Hybrid & Online Teaching

Diverse group of students learning online with teacher via video conference

Hybrid and Online Teaching at UTA

Online and hybrid teaching are central to The University of Texas at Arlington’s mission of access, flexibility, and student success. Across undergraduate and graduate programs, UTA serves a large and growing population of students who learn fully online or through courses that blend online and face‑to‑face instruction. These modalities support working students, place‑bound learners, graduate professionals, and students balancing complex life responsibilities—while also offering faculty new opportunities for flexible, inclusive, and innovative course design.

At CRTLE, we support faculty in teaching effectively and intentionally across online, hybrid, and hyflex environments, focusing on pedagogy, learning design, engagement, accessibility, and sustainable teaching practices.

How Prevalent Is Online Teaching at UTA?

Online learning is not a niche activity at UTA. It is a significant and established part of the university’s instructional ecosystem.

22,000+ Fully Online Students

37,216 Students in Online Courses

Among National Leaders in Online Graduate Education

Quality Matters–Certified Standards

  • In recent academic years, more than 22,000 UTA students have been enrolled exclusively in online coursework, with thousands more taking a mix of online and in‑person classes. Source: CDE Annual Report 2024
  • Students taking at least one online course is at 37,216, reflecting student demand for flexible pathways to degree completion. Source: CDE Annual Report 2024
  • UTA consistently ranks among national leaders in online graduate education, particularly in nursing and education programs.
  • UTA is an institutional member of Quality Matters (QM), a nationally recognized organization that supports quality assurance in online and hybrid course design. QM’s research‑based rubric provides a shared framework for evaluating and improving online courses, and it is used to review all online courses developed through the Center for Distance Education.

Online and hybrid courses span nearly every college at UTA and are supported by a robust infrastructure of instructional design, technology, faculty development, and student services.

Major Online and Hybrid Programs at UTA

UTA offers a wide range of fully online degree and certificate programs, as well as hundreds of online and hybrid courses embedded within face to face programs. A current list of UTA’s fully online programs is maintained by the university and updated regularly: Many additional programs incorporate hybrid, blended, or online flexible courses, allowing students to complete significant portions of their degrees online even if the program itself is not fully remote.

UTA Online Programs

Teaching Modalities at UTA

UTA formally recognizes multiple teaching modalities, each with distinct instructional considerations:

  • Online (Asynchronous): Instruction and assessments occur fully online without scheduled meeting times.
  • Online (Synchronous): Instruction occurs online at scheduled times.
  • Hybrid: Courses intentionally combine face‑to‑face and online learning activities.
  • Face‑to‑Face: Instruction occurs primarily in person.
Teaching Modalities at UTA (CRTLE)

Key UTA Units Supporting Online & Hybrid Teaching

Online teaching at UTA is supported through collaboration across multiple units, each with a distinct role:

Center for Distance Education (CDE)

CDE provides:

  • Instructional design support for online courses and programs
  • Canvas administration and training
  • Accessibility‑focused course development
  • Media production services
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Office of Information Technology (OIT)

OIT supports:

  • Microsoft Teams
  • Classroom and instructional technologies
  • UTA Remote resources
  • Technical troubleshooting and ServiceNow support
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CRTLE (Center for Research on Teaching and Learning Excellence)

CRTL E focuses on:

  • Evidence‑based online and hybrid pedagogy
  • Faculty development workshops and learning communities
  • Course design strategies that support engagement, equity, and student success
  • Teaching with AI, accessibility, and inclusive practices

CRTLE works alongside CDE and OIT to support the teaching side of online learning—not just the technology.

Core Tools for Online & Hybrid Teaching at UTA

Faculty commonly use the following platforms when teaching online or hybrid courses:

  • Canvas (UTA’s Learning Management System)
  • Microsoft Teams (synchronous sessions, meetings, collaboration)
  • Echo360 (lecture capture and video delivery)
  • Canvas Studio (short instructional videos and feedback)
  • DesignPlus (course design and layout tools)

Training and documentation for these tools are available through CDE, OIT, and CRTLE and will be highlighted throughout this site.

What You’ll Find on This Page (and What’s Coming Next)

This page serves as a starting point for pedagogy support for faculty teaching online or hybrid courses. Upcoming sub‑pages will include:

  • Designing effective online courses
  • Hybrid and hyflex teaching strategies
  • Accessibility and inclusive design
  • Student engagement and presence online
  • Assessment and academic integrity
  • AI‑supported teaching in online environments
  • Tool‑specific guides and tutorials

Whether you’re teaching online for the first time or refining an established course, CRTLE is here to support you.