enrichment lectures and activities. You'll experience what it's like to study interior design in college. You'll attend classes taught on-line by Drexel Interior Design faculty in studios, just like Drexel interior design students. You'll attend lectures by distinguished speakers and try your hand at interior design while working closely with an instructor. Our program will introduce you to this fascinating profession while helping to build your portfolio. The program culminates with the students presenting their projects to professional jurors followed by a family Gallery Exhibition of work.

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors that are at least 16 years old (Those that are not sixteen are possible with a strong recommendation letter from a teacher).

More information on Discovering Interior Design

Exploring Graphic Design

An exceptional one-week program in graphic design taught by award-winning faculty, and open to high school students interested in learning about the creative world of visual communications. Through hands-on,  studio-based instruction, students will work on projects that explore design process, participate in critiques and discussion and create portfolio-ready work. These offerings will be supplemented by virtual studio tours and online field trips, speakers and other activities activities designed to give students an  introduction to the design experience and to get a sense of career opportunities in graphic design.

Eligibility: We welcome motivated high school students who are at least 16 years of age and who have completed their sophomore or junior years of high school by the start of the program.

More information on Exploring Graphic Design

Discovering Fashion Design

Fashion Design is a creative process that merges self-expression with problem-solving. With a focus on research, sustainability, craft, and technology, this one-week program will introduce you to a carefully curated curriculum consisting of lectures, demonstrations, studio work, guest speakers, and field trips to the local design communities within Philadelphia. You will develop an understanding of the creative process through lectures and hands-on studio classes. The classes focus on innovative projects to expand your portfolio with fashion illustration, technical sketching, draping, print design, natural silk dyeing, and digital applications for machine knitting and CLO 3D design. Lectures and field trips focus on sustainable approaches to fashion design. This one-week residential opportunity will immerse you in the fashion world while offering you an actual preview of our studio fashion design courses.

Eligibility: We welcome motivated high school students who are at least 16 years of age and who have completed their sophomore or junior years of high school by the start of the program.

More information on Fashion Design Reimagined

Industrial Design & Making (Commuter Program - In-person)

Come explore the areas of Industrial Design and Making at Drexel University. This two-week in-person commuter workshop will expose you to a range of possibilities within digital design including 3D printing, 3D modeling, laser cutting and CNC routing. You will also explore the essentials of prototyping using basic electronics and Arduino microprocessors. You will attend classes taught by Drexel faculty members in our Hybrid Making Lab and Product Design’s Maker Space. In addition, while working closely with an instructor, you will try your hand at designing your own prototypes and models. If you are an innovator who has considered industrial design, product design, or product development ­ this program is for you! It will provide you with hands on experiences that allow you to bring your own ideas and designs to life.

Eligibility: We welcome motivated high school students, 16–18 years old (must have completed the 10th grade).

More information on Industrial Design & Making

Merchandising: Re-imagining the Business of Fashion (Virtual)

For one exciting week, explore the field of fashion merchandising, meet industry professionals, and unpack how the business of fashion is evolving. You will learn about the complex system which is shifting towards a more sustainable model that is cleaner for the planet and people, more inclusive, equitable and regenerative. Through virtual industry tours, speakers and activities, this unique opportunity will immerse participants in the world of fashion. Best of all, students will get to know Drexel and the Westphal College experience.

Eligibility: We welcome motivated high school students who are at least 16 years of age and who have completed their sophomore or junior years of high school by the start of the program. 

Music Industry

Recorded music is more than the performer and performance. It is the intersection of business and technology. Behind every artist is a team of professionals recording and mixing sound, marketing and promoting the artist to consumers and media, publishers working to expand the music’s reach through other entertainment outlets, and dozens more individuals crafting virtually every aspect of what will be seen and heard. Drexel’s Music Industry summer program is an intensive one-week program for high school students who are serious about acquiring a head start on understanding the basics and the nuances of this incredibly competitive and energetic industry. Drexel’s faculty of music industry professionals teach the program and draw course work from the undergraduate curriculum that addresses music recording, production, marketing, management, publishing and more. Through practical classroom lectures and hands-on experience, students are ensured valuable insight into this one-of-a-kind program. All students will receive free temporary copies of Logic, Ableton, and Pro Tools for the week of the course.

Eligibility: We welcome motivated high school students who are at least 16 years of age and who have completed their sophomore or junior years of high school by the start of the program.

More information on Music Industry

Photography

The one-week residential photography workshop will be an intensive exploration of the many facets that make up photography in the 21st century. We will cover all main areas of the medium with one- to two-day intensive lessons. We will begin in the studio covering the workflow of lighting both still life and portraits. Then we will move into our state-of-the-art digital labs, where we will learn how to harness the full power of Photoshop and make large prints from the prior two days in the studio. Finally, we will spend two days in the darkroom exploring the alchemy that makes traditional photography such a magical process. We will also go on a field trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to visit their Prints and Photographs collections, where you will see, firsthand, prints made by the masters of the medium. Finally, the workshop will culminate with an exhibition of the work produced by the students, which parents and the public will be invited to attend to view.

Eligibility: We welcome high school students who are at least 16 years of age who have completed their sophomore or junior year by July, prior to the start of the program. The program is limited to 14 students.