A Unique Combination of Classroom and Online Learning

Students engage in intensive instruction and collaborative learning in a hybrid format that allows for maximum efficiency and networking with faculty and classmates. Programs combine the energy of face-to-face learning with the convenience of interactive learning. Each semester, depending on whether they are full or part-time, students gather for two to four days a month in San Francisco, where they engage in concentrated classroom time (as well as informal hallway conversations, breaks in the sun, student club meetings, and lunches spent catching up with friends). Classes are comprised of far more than lectures, with breakout groups, presentations, and lively discussion affording the chance for students to get to know each other and collaborate.

When not attending class in-person, students meet and work together virtually through the School’s online instructional platform. This interactive network serves as a virtual classroom portal where students have access to all assignments, participate in forum discussions, conduct team-based projects, download resources, and submit assignments for feedback. Our students work on many team projects, which require regular meetings—conducted either in-person or virtually—and provide the chance to develop close working relationships and friendships. Some former team members meet long after their projects end: getting together socially, collaborating on business ideas, and offering feedback and advice on job searches and career direction.

The School also utilizes several other distance-learning resources to enhance educational outcomes, such as webinars and teleconference services.  While our students consistently tell us that they value the flexibility, Presidio is far from a wholly virtual experience. Days when students come together are rich with ideas, networking, spending time with friends, and creating new ties. Classroom learning provides a foundation that enables the virtual elements of the program to further enhance the sense of community that is the hallmark of a Presidio education.