About Our College

Experience the power of the arts and sciences

David Brown, Dean, Drexel University College of Arts and Sciences — *Dean David S. Brown, PhD*

With all of the challenges facing modern society, the demand for a multi-faceted curriculum and an approach to problem solving that seamlessly integrates the arts and sciences has never been more important. This integration is not just desired by future employers, it is the best and most apparent way forward as we work to bring new solutions to the world’s most complex problems.

P.I.E., supported by faculty members, and relevant to the challenges facing our students today, is the philosophical credo of The College of Arts and Sciences, and encompasses the way in which our community approaches academic studies, research and future careers:

Practical
Interdisciplinary
Experiential

The practical, problem-solving education infused with applied methods provided by the College of Arts and Sciences presents an abundance of relevancy in a modern, global economy. It is no longer enough to teach from just one perspective, as the world we live in requires a more nuanced approach.

The interdisciplinary curriculum of our college marries the arts and sciences, producing a more well-rounded, better prepared “bilingual” student who is able to approach the complexities of society from a variety of perspectives. Drexel prides itself on offering experiential opportunities early and often that provide students with the practical knowledge they need immediately upon graduation. The College of Arts and Sciences offers a variety of community-based learning classes, study abroad opportunities, research fellowships, lab and field work as well as Drexel’s trademark Co Op experiences.

It is with these principles that we move our college into the future. By staying nimble, but holding true our values, we continue to provide an award-winning education that prepares our students for the world outside of the university walls.

Get In Touch

The College of Arts and Sciences looks forward to your questions and ideas. Please email us at coas@drexel.edu.

The Dean's Bookshelf

Learn more about the dynamic intersection between the arts and sciences. Here are some recent favorites from my bookshelf.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS DEPARTMENTS & CENTERS RESEARCH & EXPERIENCE RECENT NEWS

Meet Our Community

By the Numbers

100%

of Drexel University students take courses in the College of Arts and Sciences.

2,308

students are currently enrolled in the college. In the spring 2024 term, the College of Arts and Sciences had 1,951 undergraduate and 357 graduate students enrolled.

98%

of College of Arts and Sciences students were employed on co-op in 2021-2022, and 70% of these positions were paid.

18,600

College of Arts and Sciences graduates form a powerful, global alumni network.

Recent News

College of Arts and Sciences 2025 Commencement at the Mann Center

College of Arts and Sciences 2025 Commencement Ceremony Welcomes the Newest Class of Forever Dragons

The College of Arts and Sciences celebrated the class of 2025 during this year's commencement ceremony at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts on June 12.

A student presents at the College of Arts and Sciences Research Day

College of Arts and Sciences Research Day Recognizes Student and Faculty Achievement in the Humanities, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences

This year’s Research Day featured 23 oral presentations and 79 posters from tenured, tenure-track, teaching and research faculty; postdoctoral fellows; graduate and undergraduate students and research trainees, reflecting the breadth and depth of the exceptional scholarly activity that takes place across our college.

Allison Choong (right) presents at Global Solutions Summit

Sociology and Criminology and Justice Studies Major Allison Choong Pitches Project at International Summit

Allison Choong was one of 15 finalists selected for the Young Global Changers Recoupling Awards, which allowed her to pitch her project, 'Safiya Speaks Up,' at the 2025 Global Solutions Summit in Berlin, Germany.

Closeup of a mosquito antennae being prepped for a calcium imaging assay in the Drexel Afify Lab.

Decoding Smells that Attract and Repel the Malaria Mosquito

On World Malaria Day, we met with Ali Afify, PhD, assistant professor of biology, to find out how malaria mosquitos use their keen sense of smell (olfaction) to bite us and make egg-laying decisions. The Afify lab at Drexel University is pioneering new malaria mosquito control methods, by exploring safe chemical repellents that can prevent biting and egg-laying where humans live.

College of Arts and Sciences Celebrates Student Achievement on Honors Day 2025

The College of Arts and Sciences' annual Honors Day event gives our faculty, staff and alumni an opportunity to honor our students’ achievements in the classroom, lab and community.

English Language Center students celebrate their college decisions

English Language Center Supports International Students with Skills to Succeed at Drexel and Beyond

The English Language Center (ELC) continues to meet a key part of its mission of preparing students to participate fully in the Drexel community, including gaining admission to undergraduate and graduate programs of study. The ELC held a Decision Day 2025 party to celebrate students' confirmations to Drexel and other colleges and universities across the U.S.

Meet Class of 2025 Student Commencement Speaker Tasneem Siddique

Biological sciences major Tasneem Siddique will represent the class of 2025 as the student speaker at the College of Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony.

Students Present Research Projects at ASURS Fund Conference

Students in the third cohort of the Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Support (ASURS) Fund presented their final projects to Drexel students, faculty and alumni during a round of lightning talks and poster presentations.

Biology Professor Receives $2M NIH Research Grant

Associate Professor of Biology Ryan Petrie, PhD, was awarded a five-year, $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to further his research on the molecular mechanisms that human cells use to move through the diverse three-dimensional tissue environments in the body.

Drexel Welcomes Tracy Hadden Loh to Deliver Keynote Speech at Urban Futures Symposium

How does where you live affect various aspects of your life? How do we help our communities change for the better? Tracy Hadden Loh, PhD, will address these questions and more during her keynote speech at the upcoming Drexel Symposium on Urban Futures.