The physical therapy program at the Midwestern University College of Health Sciences in Glendale has added a hybrid residential/online track for its doctor of physical therapy degree program.

The 30-month combination of live online instruction and in-person on-campus classes and labs offers an accelerated curriculum option for D.P.T. degree seekers.

"Research has shown that program achievement metrics — licensing exam pass rates, graduation rates, employment rates, and meeting accreditation standards — for hybrid programs are similar to those of strictly residential programs," Byron Russell, physical therapy program director, shared in a statement.

The Glendale campus is at 19555 N. 59th Ave.

The fully on-campus residential DPT program has been streamlined from a three-year curriculum to a 2.5-year program, starting in the summer quarter of 2024. This was made possible by a curriculum review that eliminated content redundancies and enabled restructuring that allowed increased curricular integration.

The change will result in reduced tuition and a faster track to the workforce without sacrificing curriculum quality and maintaining and exceeding high accreditation standards.

"Providing this flexibility to both faculty and students will allow us to create engaging and meaningful learning experiences using the cognitive, teaching, and social presences necessary for both the in-person and online environments,” Jared Chamberlain, College of Health Sciences dean, stated.