Drew University

What is the history of Drew University?

Drew University began in Madison, New Jersey, as a Methodist theological seminary in 1867. Its expansion into undergraduate and graduate education explains why the university today combines a liberal arts college with graduate and theological schools.

New York financier Daniel Drew supplied the funding that established Drew Theological Seminary. The undergraduate college opened in 1928 as Brothers College; it later became the College of Liberal Arts. Drew subsequently developed the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. Although its origins remain visible in the theological school and its collections on Methodist history, Drew is now a university serving students across religious backgrounds and academic fields.

What are the faculties and departments at Drew University?

Drew University has three principal academic schools: the College of Liberal Arts, the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies, and Drew Theological School. Applicants should choose the school and program that match the credential they want, because undergraduate, graduate, and theological admissions requirements differ.

The College of Liberal Arts offers bachelor's-level study across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and arts. Examples include biology, computer science, economics, English, psychology, business, and theater. The Caspersen School offers graduate programs, while the theological school offers graduate education in religion and ministry. Drew's academic organization gives undergraduates access to a relatively small teaching environment: its reported student-to-faculty ratio is 9 to 1. That ratio describes the institution overall, not the size of every class.

What is the location of Drew University?

Drew University's main campus is in Madison, a suburban community in Morris County, New Jersey. Students can live and study on campus while remaining within reach of New York City and other parts of northern New Jersey.

Madison has a NJ Transit rail station on the Morris & Essex Lines. Train access can be useful for internships, cultural activities, and some commutes, although schedules and travel times vary. Newark Liberty International Airport is the most relevant major airport for many long-distance travelers. Students planning to commute should compare their actual transit route, parking options, and class schedule rather than assuming that proximity to a rail line makes every trip convenient. First-year students should also check Drew's current vehicle policy: the reported policy does not permit them to register or park a car on campus.

What is the mission and vision of Drew University?

Drew describes its educational purpose in terms of liberal learning, intellectual inquiry, and the application of knowledge beyond the classroom. Its academic structure brings undergraduate liberal arts education together with graduate scholarship and theological study.

The university's Methodist origins are an important part of its history, but prospective students should distinguish that history from the requirements of a particular degree program. Its stated priorities are institutional aims, not evidence that every student will have the same academic experience. Applicants interested in how those aims appear in practice can look at their intended major's curriculum, experiential-learning options, and graduation requirements.