Drexel Communications Programs
Drexel University appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Best Online Communications Degree Programs.
One of the more basic programs that the Drexel University offers is a Bachelor of Science in Communications. This program is also available in a Bachelor of Arts program. The university offers a concentration in public relations for those who want to work in event planning, advertising, and similar fields, but it also offers a concentration in technical and science studies that focuses on software and program development. Students can enroll in an open track version of the program and study all fields or the journalism track, which lets them study writing and reporting.
This Pennsylvania university is home to one of the only accelerated communications programs in the nation. Also called a 4 + 1 program, it requires that students take graduate communication courses in their junior and senior years. They can then earn a Master of Science in Communication degree with just one further year of study at the graduate level. The university allows students to apply for this program when they submit their applications to the school, but they can also apply later in their freshman year. Students must apply to the program before they complete 120 credits at the undergrad level.
Drexel undergrads can choose a minor in either communication or nonprofit communication. The nonprofit communication program teaches them the skills they’ll need when working for nonprofit organizations. The university also offers both a Master of Science in Communication and a Master of Science in Communication, Culture, and Media. Students enrolled in the first program learn more about communications as a whole, while those enrolled in the second program learn more about writing for different forms of media. The graduate programs available from Drexel University allow students to graduate in just five terms or 1.5 years as full-time students or around three years as part-time students.
About Drexel University
Drexel University is a large university system that operates a campus in Philadelphia and an online campus that offers more opportunities for students. Established in 1891 as the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, it uses the Drexel name in honor of its original founder. Many of the programs it offered in its early years trained students on working in the many growing industries across Pennsylvania and the northeast at the time. It operated as the Drexel Institute of Technology from the 1930s through the 1970s before it became Drexel University.
One of the more unique programs that sets this university apart from others is its co-op program. Students in various degree programs can spend up to 18 months working in the field and gain course credit for their experiences. This provides students with more practical knowledge and allows them to form professional connections before they graduate.
The university is home to15 different schools and colleges like the College of Engineering and the School of Education. Its first online program went live in 1996, but the university now offers a number of programs across all levels through Drexel Online, which is the name of its online campus. Drexel University ranks on the global and national lists of the top colleges put out by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Washington Monthly and other publications.
Drexel University Accreditation Details
The university has accreditation from a number of organizations for its many degree programs, including accreditation from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and American Bar Association. Drexel also has regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Regional accreditation is a requirement for students applying for financial aid from the government and for those who want to transfer credits between two or more schools.
Drexel University Application Requirements
Prospective students applying for early admissions must submit their applications and any verifying documents by November 1. All other students can submit their applications and documents by January 15. The university requires that students put down a deposit by May 1, which the university will use to hold their spots.
Undergrads must provide Drexel with an application, which has an essay on it, and a $50 application fee. The essay allows students to write a short essay on a specific question or topic given to them. They must also submit two letters of recommendation, an ACT or SAT score, an official high school transcript, and a financial aid statement. Those applying to certain programs may need to submit portfolios that show some of their past work too.
Graduate students applying to the university must meet some of the same requirements. The university asks for two or more letters of recommendation, official college or university transcripts and a graduate admissions application. Prospective grad students are also responsible for providing Drexel with a professional resume that shows all their experience in the field and an essay of no more than 500 words. Both undergrad and graduate students should complete the FAFSA at the same time that they submit their admissions applications.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Drexel University charges a flat rate per semester that helps students see exactly how much they will pay before they apply. All its undergrad programs charge a rate of $16,544 per semester, but students must also pay fees totaling more than $700 each semester. Graduate students pay a little over $1,200 per credit for each class they enroll in each semester. Full-time students pay fees of $280 per semester, and part-time students pay fees of $140 per semester. The programs that the university offers through some of its smaller programs charge less for tuition and fewer fees.
The FAFSA makes it easy for students to see if they will get any financial aid for the coming year. They will also see the type of aid given to them and how much in aid they will receive based on how much their families can contribute to their total costs. Undergrads may qualify for federally subsidized loans that do not incur interest until six months after the student finishes or leaves college. They also qualify for different types of grants and scholarships. Drexel University offers help for graduate students who want to get federal unsubsidized loans and those who want to apply for private student loans.
For more information about studying communications at Drexel University, click here.