Academics and Experiential Education

Thrive With Experience

As a global leader in experiential education, Drexel's dynamic curriculum combines world-class academics with the power of real-world experience — highlighted by the University’s renowned cooperative education program (Drexel Co-op). Through this innovative program, you'll be given the opportunity to test-drive potential careers as you take full-time, entry-level positions and gain invaluable work experience during the six-month period(s) that you’re on co-op. These experiences will not only allow you to apply your knowledge in the real world while learning alongside the leaders of your field, but they also provide the chance to explore different career paths and discover what you want to do (and don't want to do!) before graduation. Through applying what you learn in the classroom, co-op will invite you to gain deeper insights, which you can then bring back to the classroom and share with your peers.

But experiential education is more than just co-op. Get ready to expand the scope of your learning while pursuing your passions through undergraduate research, global experiences, civic engagement opportunities, project-based learning, and more.

Dragons Talk Drexel: Academic Collaboration

Hear about how Drexel's exciting interdisciplinary environment sets the tone for Drexel students to research, study, and learn in.

Dragons Talk Drexel: Co-op and the Classroom

Looking to learn more about life as a Drexel Dragon and what makes our University so unique? Get an insider's look through our Dragons Talk Drexel videos. In this installment, our students talk candidly about how Drexel’s academic model of experiential learning shapes the student experience and prepares them to enter the professional world upon graduation.

Dragons Talk Drexel: Guided by Experts

Find out how Drexel professors and mentors not only provide the knowledge you need to succeed, but also how you can apply this learning in the real world.

Dragons Talk Drexel: Advisors

Looking to learn more about life as a Drexel Dragon and what makes our university so unique? Get an insider's look through our Dragons Talk Drexel videos. In this installment, our students talk candidly about how their academic advisors set them up for success and continue to serve as a valuable resource as they navigate Drexel’s academic experience.

Making the Most of Co-op

Interested in maximizing your educational experience at Drexel? Discover Your Co-op Options

Building Connections With Drexel Co-op

Make a real impact in your chosen field as you grow your professional network and cultivate a stand-out résumé before you even graduate. Through Drexel Co-op, you’ll gain meaningful work experience in your chosen field while working full time with one of our over 1,400 employer partners, made up of Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit pioneers, innovative startups, government agencies, and industry leaders from around the globe.

Select Co-op Employers

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Comcast
Lockheed Martin
Exelon
Susquehanna Intl Group LLP
Johnson & Johnson

University of Pennsylvania
Estee Lauder/Northtec
Philadelphia Water Department
Apple
Amazon
Google

Learn More About Co-op

With the help of our employer partners, the Steinbright Career Development Center is able to produce exceptional results and experiences for Drexel students. We greatly value the relationships developed with our partners, which span all facets of the professional world, as they serve an integral role within our innovative model of experiential learning.

By combining world-class academics with real-world experience, our cooperative education program empowers students to test-drive future career options and effectively work with the leaders of today as they develop into the leaders of tomorrow. View our special video featuring the 2022 Cooperative Education student award winners.

Since 1919, Drexel's world-renowned cooperative education (co-op) program has prepared our students for the future. Drexel Co-op provides professional employment experience, giving students the opportunity to explore and build a career before they enter the workforce.

Experiential Fast Facts

Through co-op and other hands-on learning endeavors, you'll have the opportunity to graduate not only with the skills you need to succeed, but with the connections that will help you find your path.

89%

Drexel undergraduate students enrolled in the co-op program.

91%

Co-op students that found their experience relevant to their career objectives.

86%

Co-op employers who say they would consider rehiring their co-op student for a future co-op or full-time position.

115+

Community-Based Learning Courses

70+

Unique Study Abroad Experiences

$170+ Million

in Grants Awarded Research Expenditures

Information and Resources

Imagine studying while sipping a latte in Paris, working at a lab in Shanghai, or polishing your language skills with a host family in Chile. Your time as a Dragon will start in Philadelphia, but your Drexel education can take you all over the world! Our Education Abroad programs will encourage you to expand your horizons and experience new countries through study abroad, international co-op, international research experiences, and more.

Honors Program

The Honors Program offers a space in which students can grow as academics, professionals, and people. Through discussion-based courses, the Honors Program allows students to explore diverse topics and perspectives while meeting faculty and students outside of their majors and academic concentrations. With co-curricular events such as Ticket Tuesday, Feel Good Fridays, Workshops, and programming through the Honors Living Learning Community, the Honors Program provides students with unique connections to their peers and their Philadelphia community. The Honors Program also cultivates avenues for self-improvement and leadership development through opportunities like Honors Mentors. Finally, the Honors Program is developing a unique first-year experience focusing on civic education via its Program in Civic Foundations.

Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs (UREP)

Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs is focused on engaging students in the process of intellectual and self-discovery through research, fellowships advising, and enrichment programming. Through our advising and programming, we hope to expose our students to a full spectrum of experiential learning, empower our students to make informed choices, and motivate our students to turn passions into opportunities.

There's no single undergraduate path to professional school. A student who plans to continue on to medical school may major in any number of programs, from the humanities to engineering, while students can make the jump to law school from any major including popular degrees such as business, enginneering, history, and philosophy.

Pre-medical/Pre-health Programs and Opportunities

Already considering entering the health professions once you complete your bachelor's degree? The Drexel Pre-health Advising Program provides students with unique benefits as they pursue careers and educational opportunities within the highly competitive field of medicine (from doctors to physical therapists to dentists and everything in between!). Visit the Steinbright Career Development Center's website for more information on Pursuing a Health Profession.

Pre-Law School Opportunities

Drexel’s pre-law advising program prepares students for the rigorous admissions criteria demanded by a competitive law school. Those interested in learning about a career in law can engage with Steinbright’s expert advisors through one-on-one advising sessions, group presentations, law school visits, recruiting events, and other activities to gain insight and knowledge that will provide a competitive edge as you prepare for your legal career. Steinbright can help you on your path to law school with law school searches, LSAT info, application timelines, application essays and more.

Visit the Steinbright Career Development Center's website for more information on Heading to Law School.

The Steinbright Career Development Center is Drexel's world-class resource for career and cooperative education services. Our dedicated career service team works to assist our students in developing meaningful professional skills for a successful future career. Steinbright also connects students to a constantly growing network of industry leaders around the globe through our vast base of employer partners. Our employer partners provide opportunities for our students to gain up to 18 months of real-world work experience before graduating through our renowned cooperative education program, also known as Drexel Co-op.

The University Catalog contains information for all of Drexel's academic degree programs, including majors, minors, and concentrations. The catalog also provides degree requirements, sample plans of study, and course descriptions to help students plan their schedules.

Academics and Experiential Education