Online Instructional Design Degree Programs

Online instructional design degree programs are a good option for those who enjoy working with learners in a technology-based environment whether face-to-face or virtually.

Locating good instructional design masters and instructional design PhD programs is a step toward this direction. Instructional design degree programs listed on this site are accredited. It is important to get your degree from an accredited program because it enhances your career mobility and provides greater flexibility in the types of jobs that you can apply for. Many employers require a degree from an accredited university. It is important to enroll in an accredited program for the purposes of transferring credits or joining another degree, for example a Ph.D. Again, most schools will not accept credits from an unaccredited institution and you will have wasted your money and time. Some colleges and universities offer Masters in Instructional Design while others offer a PhD in Instructional Design and other related degrees including the ones listed below.

Selected Instructional Technology Degree Programs

University of Phoenix

• Master of Arts in Education/Adult Education and Training
• Master of Arts in Education/Curriculum and Instruction-Computer Education
• Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership with a Specialization in Educational Technology

Walden University

• B. S. in Instructional Design and Technology - - General Program
  • Instructional Design and Technology - Business and Organizational Change
  • Instructional Design and Technology - Human Factors and Interface Design
• M. S. in Instructional Design and Technology - General
• M. S. in Instructional Design and Technology - Training and Performance Improvement
• M. S. in Instructional Design and Technology - Online Learning
• Instructional Design Certificate
• Master of Science in Education - Adolescent Literacy and Technology
• Master of Science in Education - Integrating Technology in the Classroom: Grades K-12
• Online Teaching (Post-Doc. Certificate)
• Education Specialist - Educational Technology
• Ph.D. in Education - Educational Technology

Capella University - Online

• MS - Instructional Design for Online Learning
• PhD - Information Technology Education
• PhD - Instructional Design for Online Learning

Kaplan University

• MS in Education - Instructional Technology (K-12)
• MS in Education in Instructional Technology - Adult Learning - Higher Education
• MS in Education in Instructional Technology - Adult Learning - Organizations
• Graduate Certificate in Teaching with Technology

Northcentral University - Graduate

• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Education - Education Technology and E-Learning
• Master of Education (MEd) - Education Technology and E-Learning
• Doctor of Education (EdD) - Education Technology and E-Learning
• Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD) - Education Technology and E-Learning

Post University

• Master of Education (M.Ed.) - Instructional Design & Technology

Jones International University

• M. Ed. in K - 12 Instructional Technology
• M. Ed. in K - 12 Instructional Technology

• M. Ed. - Learning and Technology

Strayer University

• M.ED.: Instructional Technology

American InterContinental University

• Master's of Education (M. Ed.) in Instructional Technology

Devry University

• Master's - Educational Technology (Online Only)
• Graduate Certificate in Educational Management

Nova Southeastern University

• Doctor of Philosophy in Computing Technology in Education
• Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning (M.A.T.L.) - K-12 Technology Integration
• Master of Science in Information Technology in Education

Boise State University

• Master of Science (M.S.) in Educational Technology
• Master of Educational Technology (M.ET.)

Locate Educational Technology Degree Programs in your area

Search for Instructional Design Online Programs

Instructional Design and Technology Training and Education

Prospective students in masters in instructional design and technology degree programs should consider several factors when choosing between different instructional design degree programs. For example, future career plans, interest and expertise in various specializations, geographic mobility, distance learning opportunities, and financial resources. These guidelines suggest some information gathering techniques to assist prospective students in choosing a program. Different schools use different names for their programs, for example:

• Computer Education and Technology
• Educational Technology
• Educational Multimedia
• Educational Technology
• Instructional Design and Development
• Instructional Technology
• Instructional Systems
• Instructional Systems Technology
• Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation
• Instructional Design and Technology
• Instructional and Performance Technology
• Learning Technologies

Closely related to degrees in instructional design are Adult Education and Training and Performance Improvement degrees and concentrations, as well as instructional design certification programs.

Below is a summary that is intended to help you figure out the options that best suite your needs. Contact individual universities you may be interested for in-depth information regarding their programs, course offerings, distance education programs, admissions, financial aid, and degrees. If possible, visiting the schools that offer the instructional design degree program, and/or talking to faculty members can help you select the program that best meets your goals. Also take time to examine facilities such as computer and library resources, affordability, housing, and extra-curricular activities, possibilities of employments and internships are some issues that you should examine.

