Best Master's Degrees in Instructional Design

It is most common for students entering instructional design master's programs to hold a bachelor's degree in education; however, these master's programs typically do not require applicants to have a specific major. Some programs do prefer those with teaching or instructional design experience, so students with a background in education will be at an advantage. Students who have earned a bachelor's degree in education may already have their teaching license or certification, which can also be required for some instructional coordinator positions.

The admissions process and requirements vary amongst instructional design master's programs, but usually, students are required to hold at least a bachelor's degree. Several programs require applicants to meet a minimum GPA, typically between a 2.75 and 3.0. Some programs require students to take the GRE or MAT and submit their scores, while other programs, do not. Some students are only required to take the GRE if their GPA falls below the minimum standard for the program. Depending on the program, students may need to complete an interview process. Additional application materials vary by program but may include transcripts, letters of recommendation, a resume or CV, and a goal statement or personal statement.

Instructional design programs are ideal for students who have a passion for education, planning lessons, and working with teachers. These programs help prepare teachers and other professionals for more administrative and leadership-based positions within schools, but can also be applied to careers in other settings, such as training and development in businesses. Moving into these advanced leadership positions often comes with an increase in salary. The website, PayScale.com, reported that graduates with an MS in Instructional Design made a median annual salary of $62,142, as of December 2020. The site also stated that those with an MEd in Instructional Design made slightly more with a median annual salary of $70,035, as of February 2021.

Students trying to decide between master's programs in instructional design should first consider what type of degree they want to earn. For instance, students who know they want to work in education may choose an MEd over an MS for its emphasis on educational theories and concepts, or those interested in incorporating technology into instructional design may choose an instructional design and technology program over one in learning and design. Another important consideration is format. Students need to choose a program that fits their personal schedule and needs, such as online, on-campus, full-time, or part-time formats. Finally, some programs offer unique learning experiences, including capstone experiences, available 4+1 degrees where students earn their bachelor's and master's degree, and additional concentration areas.

Master's degree programs in instructional design can require between 30 and 36 credits of coursework. Some of these programs can be completed in as few as 10 to 16 months. Most commonly, the curriculum for these programs is set up with core courses and elective courses. However, there are programs available that offer additional areas of concentration. Typically, master's programs in instructional design conclude with a capstone course of some kind to help students review and apply what they have learned. These programs do not usually lead to teacher certification in states. Get more details on the curriculum for these programs below.

Instructional Design Foundational Courses

Students in instructional design master's programs will likely take 15 credits or more of core instructional design courses. These courses are designed to provide students with the theories and concepts of instructional design, implementation, and evaluation, as well as the technical and planning skills required to do so. Most programs conclude with a capstone experience, but the options are usually unique to the program. For example, some programs include a capstone course with a final project, while others offer a field internship experience, advanced seminar, or master's thesis option. These final experiences are intended to help students apply what they have learned to real-world situations and prepare for their careers in the field. Other core course topics for these programs include:

• Diversity and equity in education
• Instructional leadership
• Production of instructional resources
• Learning and technology
• Evaluation
• Educational project management
• Trends and issues in instructional design
• Learning theory and curriculum design

Instructional Design Specialist & Elective Courses

Depending on the setup of the program, students may take 12 to 15 credits of elective coursework or courses in a given concentration. Some programs offer concentrations in specific areas or careers of the field, some of which may lead to professional certifications, such as a school library media specialist with state certification or a supervisor's certification with state-specific certification. Other programs allow students to choose electives from any department, while still other programs design electives to help students focus their studies in a particular subfield, such as literacy, educational technology, or English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Other elective courses may be available in:

• Design
• Diversity
• Interdisciplinary STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)
• Educational technology
• Management of change
• Program evaluation
• Management of instructional development
• Online collaborative learning

Licensure & Certification in Instructional Design

Licensure or certification requirements for graduates of instructional design programs vary by position and state. For example, many graduates of these master's programs go on to work in administrative positions as instructional coordinators. Depending on the state and the type of school they work in, these professionals can be required to hold a teaching license or education administrator license. Requirements for these licenses or certifications vary by state, but teacher licensure or certification usually requires a bachelor's degree, background check, student teaching program, and passing an exam. Administrators typically need to pass a background check and exam and hold a master's degree. Other positions related to instructional design can also have their own certifications. Training and development managers, for example, can pursue professional certification to demonstrate their expertise in the field. Certification for these professionals is available from organizations such as the International Society for Performance Improvement or the Association for Talent Development.

Students wanting to move into even more advanced positions or more research- and leadership-based positions, can pursue a doctoral degree in instructional design. Doctoral programs in the field may be ideal for those wishing to work as professors in education. These programs are commonly offered as Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Education (EdD) degrees. They come with titles such as instructional design and technology or learning design and technology. Some of these programs can be completed in as few as 3 years and are available fully online.

