Online Master's in Instructional Design Programs
As theories of learning evolve and new teaching technologies emerge, educational researchers and practitioners integrate these developments into teaching methodologies and update existing curricula. The professionals who analyze teaching methods, design program enhancements, develop curricula, coordinate training and implementation, and evaluate outcomes work in the field of instructional design. Instructional design impacts teaching and training across public and private elementary and secondary schools, and at colleges and universities. It also has broad applications throughout the public and private sectors, in corporate training programs, healthcare, government agencies, military branches, and workforce development initiatives.
Master’s in Instructional Design programs are multidisciplinary graduate programs that prepare students to work in schools, colleges, universities, the business world, and government and nonprofit agencies, researching, evaluating, and implementing teaching innovations, educational technologies, and program improvements. Students in these programs learn to apply theories of cognition, communication, and learning to the process of designing an array of instructional programs, and cultivate project management, computer science, and information theory proficiencies. Program graduates may find employment in K-12 schools and school districts, higher education, adult education and corporate settings, and military and government settings. Common instructional design job titles include, but are not limited to, curriculum designer, online learning specialist, educational technology specialist, technology coordinator, online learning content developer, and corporate trainer.
What is a Master in Instructional Design Degree?
A master’s degree in instructional design is an academic program offered at the graduate level by an accredited college or university in which students learn the principles and practices associated with researching, evaluating, designing, and implementing better teaching tools and methods. These programs are generally offered by schools or colleges of education or professional studies and are designed for bachelor’s program graduates who are interested developing instructional programs for schools and organizations in the private and public sectors.
Students in these programs cultivate cross-disciplinary proficiencies, combining knowledge of cognitive theory and educational pedagogy with research, analysis, and evaluation methods for identifying and implementing improvements to teaching and learning. Trends and issues in contemporary education, including diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as e-learning technologies and other innovations are common subjects of study in instructional design master’s programs. In addition, most students in these programs focus on applying the skills they learn to particular areas within the field of education, from K-12 schools to colleges and universities to adult education programs that take place in workplaces, government agencies, and other educational settings.
Online Master’s in Instructional Design Programs
Many accredited colleges and universities now offer fully or mostly online Master’s in Instructional Design programs that can be completed with limited or no required campus visits. These programs utilize web-based learning management systems (LMSs) to deliver live and/or pre-recorded lectures, instructional sessions, and other learning materials. Students are typically able to access these platforms from any location as long as they have a secure Internet connection. Online students are able to interact with professors and classmates through a program’s LMS, participate in online discussion forums, and submit assignments. Depending on the course and the instructor, students may also be able to attend live online office hours and most schools have live technical support available throughout the day and night.
It is important to note that some online master’s in education programs may require students to engage in site-based internships or practical experience in order to earn their degree. These requirements typically must be completed in-person; however, most programs allow online students to complete these requirements at a location within commuting distance to their place of residence. Some students may even be able to complete these requirements at their current place of employment, depending on their program.
How OnlineEducation.com Identifies and Classifies Online Masters in Instructional Design Programs
Master’s in Instructional Design programs are generally designated as Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), or Master of Education (MEd) in Instructional Design, Instructional Design and Technology, or Learning Design and Technology programs. OnlineEducation.com researches program curricula in order to identify online programs that provide graduate training in instructional design. In addition, programs must be offered by accredited, non-profit colleges and universities.
To be classified as an online program, all or most of the program’s didactic coursework must be offered via distance-learning technologies. Therefore, on OnlineEducation.com, programs that require two or fewer campus visits per year are classified as online programs. Programs that require students to attend courses on campus more than two times per year are classified as hybrid or campus-based programs and are not included on the site. Required internships or practical experiences that students must complete in-person are not factored into the classification process as most online students are able to complete these requirements in their local community.
What Students Learn in Online Master’s in Instructional Design Programs
Core training in instructional design at the master’s degree level focuses on the practical application of various methodologies to the process of assessing and implementing improvements to existing modes of teaching and learning. The analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model and successive approximation model (SAM) are two common conceptual approaches to instructional design typically taught in master’s programs, as are the backward design, design thinking, and attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction (ARCS) models. Master’s students learn to apply these models to traditional classroom instruction, online teaching and e-learning, and educational programs in workplaces and other non-academic sites.
Many programs align their curriculum with instructional design competencies maintained by the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction (IBSTPI), a professional organization that publishes frameworks for instructional design training. In addition, most programs provide master’s students with the option of cultivating a specialization in a particular area of instructional design, either through designated concentrations or elective coursework. Common areas of specialization include but are not limited to, K-12 education, higher education, adult education, corporate training, educational technology, instructional design in healthcare, and accessibility and inclusiveness.
