A Day at Lab
Onsite labs for the Baylor DPT program are held every 6-8 weeks in Waco, Texas. The length of the lab depends on its content, but they are typically between 1-2 weeks long.
Download an academic calendar with more detailed information.
Onsite labs are dedicated to hands-on training. There are no lectures during lab immersions! Students can expect full days (8:00am - 5:30pm) in the lab, including weekends. Labs are led by dedicated and experienced faculty, including core Baylor DPT faculty members and clinical adjunct faculty who are experts in the field. During labs, students can anticipate a 10:1 student to faculty ratio, which means that each student will receive the focused attention they need to master their hands-on skills.
Sample Schedule for a Day at DPT 6540 Physical Therapy Examination Lab
| Time | Activity | Lead Faculty |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00-10:30am | Upper Extremity Manual Muscle Testing (continued from prior day) | Dr. Adams |
| 10:30-11:15am | Upper Extremity Flexibility | Dr. Adams |
| 11:15-11:45am | Pod Practice | Pod Faculty |
| 11:45am - 1:15pm | Lunch | |
| 1:15-1:30pm | Prep for Afternoon Sessions | Pod Faculty |
| 1:30-3:30pm | Gait with Assistive Device (Pods* 1-4) Wheelchair Mobility (Pods* 5-8) | Dr. Bachman, Dr. Gingles, Pod Faculty |
| 3:30-5:30pm | Gait with Assistive Device (Pods* 5-8) Wheelchair Mobility (Pods* 1-4) | Dr. Bachman, Dr. Gingles, Pod Faculty |
*At onsite labs, Baylor DPT students are divided into 'pods' to create a small-group atmosphere during instruction time.
“Working in smaller groups during lab helps to build rapport within our pod as well as with our pod lead. We're able to give each other constructive feedback when performing various techniques, and our pod leads are there to help demonstrate and support us as needed!” —Isabella Edano (Class of 2025)
Where do students from out of state stay when they come to Waco for labs?
Students are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses during labs. Waco offers lots of hotel options, but most commuting students prefer to group up with classmates and share the cost of a short-term rental (i.e., Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.) in the area. This reduces overall expenses and gives students an opportunity to get to know each other and have fun outside of class.
Is there time for fun outside of lab?
When lab is finished each day, students have the opportunity to continue to practice and study with classmates in the Baylor DPT Student Center, or they can take some time to relax and enjoy the company of classmates. Some favorite after-hours activities include going to the SLC on Baylor’s main campus where students can play volleyball, basketball, work out, swim, etc. Students also love exploring downtown Waco, visiting one of the many coffee shops around town, or relaxing with down time at their Airbnb.
