Baylor University Top Questions

Academics at Baylor are awesome. The teachers are passionate about their subjects and are (mostly) willing to help you whenever you need it! The classes are challenging, but I've always appreciated it because it motivates you to really study and learn what you need to know for your classes. Baylor also has a ton of help for anyone who is struggling in their classes or doesn't know what they want to do for their future.

Challenging but educational

I know all the professors in my department on a first name basis and they all know my name. Classes are just challenging enough to stimulate mental growth and there are plenty of places to study. There is a ton of coffee spots and lounge areas. The education is very practical.

I'm in the business school, and I am loving it! The professors here are really there to help the students.

Almost all professors know me by name. My favorite classes have been in the Philosophy department, Psychology and Neuroscience department, and honors classes for the BIC (Baylor Interdisciplinary Core). Class participation is common and you will find the libraries crowded. If you join the BIC, yes, intellectual conversations outside of class are a given. Students are both competitive and cooperative. The most unique class I have taken is Social Philosophy. It is a senior level course that I am taking as a Sophomore and reading Rawls and Sandel has been an incredible enough. If you are looking for an intellectual challenge, I cannot recommend the BIC program enough. I spend a great deal of time outside of class with my professors. It is not mandatory though, but if you enjoy it, I would certainly recommend spending time with professors. It's a great deal of fun. The academic requirements are very flexible depending on the program you decide to pursue. The education is geared toward learning for its own sake, with an emphasis on finding one's calling. Yet, there are many students present whose only objective is to get a degree so they can get a job.

Baylor is very academically focused. I am a business student at the Hankamer School of Business and they take academics very seriously. I like to equate being in the business school to general life - if you want to succeed like crazy, there are opportunities to do so & if you want to just coast get a degree, you can probably do that too. I am rarely caught NOT talking about a new company idea, economics, etc. Students are very friendly about the material, but are equally capable of turning it all off and just having a relaxing evening.

In general, professors care about you. They make an effort to not only know your name but learn something about you. Some classes have lots of student participation, in others professors just like to lecture. Class size is usually pretty small but there are some that are bigger freshmen year or for university requirements such as religion. Oh yah, you are required to take two semester of religion classes and attend chapel for two semesters. But don't strike out Baylor just because they make you take religion. Its actually an extremely interesting class where you learn not only about Christianity but other religions as well. Plus, for most students they are an easy GPA booster. Please don't think Baylor will be an easy ride. I don't know as much about other majors, but I am a Biology major and find many classes to be extremely challenging. I know I have learned a lot and feel like my professors have prepared me for my future career.

The academics at this school are excellent. I have had a few unpleasant experiences regarding unfair professors, but overall, I have enjoyed my learning experience here. Class sizes are small and professors tend to always know your name. The workload is tough (depending on your major) and you can expect to spend a lot of time outside of class studying. Baylor tells you that you should set aside two hours of study for every credit hour you take, but I would bump it up to three hours. Attendance in class is required, but I actually enjoy that aspect because it motivates me to attend and I end up learning a lot more because of that. One thing that I feel is lacking is a liberal arts perspective. When I first toured Baylor, they made it seem like this school was very focused on learning for its own sake, but, after 2 years here, I have realized that the liberal arts education is weak. We spend 12 hours on chapel and religion when I would rather be taking an humanities course. However, that is what you sign up for when you go to a Christian University. Additionally, I feel as if Baylor students are not as intellectually-minded as most private school students. There is a large focus on the fraternity and sorority scene, and having an intellectual debate or discussion outside of class is rare. One thing that I do appreciate is that Baylor is very good about preparing you for the workforce, and the free career counseling services are excellent. After three sessions, I figured out a plan of action to help my dreams come true.

It only takes a very minimal amount of effort to have professors know your name here, because most classes are under 30 students. Study habits range the full gamut, though my impression is that most students generally try and be good, productive students and work for their grades. In the Engineering department, many students live in the same dorm and spend time outside of class studying and hanging out together. In general, most academic courses are fairly rigorous - this is not an easy school, but it is a rewarding education.

I know all the professors in my department on a first name basis and they all know my name. Classes are just challenging enough to stimulate mental growth and there are plenty of places to study. There is a ton of coffee spots and lounge areas. The education is very practical. The only major problem I have with this school (It is a Baptist university) are the required religious classes. You have to attend chapel, where the school spends an entire year making students listen to speakers preach morality, Jesus, and "Godliness". Not necessarily in a good way. I wanted to rip many of the speakers a new one and the christian music they play all the time was awful. Everyone is made to stand up and sing along. It really feels like a cult sometimes. You are kicked out and have to make it up if you are not attentive and promptly on time. If you miss 6 or 7 you have to retake it the following semester. It's ridiculous. It was one of the most terrible experiences I have had here. Along with chapel you are made to take two other religious classes, basically to read the bible and feed the Christian mentality.