Generally, instructional design masters degree programs require a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (often higher) on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent, e.g., B average). Many programs in the United States require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)Test scores. Some accept the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Some instructional design programs have no entry test requirements. Students from outside the United States may be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Most programs request that students provide letters of recommendation and a statement of educational and professional objectives. Some programs, especially Ph.D. programs may also require a personal interview. In some programs, new students may be required to demonstrate computer skills early in the program.

Instructional Masters Degree Programs

Given the areas of emphasis listed above, there may be considerable variations in the curricula offered by the programs, such as the number and types of required courses. The number of academic credit hours required for a master's degree averages about 36 semester hours or 72 quarter hours. Some programs offer full-time programs, while others may have more students attending on a part time basis. For this reason, many instructional design degree programs that have on-campus courses offer evening classes. Depending on the school you may work toward a Master of Science (M. Sc.), Master of Arts (M.A.), or Master of Education (M.Ed).

Examples of Instructional Design Courses

While these may vary from program to program common I.D. courses include: Educational psych logy, instructional design foundations, learner analysis, adult learning theory, Analysis of Performance Systems, Project Management, and Evaluation of Instructional Systems. Of course the names of the courses will vary by school but in essence, the goal is to cover various aspects of ADDIE (Analysis Design Develop Implement, Evaluate).

Difference Between Instructional Design PhD and Ed. D Degrees

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Doctor of Education (Ed .D) degrees both take longer to complete. Although these also vary from program to program, the main difference between major Ph.D. and Ed .D degrees is the design and intent of the programs.

An EdD instructional design degree program generally prepares practitioners. A program would include coursework, internships, and independent work in learning and direction, staff development, supervising, evaluation, and research synthesis. After graduating from instructional design degree programs, many people chose to work in school settings and universities. The Ph.D. program is a research degree and includes coursework, internships, and independent work in research designing, data analysis, and instructional theory.

Ph.D. graduates tend to work in universities and research-based environments. Therefore a Ph.D. is based on original research while a Ed .D is practice oriented. Even with full time studies few people complete a program of study in less than four years, and part time students can take up to seven years. As with the masters degree be sure not to take too long to or you will start to lose credit hours. Doctorate programs require the completion of residency requirements (each school will define their residency requirements). Candidates are also required to work on a dissertation after completion of the coursework. This phase of the program is often referred to as ABD (all but dissertation.

Plan a program of study based on an assessment of your past experiences, education, personal strengths and interests, geographic mobility, intended career path, and future plans. During your time in the instructional design degree programs, you should be aware of job market opportunities but you should not necessarily let them dictate your choice to specialize.

Faculty advisors in instructional design degree programs can help you in the process of developing a program of study that fits your needs. The programs have required courses to provide general preparation to practice in the profession. Some programs also offer specialized tracks or courses that permit or encourage concentration in a specific area as listed above. The opportunity to specialize in instructional design degree programs depends on the availability of relevant courses, on focused class projects. If you are interested in a certificate in instructional technology.

Instructional Design Careers

Graduates work in a variety of different settings in corporations, schools, universities, government, military, and non-governmental organizations (NGO's) just to name a few areas.

Areas of Specialization in Instructional Design Degree Programs

Instructional design degree programs offer different areas of specialization to prepare their students. Instructional designers, instructional technologist, or e-learning specialists work in a variety of different settings in corporations, schools, universities, government, military, non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and in the medical professions. Many students enter a master's program knowing what they want to do when they graduate, some have not made a decision, and some see their interests shift once they are exposed to the wide variety of types and settings in which they can work.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics the incomes of graduates of online instructional design degree programs vary widely depending on the job title. Curriculum designers earn a median salary of about $60,000 while corporate trainers earn around $92,000 a year. Teachers in K12 average about $53,000 annually while school administrators earn over $82,000 a year. According to Salary.com, as of 2009, the average salary for an Instructional Designer was $52,44 with a range of $33,617 to $78,444 per year.