Online Graduate Certificate in Business Foundations
A strong understanding in business can be a competitive advantage for individuals in almost any industry. Whether you’re looking to gain a solid foundation in business for professional growth or explore a single subject, the University of Cincinnati’s online Business Foundations Certificate is designed to help you enhance your skills and knowledge in key business disciplines including accounting, finance, management and marketing.
Business Foundations Graduate Certificate Highlights
High Quality Education
Led by the same award-winning faculty as our graduate programs, the certificate courses are offered entirely online to better accommodate the schedule constraints of working professionals. This certificate provides a foundation in key business disciplines such as accounting, finance, marketing, and management. The certificate is deliberately designed with maximum flexibility to allow students to tailor the program to their individual interests and career needs. The certificate includes six core courses (10 credit hours) and one elective course (two credit hours).
Depending on the options chosen, a participant can complete many of the foundational courses necessary to enter the Lindner College of Business’ Master of Business Administration (MBA) program or apply the courses toward one of the college’s eight specialized master’s programs.
Flexibility
- 100% online
- Only 12 credit hours
- Start in the fall, spring, or summer semester
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your go-to resource during the application process
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
Admittance to the Business Foundations Certificate program is highly selective and based on a combination of criteria including academic and professional achievement, communication skills and a proven history of leadership.
Prerequisites
- Must hold a bachelor’s degree
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 for UC Online programs are waived through Fall 2026 for all applicants who apply by July 1, 2026
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who:
- Are currently serving in the US armed forces
- Are veterans of the US armed forces
You can find more information here. Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year. Please review and submit the following materials:
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.
For questions regarding international students, contact an Enrollment Services Advisor.
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
Current resume or CV.
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Summer 2026 Fall 2026 |
April 1, 2026 July 1, 2026 |
May 11, 2026 August 24, 2026 |
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.
- The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
- The Carl H. Lindner College of Business holds AACSB accreditation. AACSB International business accreditation is an achievement earned only by programs of the highest caliber. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review. Less than one-third of U.S. business school programs and only 15% of business school programs worldwide meet the rigorous standards of AACSB International accreditation.
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