10 Reasons You Should Consider a Hybrid Graduate Program

In Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, hybrid instruction is bridging the gap between accessible graduate education and the development of tomorrow’s healthcare leaders. 

Three degree programs—the Doctor of Physical Therapy, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy, and the Master of Physician Assistant Studies—use a blend of online and on campus instruction to educate future practitioners. So, what makes hybrid education—and specifically, hybrid education at Baylor—an excellent choice for students pursuing these disciplines? Here are 10 reasons:

1. Stay Local

Hybrid programs allow students to stay in their home communities while pursuing graduate education, cutting down on relocation costs and maintaining connections.

2. Quality without Compromise

At Baylor, going hybrid means an increase, not a decrease, in quality. Our curriculum is contemporary, evidence-based and designed by faculty who are practitioners, researchers, and leaders in their profession.

3. Nationally Renowned Faculty

Offering a hybrid program allows Baylor to recruit exceptional faculty from across the nation, without geographic limitations. This gives our students the opportunity to truly learn from the best and brightest, from Washington state to the Florida coast.

4. Connected Community

Through both online and in-person instruction, students in hybrid programs have abundant opportunities to build community with their fellow students and faculty. Our Baylor programs foster connection through team-building games, “big/little” mentorship programs, academic coaching teams, and more.

5. Expanding Access to Care

By providing a path for students to remain in their communities during graduate school, Baylor’s hybrid programs also open the door for students to serve their communities after graduation. This is particularly important for medically underserved areas, where a “hometown provider” can expand access to care and improve health outcomes for the community.

6. Immersive Training

When Baylor students come to Waco for their in-person training, they come ready to practice. Equipped through their foundational online coursework in preceding weeks, they are prepared to physically apply their learning in a focused, immersive environment surrounded by supportive peers and faculty.

7. Cutting-Edge Educational Technology

In order to facilitate engaging online coursework and to optimize in person experiences, Baylor’s hybrid programs remain at the forefront of innovative, educational technology. From virtual reality to simulation manikins, our programs are constantly exploring how technology can advance the student learning experience.

8. Accelerated Preparation

Through the carefully designed hybrid curriculum, Baylor faculty have created programs that are rigorous, thorough, and prepare students for graduation and licensure much faster than many traditional programs.

9. Coast-to-Coast Networks

It’s not just faculty who join Baylor’s hybrid programs from across the country—students do too! By choosing a hybrid program, students build long-lasting relationships and expansive professional networks with peers from coast to coast.

10. Baylor Support Services

While their time on campus is short, their access to support resources is not. Students in Baylor’s hybrid programs enjoy a full array of signature university support services. In particular, the Baylor University Career Center offers personalized expertise to help prepare students to enter the workforce.

ABOUT ROBBINS COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Established in 2014, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences seeks to enhance health, quality of life, and human flourishing for all individuals and communities through education, research, and innovation. It includes six academic departments—Communication Sciences and Disorders; Health, Human Performance, and Recreation; Human Sciences and Design; Occupational Therapy; Physical Therapy; and Public Health—along with the Division of Health Professions, which houses the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. Robbins College offers 13 bachelor’s degrees, eight master’s degrees, and six doctoral degrees, as well as nine graduate programs in partnership with the U.S. Army. Graduate programs in Robbins College are offered in a variety of modalities, including on campus, online, and hybrid.