Drexel's Transformation: What it Means for You

Beginning in August 2027, Drexel will adopt a semester calendar in all programs. The shift to semesters will reshape the rhythm of our academic year and expand your opportunities — giving you more time for deeper learning, more flexibility to plan co-op and global experiences, and a calendar that better aligns with most institutions nationwide.

Note: Graduate and professional programs that already follow a semester calendar will continue according to program-specific guidance.

Switching to a semester calendar means longer terms, which gives students more time to dive into course material, connect ideas across subjects, and get support if you need to adjust your academic plan. It’s about creating space for deeper learning and less stress.

Students will also benefit from:

• Simpler scheduling: Fewer terms per year means less complexity when planning classes, co-ops, or study abroad.
• More partnership potential: The new calendar will more closely align with other universities’ and co-op employers’ calendars, making collaborations easier.
• More flexibility in summer: Whether you want to take classes, go on co-op, travel, or take a break, summer will offer more options.
• Expanded academic opportunities: As part of the shift, Drexel is reviewing and enhancing its curriculum to make it more flexible, consistent, and aligned with your goals.

Other universities that have made this switch have seen improvements in student retention and graduation rates, and we’re learning from their successes to make this transition as smooth and beneficial as possible for you.

Undergraduate students, you may be wondering what your new schedule will look like in a semester calendar. The following are just a few examples of the many semester schedule options that undergraduates may pursue after the calendar transition.

• 4 Years, No Co-op
• 4 Years, 1 Spring Co-op
• 5 Years, 2 Fall Co-ops New!
• 5 Years, 3 Fall Co-ops
• 5 Years, 3 Spring Co-ops

• We are redesigning our curriculum to increase flexibility for students, support student learning outcomes and integrate core competencies — a foundational set of three knowledge areas with different levels of mastery.
• We are embedding interdisciplinary and experiential learning into all undergraduate program curricula.
• Incoming students in the Fall of 2027 and later will be required to complete core competencies and to complete at least one Experiential Learning Opportunity (ELO) during their time at Drexel. These requirements will not affect current students.

• A flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum: Explore interests across fields, double major with ease, and leave with a degree that reflects your unique passions and career goals.
• All-new curricula and classes: Experience courses designed with insight from industry leaders and programs designed around up-to-date insights.
• Core competencies that drive long-term success: Graduate with the skills employers want most in any career.
• Curricular flexibility: Our new curriculum will be more flexible and easier for you to navigate, allowing you to customize your degree to your interests.

Several of Drexel’s colleges and schools are integrating to enhance your experience by streamlining resources, improving support services, and expanding academic opportunities. These integrations will create new opportunities for discovery, learning and impact that transcend traditional academic silos.

The integrations are as follows:

• Uniting the School of Engineering, School of Computer & Information Sciences, and School of Biomedical Engineering & Science into the new College of Engineering and Computing
• School of Education joining the College of Arts and Sciences
• Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship joining the LeBow College of Business
• AJ Drexel Autism Institute joining the Dornsife School of Public Health

• Clearer academic pathways: It’ll be easier to explore majors, minors, and interdisciplinary programs without hitting roadblocks, which means less stress when planning your academic journey.
• More collaboration across departments: You’ll see more integrated courses and shared learning experiences.
• Stronger connections to research and innovation: You’ll benefit from faculty working together across fields, opening up new opportunities for hands-on learning and discovery.

• Fall 2025: Faculty began redesigning programs and courses to be more flexible, incorporate more opportunities for experiential learning and work with the new semester calendar. (Your current major and degree requirements will stay the same or have clear course equivalencies in the semester calendar.)
• Summer 2026 onward: Advisors will work with you to plan your academic path on the semester calendar.
• Summer 2027-2027: A one-time transition term will align quarter-based programs with the new semester calendar, structured to minimize disruption and maintain progress toward your degree.
• August 23, 2027: Semester calendar officially begins.

• Summer 2025: The integration process began. Behind the scenes, academic leaders and staff started aligning administrative structures. Enrollment teams began sharing information about the new academic units with prospective students, highlighting the benefits and opportunities.
• Fall 2025–Summer 2026: You may notice gradual changes in how departments collaborate, communicate and support students, ensuring a more consistent and student-friendly experience across units.
• September 1, 2026: The integration will be fully implemented. By this time, students will start to see more collaboration within the unified academic unit and access to additional resources. 
• August 2027: With the move to semesters, students will also start to see clearer, more flexible pathways across programs.

As long as you continue to make satisfactory progress in your current degree program, the transition to semesters, by itself, will not extend the time needed to complete your degree. Each student will receive a customized plan of study and advising support to ensure their time to graduation does not increase solely as a result of Drexel’s change to a semester calendar. More information will soon be shared about how course schedules will adapt during the one-time transition to the semester calendar in August 2027.

There are a variety of factors that may impact time to complete a degree program, including the student’s academic performance, decision to switch degree programs or to add a degree program, or if the student takes a leave of absence. These situations should be discussed with the student’s academic advisor.

As long as you continue to make satisfactory progress in your current degree program, the transition to semesters, by itself, will not increase the total cost of your program. The structure of billing, financial aid, and scholarships will be adjusted to reflect the new semester format—two semesters instead of three quarters per 9-month academic year, for example. These changes are being carefully designed to ensure continuity and transparency for students.