What is a Hybrid MBA?

3 min readAug 2, 2019

One of the Foster School of Business’ MBA programs features a unique blend of online and in-person instruction, referred to as a hybrid format. This innovative format includes a robust online learning environment while providing the networking, collaboration, and leadership development opportunities fostered by in-person, on-campus sessions.

Hear from the UW Hybrid MBA Alumni

The Hybrid MBA Program is a work-compatible, mostly online MBA option from the top-ranked, accredited University of Washington Foster School of Business. Who can better articulate their experience in the Hybrid MBA Program than our alumni! Hear from our inaugural class as they recap their favorite aspects of the Hybrid MBA Program.

Key components of the Hybrid MBA:

1. Flexibility to study anywhere with on-campus experiences

Program Structure: 95% Anywhere, 5% On-Campus

This engaging Hybrid MBA Program brings together the best of online and in-person learning. Online classes give you the ability to earn your MBA while maintaining a busy personal and professional life, and 4–5 day on-campus sessions each quarter ensure networking opportunities and a strong bond with the Foster School of Business. You can log in to the weekly live class sessions from wherever you are in the world. When you come to campus, you have in-person class time with your professors, while also being exposed to the region’s unique, dynamic, and innovative business community to advance your career.

2. Full-time course-load with a part-time schedule

Created to fit a busy lifestyle, the Hybrid MBA enables you to #earnwhileyoulearn. It’s perfect for frequent business travelers, working parents, young professionals, and those living outside of the area, but wanting an MBA from the Foster School of Business.

3. Regional, national, and global networking

The Hybrid MBA attracts students from across the US who travel in for each quarterly on-campus component and then return home for the remainder for the quarter. Therefore you are not just expanding your Seattle area network, but your regional and national network. The Career Management Team also offers regional treks. Treks are career development and networking trips that create opportunities for you to connect with employers and UW alumni in key metropolitan areas. Previous trek locations have included Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco.

4. Career advancement

Whether you are looking for support as you advance your career or to connect with students and alumni, the career management team can help. They offer one on one coaching, workshops, panels, and other programming help you reach your goals.

5. Elective offerings including study abroad trip

Want to expand your knowledge oversees? Similar to other MBA offerings, the Hybrid MBA Program offers an optional, 2-credit International Study Tour. You can learn first-hand about business practices, legal, political, historical and economic issues in different countries; seeing course concepts play out in real-time.

In the second and final year of the program you will finish the core courses and enhance your degree by choosing five Hybrid MBA elective courses. These MBA electives can include: Leading Organizational Change, Customer Experience, Mergers and Acquisition, Product Management, Entrepreneurship, Behavioral Finance, Digital Marketing System, International Supply Chain Management, Business Analytics: Big Data, and others.

Updated 1.27.2021

Originally published at https://blog.foster.uw.edu on August 2, 2019.