Common Courses in Online Master’s in Instructional Design Programs
The table below provide a representative overview of courses commonly included in Master’s in Instructional Design curricula. The names and descriptions are drawn from actual online programs offered by accredited colleges and universities.
| Course Title | Course Description |
|---|---|
| Instructional Design | Covers the fundamentals of instructional design and design models; and examines the complete instructional design process, including needs assessments, goal and context analysis, accessibility requirements, instructional strategies and materials, and evaluations. |
| Research Methods | An overview of the educational research process and the importance of research to education. Topics include: research terminology, ethical considerations in research involving human subjects, proper APA formatting of citations and references, plagiarism issues, and processes for reviewing scholarly literature. |
| Learning Sciences and Technology | Explores the learning sciences, including how learning may be fostered in designed environments; and projects may include the design of a technology-based learning environment, and evaluation of embedded theories in existing environments through games, digital media, and innovative technologies. |
| Emerging Web Technologies and Learning | Examines emerging technologies and their application to learning, education, and training. |
| Project Management and Implementation in Education and Training | Explores project management approaches in education and training; covers project management tools, methods, procedures, and leadership styles as well as change management; explores the project plan process from proposal to implementation and evaluation, including creating, monitoring, and reporting project plans; and examines resource allocation, time and resource constraints, and the scope of a project. |
| Advanced Online and Blended Learning | Covers the design and management of learning management systems (LMSs) and customer relationship management (CRM) systems; includes hands-on training in Google Classroom, Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard Learn, and more; and covers technical and non-technical aspects of instructional design and management on educational learning platforms. |
| Psychological Foundations of Education | Explores the application of psychological theories and principles of how people learn and develop to teaching and learning styles in educational careers; and covers diversity and educator effectiveness in various settings. |
| Instructional Graphics and Photography e-Portfolio Project | Students carry out the instructional design process for still images and instructional graphics, including design, development, and assessment. |
| Foundations of Master’s Studies in Education | A critical examination of relevant educational theory and its application to professional practice with a focus on scholarly writing and the importance of multicultural perspectives in professional settings. |
| Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning | Examines current theories of adult learning in young and middle-aged adults through the study of the nature of the adult learner and how to apply learning principles in adult learning settings. |
Admissions to Online Master’s in Instructional Design Programs
Admissions requirements vary by school and program. However, baseline eligibility for an online Master’s in Instructional Design program is a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Programs may have additional academic requirements, such a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale or prior coursework in education, teaching, educational psychology, educational technology, or related subject areas. In addition, some programs may require applicants to have an active teaching certification/license and/or be currently employed in an academic setting where they can complete assignments.
The application process generally requires students to submit an online application, academic transcripts, and a academic CV or professional resume. Some programs also require students to file two or three letters of recommendations and/or compose a personal goals statement or a response to a specified essay question. Standardized tests scores from the GRE or MAT test are typically not required, although some programs do still require students to take and submit scores from a standardized graduate admissions exam. Other schools make the submission of these scores optional for students who believe their scores will strengthen their application.
Online Master’s in Instructional Design Format Options
As potential applicants explore online programs, they will notice that not all online master’s programs are the same. Indeed, there are several key variables that may impact a student’s learning experiences and that are important to consider prior to submitting an application. The sections below provide an overview of differences in online instruction methods, enrollment options, and campus visit requirements that differentiate online Master’s in Instructional Design programs.
Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Instruction: There are two primary modes of online instruction: synchronous instruction and asynchronous instruction. These two modes can have a significant impact on how an online program is structured and on an individual student’s learning experience. Synchronous instruction is similar to traditional classroom learning in that it takes place in real-time and requires students to be present online for live virtual classes. Asynchronous instruction, in contrast, encompasses all learning that does not have a real-time component, including pre-recorded lectures, online discussion forums, and other instructional materials that are accessible to students 24-7.
While all programs incorporate asynchronous instruction for readings, assignments and projects, only some utilize synchronous instruction for class lectures and discussions. The advantage of synchronous instruction is that it provides a more structured learning experience for students who are used to attending weekly classes. Conversely, asynchronous instruction provides more scheduling flexibility as students are not required to be online at specific times to attend class meetings. However, asynchronous instruction requires students to exercise a greater amount of self-discipline in order to keep up with assignments and complete course requirements by set due dates in the absence of routinely scheduled class meetings. Both modes of online instruction can be equally effective, so prospective applicants should consider the differences and their learning preferences when weighing program options.
Part-Time vs. Full-Time Enrollment: Students considering an online program should also consider how much time per week they intend to devote to school, particularly if they intend work while earning their degree. Full-time enrollment in a master’s program generally requires a commitment of roughly 40 hours per week to attending classes and completing assignments. Students who enroll on a full-time basis in an online Master’s in Instructional Design program typically graduate in less than two years and may be able to complete a program in as few as 12 months of year-round enrollment.
For students who would prefer part-time enrollment, most programs offer this option. Part-time students take fewer courses per term and thus extend the time it takes to earn their degree. While the exact completion time depends on the structure of the program, most online Master’s in Instructional Design programs can be completed by part-time students in two to three years.
Campus Visits: Most online Master’s in Instructional Design programs do not require any campus visits. However, there are online programs that do require a limited number of campus visits. In general, campus visits are typically held over a long weekend or over the course of a week, and are often scheduled during the summer. Campus visits can be an appealing feature of an online program, particularly for students who enjoy travel and value meeting face-to-face with instructors and fellow classmates. For a program to be classified as an online program on OnlineEducation.com, it must offer all of its didactic instruction online or only require two or fewer campus visits per year. Programs that require more than two campus visits per year are not listed on the site.