Instructional designers or coordinators need to stay updated on the current trends in education, as well as get ideas for their schools and new ways to implement curriculum and change. A great way to do that is to join a professional organization involved in instructional design. Not only do these organizations provide professional development opportunities, but they connect professionals in the field from all over the country or world, which can increase the flow and sharing of ideas. Professionals in instructional design may consider joining a professional organization such as:

• Quality Matters Instructional Designers Association- As a subgroup of Quality Matters, QM IDA offers membership to professionals in the field. The group's website also offers a job board, a research library, and information concerning upcoming events. Professionals can also take advantage of the organization's professional development workshops, webinars, and QM-certified programs and courses for continuing education.
• International Society for Technology in Education- ISTE aims to help educators use technology to address a wide range of issues in the field. Membership is available from the individual to corporate level and professionals can explore ISTE standards from the group's website. Professionals also have access to events, podcasts, journals, blogs, and other resources.

Many graduates with a master's degree in instructional design go on to work careers in education. They can move into administrative positions with various kinds of titles, including certified instructional designer or curriculum developer. There are even some instructional designer jobs designed for specific types of programs, such as instructional designers for E-learning programs. Since education occurs in most fields, some graduates go on to work outside of education and can apply their instructional design skills to a wide range of organizations in an array of industries. For example, graduates may work in the government, military, insurance, healthcare, social service organizations, and more. Some specific job titles for graduates can include:

• Project manager
• E-learning coordinator
• Corporate trainer
• Educational consultant
• Learning strategies director

Job Outlook for a Master's in Instructional Design

Overall, the job outlook for graduates with a master's degree in instructional design is good. Graduates typically qualify for a variety of advanced positions in various fields, which greatly helps increase job prospects. With the growing emphasis in education on student achievement, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the job outlook for instructional coordinators is 6% from 2019 to 2029. This is faster than the average and equates to 11,400 new positions over the decade. Even related positions are expected to have faster than the average job growth, with the BLS stating that training and development managers have a job outlook of 7% from 2019 to 2029.

How to Become an Instructional Coordinator

Instructional coordinators are typically required to have at least a master's degree. Their degree can be in curriculum and instruction, education, or another closely related area. These coordinators also usually need to have some related work experience, such as teaching or administration experience. Some positions can require teaching experience in a particular grade level or subject area. Instructional coordinators who work in public schools typically need to have a state-issued license or certification, such as a teaching or administration certification.

Instructional coordinators work closely with teachers and school administrators to help manage teaching standards and school curriculum. They help design curriculum, organize teacher training for the curriculum, and oversee the implementation of curriculum. They also evaluate the effectiveness of curriculum and adjust teaching procedures as needed. Instructional coordinators provide input for educational materials and train and mentor teachers. As of 2019, the BLS recorded a median annual salary of $66,290 for instructional coordinators.

How to Become a Training and Development Manager

Training and development managers work in a variety of industries, including educational services, management, and healthcare. Usually, these managers need at least a bachelor's degree, but some positions require a master's degree. Training and development managers can have an educational background in areas such as education, business administration, behavioral psychology, or other related fields. These managers typically have some work experience in training and development, education, or management. Professional certification is available in the field and can help managers stay competitive.

Training and development managers are responsible for training an organization's staff and improving their knowledge and skills in their particular field. These managers begin by identifying an organization's goals and staff training needs and then create and oversee training programs. Managing these programs requires training and development managers to maintain a budget, select training materials, train instructors as needed, and evaluate how well programs are working. Per the BLS, training and development managers made a median annual salary of $113,350 as of 2019.

When considering the cost of a program, students should research fees, books and materials, costs of living, and other expenses in addition to tuition rates. To help cover these various costs, students need to use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to check their qualification for federal and state loans and grants. If additional costs remain, students can apply for other forms of financial aid, including outside grants and scholarships.

Students may earn scholarships for a variety of reasons, including their area of study, academic success, ethnicity, financial need, and more. Several schools that offer master's programs in instructional design also offer various forms of financial aid for graduate students in these programs. A couple of examples include:

• Syracuse University- Syracuse University offers an MS in Instructional Design, Development, and Evaluation, and as of Summer 2021, the School of Education is planning on offering enough scholarships to students to reduce the cost of a master's degree by 50%. The School of Education has several endowed scholarships that approximately 15% of graduate students receive and are considered for automatically at admission.
• Pepperdine University- Pepperdine University offers an MS in Learning Design and Technology through their Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP). The GSEP provides the average student with over $7,000 in scholarships to help cover costs.