January 31, 2024

The Goodwin College of Professional Studies has helped maintain founder Anthony J. Drexel’s legacy, keeping his vision alive by offering low tuition, evening/weekend classes and alternative program options.

In fall 2002, Goodwin launched the Saturday Scholars program, the first of its kind and only one in the area and which grew rapidly in student population and number of academic options. Students pursued four different bachelor’s degrees in Health Sciences, offered in collaboration with the College of Nursing and Health Professions, as well as Goodwin’s popular degrees in Communications and Applied Technology and General Studies.

Saturday Scholars students would travel to campus and take classes at Goodwin on Saturdays in an accelerated format. Accelerated terms ran for six weeks, allowing students to take the equivalent of a full load of courses in a conventional quarter. The ambitious schedule was intended to give degree completers a chance to finish their given program in two years.

The last Goodwin Saturday Scholars courses ran in fall 2013. The convenience of online for both students and instructors emerged as an irresistible option for most. Nevertheless, the close and shared Saturday Scholars environment resulted in a camaraderie among the students and alumni that remains to this day.

In 2014, the decision was made to streamline several of the programs within Goodwin to other colleges to effect a clear programmatic affinity. As a result, and with the approval of President Fry, then-Provost Mark Greenberg and then-Dean of LeBow College of Business, Frank Linnehan, PhD, a restructured Goodwin College was aligned with LeBow. Goodwin’s remaining staff and programs are committed to supporting non-traditional and continuing education pathways and populations.

Goodwin College relishes its important role as custodian of Drexel’s founding mission and currently provides:

• part- and full-time access to credit and non-credit programs incorporating academic offerings from across the university
• internal student transfer and retention opportunities
• a flexibly formatted Bachelor of Science in General Studies degree completion program
• a First-Year Exploratory Studies option for still-deciding, traditional-aged students
• graduate-level studies in Nonprofit Management
• industry and niche career preparatory Continuing Professional Education programs
• affordable, convenient, and quality education from one of Philadelphia and the nation’s best providers of professional education