Top Schools that Offer a Master's Degree in Instructional Design

Students can find master's degrees in instructional design through a few different colleges and universities in the United States. We've listed our top choices below in alphabetical order.

1. Florida State University

Florida State University is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It offers a Master of Science in instructional systems and learning technology through its College of Education.

This program prepares students for in-demand instructional design careers in both private and public sectors.

This is a 36-credit, two-year program that can be completed in person or online.

It includes courses such as:

• Inquiry and Measurement for Practitioners
• Introduction to Systematic Instructional Design
• Theories of Learning and Cognition in Instruction
• Trends and Issues in Instructional Design

Students who want to continue their degree can do so with a PhD in instructional systems and learning technology, or a Doctor of Education in learning design and performance technology.

2. Indiana University

Indiana University is a public research university in Bloomington, Indiana. Through its School of Education, it offers a Master of Science in instructional systems technology.

This is a 36-credit program that trains students to design effective instructional materials and implement strategies for workplace learning.

Courses offered in this program include:

• Analysis for Instructional and Performance Improvement
• Evaluation and Change in the Instructional Development Process
• Instructional and Performance Technologies Foundations
• Instructional Development and Production Process

The master's degree can be done on campus or online. An optional internship is available, and all students complete a year-long capstone project.

3. Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university in Syracuse, New York. It offers a Master of Science degree in instructional design, development, and evaluation through its School of Education.

This degree requires 30 credits and can be finished within a year of full-time study.

It includes courses such as:

• Analysis for Human Performance Technology Decisions
• Educational Technology in International Settings
• Principles of Instruction and Learning
• Strategies in Educational Project Management

The program is run cohort-style and students can attend on campus or online. Interested students can also earn their PhD in instructional design, development, and evaluation through Syracuse.

4. University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. It offers a Master of Education in instructional design and technology degree.

This is a 30-credit program that takes about a year for full-time students to complete.

It offers courses like:

• Design of Blended and Online Learning Environments
• Learning Sciences and Technology
• Tools for Online Learning Creation and Assessment
• Trends and Issues in Learning Technology Evaluation

This program is available both in person and online.

5. University of Georgia

The University of Georgia is a public research university based in Athens, Georgia. It offers a Master of Education in learning, design, and technology.

This is a two-year degree program. Available courses in this program include:

• Emerging Perspectives on Learning, Teaching, and Technology
• Evaluation and Analytics in Instructional Design
• Principles of Human Performance Technology and Analysis
• Team-Based Design of Interactive Learning Environments

This program is available online or on the Athens and Gwinnett campuses. The Athens program is a research-oriented track designed for potential doctoral students.

The program on the Gwinnett campus offers two areas of emphasis: instructional design and development and school library media.

6. University of Tampa

The University of Tampa is a private university in Tampa, Florida. It offers a Master of Science in instructional design and technology.

This degree requires 24 total credits. It includes courses such as:

• Design of Online Collaborative Learning
• Open Learning Environments in the 21st Century
• Theories of Learning and Cognition for Instruction
• Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology

Students conclude the program with a field internship capstone in instructional design and technology.