Peter's Hidden Gem Series #5: Thomas Jefferson University (PA)

FACTS ABOUT THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY

Thomas Jefferson University is a private research university focused on professional and pre-professional education. While it is not a liberal arts college by definition, it infuses liberal arts into its professional curricula. TJU is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The university has a student body of 3,339 full-time undergraduate students. 968 of these students live on campus.

Thomas Jefferson University offers 49 undergraduate programs covering diverse fields such as architecture, design, business, engineering, and health.

81% acceptance rate. They consider a wide range of students (B- to A+).

Tuition $47,505

Housing $7,441

Meal Plan $8,393

Total $63,339

After merit scholarships, most families (even families that do not qualify for need-based assistance) pay less than $35K without loans. In fact, including students who receive need-based aid, the average amount that students pay is $29,325.

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTS:

ANIMATION & DIGITAL MEDIA:

From their website: “The Animation & Digital Media program at Thomas Jefferson University connects students to the animation and digital media industries with the objective of becoming successful filmmakers as well as designers capable of applying skill sets to a wide range of industries, which are increasingly in demand. The program offers a thorough understanding of animation fundamentals along with practical experience utilizing cutting-edge tools and techniques. As a graduate of the program, you will be equipped for leading creative roles in film, television, visual effects, marketing, and video games.”

ARCHITECTURE:

From their website: “Our five-year professional architecture program prepares you to think and design for the future. From advanced design courses to business classes, and a focus on sustainability throughout, you will be ready to dive into careers upon graduation. You will collaborate with various disciplines on industry projects, gain valuable experience through internships, and gain a global perspective through study abroad programs. The NAAB-accredited program provides a challenging curriculum with a design studio sequence that is the core of the program, comprehensively synthesizing all the courses into project-based learning.

Focus on sustainability and building for the future.

Learn from an interdisciplinary faculty of professionals.

Master the skills to be a creative and innovative professional in the built environment.

Explore the possibilities of innovative material strategies with the collaborative IDEA Lab.

Spend your fifth-year studios focused on specialized areas such as the Institute for Smart & Healthy Cities, the Malawi Health & Design Collaborative, and more.

Collaborate with Zaha Hadid Architects' CODE Studio.

Students have the opportunity to study abroad for a semester or one of the many short courses offered throughout the year.

FASHION DESIGN:

From their website: “The four-year BS in Fashion Design program develops professional skills and a strong creative voice, grounded in a liberal arts foundation that emphasizes interdisciplinary learning. The curriculum promotes both technical proficiency and a deep aesthetic sensibility, encouraging students to express their individual design philosophies while addressing the deeper needs of clients and society at large.

In addition, students will have the opportunity to add an international dimension to their education by participating in our study abroad programs in international fashion centers like Rome and Paris, as well as other locations around the world. With an immersive global experience, students will gain a cross-cultural outlook while broadening their design skills and strengthening their competitive edge in the international marketplace.

Graduates of Thomas Jefferson University’s Fashion Design program are highly sought after for their creativity, technical skills, and ethical design approach. With a portfolio that reflects innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability, our alumni go on to thrive in roles such as apparel designers, technical designers, 3D fashion designers, and fashion entrepreneurs. Whether launching their own brand or joining leading companies across the globe, they are prepared to lead—and shape—the future of fashion.”

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN:

From their website:” Industrial design (ID) is about creating the future. Through our BS in Industrial Design program, you’ll learn how to design things that transform the lives of people worldwide: from human-powered washing machines for developing societies to interactive car control systems; from better backpacks for airline travel to MP3 players made from bamboo. It all starts with the design process, a way of thinking and working to develop strategies for innovation, propose more efficient systems and services, and create valued products.

Working in an open, collaborative studio environment, you’ll learn how to make drawings and 3D models, build prototypes, and share ideas with others to learn from their input. You’ll create in a sustainable and responsible way, addressing the needs of the end user, the client, and the world as a whole. Participating in global design teams will sharpen your skills through travel and research. You’ll even collaborate on real projects with leading companies like Philips, Knoll, and Umbra.

A degree in ID opens up a wide array of career paths for you. Our graduates have gone on to become leaders at design-driven companies and consultancies, have funded their own startups through social media and joined socially-driven organizations to improve the lives of others.”

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE:

From their website: “Landscape architects play a vital role in shaping healthy, equitable, and resilient environments. We design parks, gardens, streetscapes, and ecological restoration projects — while architects design buildings, landscape architects design everything in between!

In our LAAB accredited program, you will become a responsible creative designer who listens, builds trust, and advocates for both people and the planet. You will learn to develop real-world solutions that are sustainable, resilient, and beautiful while addressing challenges like climate change, habitat loss, and urban equity.

Our award-winning program prepares you to be a leader in the profession. Students in our program design projects that make a real impact, and many begin their careers with top firms, nonprofits, and public agencies such as OLIN, Jonathan Alderson, the Philadelphia Water Department, Aramark, and many more.

We emphasize hands-on, real-world experience at Jefferson. You’ll have opportunities to work as an intern for professional offices for credit or collaborate on paid research and design projects with our expert faculty during the semester or over the summer. This immersive approach allows you to research, design, and heal the environment alongside your professors and peers.

Join us and take the first step toward designing the landscapes of tomorrow— places where people, wildlife, and ecosystems thrive together.”

TEXTILE DESIGN:

From their website: “Interested in color, pattern, and texture? Want to make a positive, sustainable impact in a creative role? Every textile you live with, from fashion to home to automotive interiors and so much more, is created by a textile designer. In our collaborative maker spaces, our students blend aesthetic and creative skills with the latest technologies, responding to contemporary global opportunities.

In our BS in Textile Design program, you will be immersed in studio and technical courses in textiles for fashion, interiors, and performance—featuring woven design, knit design, and print design, dyeing and finishing, and materials technology. You will be taught by active members of the textile design field, including artists, design directors, authors, and researchers. Visiting artists and guest lecturers expand the educational experience, bringing real-world collaborations to campus.

Through partnerships with industry and national and international design competitions, our program will provide you with practical experience. You can also build on both your textile design skills and your understanding of global cultures through an inspiring study abroad experience in locations such as Scotland, New Zealand, Italy, China, and Japan. And, since our faculty remain active in the textile design field, our internship program is one of the strongest in the industry. You may intern with companies such as Urban Outfitters, Lilly Pulitzer, Free People, Anthropologie Home, and Abercrombie & Fitch starting in your junior year.”

Website: https://www.jefferson.edu/index.html

Link to their virtual tour information: https://www.jefferson.edu/admissions/visit/virtual-tours-videos.html