Online Blended Online Learning Certificate (BOLT)
In today’s world, the need for online and blended learning is an ongoing necessity for higher education, K-12 schools, and corporate employee training. The ability to create, manage, and facilitate online learning is of the upmost importance for educators in countless fields. The University of Cincinnati Online’s Blended Online Learning and Teaching (BOLT) graduate certificate program sets students up to meet these demands by gaining skills in education, design, and information technology.
What is Blended Online Learning and Teaching?
Blended Online Learning and Teaching (BOLT) graduate certificate teaches current, technology-based learning modes, which require very specific skills in combining facilitation, collaboration, learning design, management, and assessment. BOLT combines digital educational materials for interaction online with traditional classroom curriculum. UC Online’s students will gain a good technological understanding of the nature of online and blended learning experiences; how they differ from traditional, in person classrooms; and how to make curriculum engaging, through a virtual platform.
Blended Online Learning and Teaching Certificate Overview
High Quality Education
By the end of the program, students will be able to:
- Develop strategies to encourage active learning, application, interaction, participation, and collaboration in online and blended environments
- Facilitate effective learning in online and blended learning environments
- Demonstrate mastery of contemporary learning technologies
- Explain the instructional delivery continuum, including associated strengths and affordances
- Remain cognizant of student academic needs and make appropriate accommodations
- Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards
The University of Cincinnati Online also offers a Master’s of Education in Instructional Design and Technology degree. Our M.Ed in Instructional Design is a 30 credit hour program that sets students up to meet online teaching demands by gaining skills in education, design, and information technology.
Flexibility
- 100% online: no campus visits are required
- Meets the current demands of teaching remotely and socially distanced formats
- Scholarships available now: Eligible students applying for the certificate program may qualify for the Professional Development Award equating to $132 off per credit hour, fees included, and the application fee is waived as well.
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your partner through the application process, getting enrolled, and starting your program
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
The online Blended Learning and Teaching (BOLT) program is 15 credit hours and can be completed in 1 year. It is designed for students to take two courses in the fall, and one-two courses in the spring and summer semesters (to complete the graduate certificate in one academic year).
By graduation, you will be able to understand the nature of blended and online learning, how it differs from traditional teaching approaches, and the challenges and benefits of teaching and learning in the blended and online environment.
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| IDT7100 | Designing Online Assessments for Data-Driven Decisions Data is at the core of educational reform and should be used to inform teaching practice. The purpose of this course is to design assessments that allow instructors to make data-driven decisions to improve their instruction. It will include the evaluation and comparison of currently employed measures of assessment in online environments for their effectiveness in evaluating learner progress and underlying instructional methods. The course will cover the continuous improvement cycle of online assessments. Beginning with backward design, students will learn how to align learning outcomes, learning activities, and online assessments. Based on intended learning outcomes, students will design a variety of formative and summative assessments and learn how to use technology to improve the quality of those assessments. Finally, students will analyze the data generated from these assessments to create an instructional plan to improve student learning, enhance their instructional activities, and make adjustments to the assessments. |
3 |
| IDT7130 | Applications and Issues of Teaching with Technology This course provides an overview of the increasingly complex array of digital media and technology-based resources available for use in blended and online environments. Students will apply theory to practice to truly redefine lessons to enhance learning through technology. Students will also learn practical skills, ranging from facilitation skills needed to manage a technology-based class to troubleshooting technology problems. The course also explores burning issues surrounding educational technology such as inequalities and accessibility issues, technology distractions, internet safety, and other ethical issues. It also examines the disruptive innovation of Generative AI on teaching and learning. |
3 |
| IDT7160 | Multimedia Studio This course covers the essential skills and techniques needed to create powerful multimedia products. Students will learn fundamental design principles and adopt a wide range of innovative technologies to generate new solutions for visual communication and multimedia representation. The course provides a dynamic interactive design space where students actively collaborate with peers, gain valuable hands-on experience, and exchange constructive feedback. |
3 |
| IDT8030 | Design of Blended and Online Learning Environments This course guides students through the process of designing and developing successful online learning. Students will explore a variety of learning environments, learn how to incorporate instructional models, instructional strategies, and digital media effectively into the design process, and create a complete instructional unit that promotes learner engagement and motivation. |
3 |
| SPED7052 | Universal Design for Learning This course provides an overview of how the principles of Universal Design for Learning can be used to design online and blended learning experiences that meet the needs of diverse learners including those who are accelerated and those who are struggling for a variety of reasons. Special attention will be given to integrating technologies, such as Generative AI, multimedia, and other digital tools, that support student engagement, authentic learning, and general accessibility supports. |
3 |
Prerequisites
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university
- Overall minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (recommended)*
*Candidates who graduated from a non-accredited college or university or who do not meet the minimum grade point averages requirement for admission will need a waiver from the School of Education. For the program to request a waiver, the candidate must provide evidence that address mastery of the knowledge prerequisite to the courses required by the program, acceptable writing skills, the ability to engage in critical thinking, and a personal commitment to completing the program. The evidence must convincingly demonstrate the candidate’s potential for success in graduate level work.
