Online Distance Education Degree Programs

Why should you consider an online distance education degree? With the advent of the Internet, distance learning has revolutionized post secondary education. But who is working behind the scenes to design and develop the courses?

The convenience and flexibility of self-paced, self-directed learning remains popular with working adults and other people who have family obligations. A degree in distance education trains students to design and develop courses that address the academic, social, and personal needs of learners. With ever expanding multimedia and online technology and research in teaching and learning, this medium of instruction continues to attract more learners. With this fast-paced development, distance educators must remain current in the latest developments and instructional methods. Distance educators generally have a masters or doctorate degree in education. Many masters education distance programs offer courses in online teaching methodologies, application of educational technology, and corporate training.

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.)

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Distance Education Training

Online education degrees in distance education are offered in different concentrations. Online distance education degree programs may go by the following titles:

• Master of distance education
• Master of education in e-learning
• Specialization in online teaching
• Instructional design for online Learning
• Master of education with a concentration in e-learning
• Master of education in instructional design for online learning
• Master of distance education leadership
• Master of science in instructional systems technology

With an online distance education degree, you can also train to be a certified e-learning instructor or teacher. In online distance education programs you will be learn the skills needed to teach an online course in the same medium that you will use to teach online courses.

Distance Education Courses

Distance Learning courses may include the following: Adult Learning Theories, Models of Distance Education, Budgeting and finance of higher education institutions, Legal Issues in Distance Education, Management of Distance Education Programs, and E-Learning Development. Programs are generally offered at the graduate degree level, i.e. masters and PhD programs.

Distance Education Careers

The demand for distance education teachers, instructional designers, and distance learning coordinators continues to grow. Professional distance educators teach a variety of courses in various subjects. They also design instructional strategies and online curriculum depending on the subject of study in addition to being involved with researching program effectiveness and managing the online courses and programs.

In addition to teaching online courses, graduates of distance education degree programs work in curriculum design, educational technology development, and distance education policy and management. Some related job titles with an online distance education degree are:

• Instructional designers
• Curriculum developers
• Online instruction coordinators
• Distance learning project managers
• Technical directors
• Online course support specialists
• Production managers
• Distance learning librarians

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

According to the United States Department of Labor, opportunities for postsecondary educators are promising. Jobs for people with campus and online distance education degree and related areas are projected to grow by 23% over the next several years. Post-secondary teachers earn a median salary of about $57,000 while instructors earn about $43,000. Jobs in education administration are expected to grow by 12% during the same period. The average salary for postsecondary administrators is over $86,000 while program directors earn around $68,000. As of 2011, the median expected salary for a Dean of Distance Learning in the United States was $74,795 according to salary.com.