Admission Materials
- One Letter of Recommendation
- Goal Statement
- Resume or CV
- Unofficial Transcripts
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees:
- $65.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $70.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- $20.00 for domestic applicants to Graduate Certificates
- $25.00 for international applicants to Graduate Certificates
- Application fees are waived for Summer 2026 applications submitted by March 1st, 2026
- Application fees are waived for Fall 2026 applications submitted by July 1st, 2026
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who:
- are currently serving in the US armed forces
- are veterans of the US armed forces
All applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts during the application process, showing all undergraduate and graduate course work completed, including degrees granted and dates of conferral.
Official transcripts are not required until the student has received and accepted an offer of admission from the university. Once the offer has been confirmed, the student must submit official transcripts.
Students who have received degrees from the University of Cincinnati do not need to submit official paper copies of their UC transcripts.
Transcripts can be submitted electronically or by mail. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly. Then, mail your sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
Please mail sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
One letter of recommendation is required.
- Recommendations should come from individuals who can attest to your academic and professional skills. References from current and former employers are always desirable. Additionally, recommendations from contacts within academia or professional organizations you’re involved in are also desirable.
- Those writing letters should explain who they are, their relationship to the applicant, and what they know of the applicant’s academic and professional abilities.
- Letters of recommendation from family, friends or current students are not accepted.
- Recommendations are submitted by the recommender themselves; they cannot be completed or submitted by the applicant or another party on behalf of the reference.
Professional Resume:
A resume relevant to academic and professional data. It should include the applicant’s name; phone; email; colleges attended with degrees, dates conferred, and grade point average; employment history; professional experience; present employer; and names of references.
Curriculum Vitae:
A detailed look at the applicant’s career path, including achievements, publications, and awards. Including comprehensive information about candidate’s research background, presentations, publications, committee memberships and other experience of an academic, clinical, or scientific nature.
The goal statement serves as a sample of the applicant’s writing quality and ensures their goals match with the program. It should denote applicant’s desired program concentration (if applicable) and highlight applicant’s motivation for pursuing a career in the field, and how the program will benefit them.
No GRE is required of applicants.
GRE scores are optional for admission. Scores are recommended to strengthen applications that may be weak in areas. For example, applicants with a minimum undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0 should include GRE scores with their application.
International students are required to provide specific information about their transcripts. Transcripts must have a course-by-course evaluation completed from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
English Proficiency Requirement: English proficiency is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. Students can demonstrate proficiency in a number of ways at the graduate level.
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Summer 2026 Fall 2026 Spring 2027 |
April 15, 2026 July 15, 2026 December 1, 2026 |
May 11, 2026 August 24, 2026 January 11, 2027 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
Ready to get started?
We offer over 130 degrees from undergraduate to doctoral programs. Each program is supported by a team of Enrollment Services Advisors (ESAs) who are here to help answer any questions you have.