Hi everyone! People reach out to me all the time asking which Master's or graduate degree programs they should enroll in to become an instructional designer. With so many programs out there—and many of them offering virtual options now—it can be hard to choose. I'd love to hear from those of you who have gone that route so I can point them to some real-life feedback. What program did you do? Did you find it helpful (either from an instructional and/or career perspective)? What did you like and dislike about it? Looking forward to hearing from you!

Hi all, My route to becoming an instructional designer involved earning a graduate level certificate from the University of Georgia. They offer an M.Ed. in Learning, Design, & Technology–Instructional Design and Development and graduate certificates–one in eLearning Design and one in Online Teaching and Learning. All of these can be fully completed virtually. Earning the eLearning Design certificate helped me land my first instructional design job and equipped me with the theoretical knowledge and technological skills necessary to excel in this role. It's a wonderful program with great faculty. They also partnered (and may still) with Articulate and provide students opportunities to expand their skills using the software while working on authentic, real-world projects. I was able to complete the certificate mostly for free since I was a UGA employee at the time, but I would have gladly paid the tuition for the quality education I received. I'm happy to answer any other questions anyone may have.

Hi everyone! As I read all the responses below, I am amazed as to how many universities are out there that offer a graduate degree program for Instructional Design. My path into this field was unusual, but I am so excited to be here and am looking forward to what I can do in the future with this degree! I am currently a graduate student in the Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL) program at Boise State University and I actually found out about this program through the U.S. Coast Guard. I was an officer in the Coast Guard for six years and sought an opportunity to be sponsored to attend a master's program in Human Performance Technology and the Coast Guard's recommended school was Boise State. Even though I wasn't selected to obtain my degree through sponsorship, I determined that it was still a path that I wanted to take, so I separated from service and have been enrolled in school ever since. Boise State's Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning offers a Master's degree and graduate certificates in Workplace Instructional Design, Workplace E-Learning Design and Development, and Workplace Performance Improvement. There are several amazing things about this program, and one that makes this program so accessible to its students is that it is completely online. It has actually been offering courses online since 1989, which is really amazing to think about! Another thing that this program does, which has helped me greatly, is how it has used the combination of theory and project based courses to help students really learn and the apply the material. Then to add on top of that, when we have a project based course, we get to work with real clients and go through the process, just like we would when we become instructional designers. So not only are we learning the material, but we are also practicing and becoming instructional designers before we enter the workforce. One last thing that I would like to mention which has helped me professionally is my current involvement in two labs within the OPWL department. I am a current member of the Marginalized and Cross Culture Research & Design Learning tech group (MarCC) and the Process Management Lab (PML). Both labs focus on two different aspects of the human performance field, but I am gaining knowledge, insight and wisdom from two amazing professors and other students and graduates that are involved! I think that anyone looking to getting a graduate degree or certificate should definitely look and consider the OPWL program at Boise State!

Hi, all! Like Chantel, I'm currently enrolled in Boise State University's Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL) program. I'm currently pursuing my M.S. in OPWL and certificates in Workplace E-Learning Design and Development and Workplace Instructional Design. The program is fully online, which not only makes it possible for me to learn from my home base of Houston, TX, but also provides great insight into what it's like to be an online learner and to practice collaborating with peers remotely. I found my way into the program when I decided I wanted to shift from being a training facilitator at a Fortune 500 FinTech to an instructional designer. I was considering several programs, but when the VP of our division told me he "would never hesitate to hire someone with an OPWL degree from BSU," I was sold. The program has definitely lived up to its accolades. It is incredibly well-designed with professors who are excellent online learning facilitators. It also includes a great mix of theory, practical tool knowledge, networking, learning application through projects with real clients, personal portfolio development, and opportunities for additional research and practice. As an added bonus, the community of professors and learners is impressively strong for a distance learning program: I have had an incredible amount of support at all points in my journey. This experience and the OPWL community have boosted my experience, my confidence, and my credibility in the field. (I've now been an instructional designer at the same Fortune 500 company for 2 years.) In short: I highly recommend Boise State's OPWL program - especially if you hope to work with online and distance learning.

As we don't have any specific programmes for instructional design here in New Zealand - I'm keen to see what online program folks recommend. Notice of Legal Status and Confidential Information: This electronic mail message and any accompanying attachments may contain information that is privileged and CONFIDENTIAL. If you are not the intended recipient you are advised that any use, review, dissemination, distribution or reproduction of the information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this document in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy the message.

Thanks for sharing @Shannon! It's nice to know that the University of Georgia program is a good one. And thanks for reaching out @Helen and @Lauren! I'm interested to see if anyone has any advice about courses that could work for people outside the US.

Instructional Design Master's or Graduate Certificate Programs

MariaCS
Staff
4 years ago
I am almost finished with my Master's in Educational Technology through Boise State University. I have to say I'm pleased with the balance of theory and practice offered there (many of the courses are project-based, and you graduate with a Portfolio) and the overall value. The program is 100% online, and while not completely focused on Instructional Design, I find some of the topics very relatable.

They also have some interesting online Graduate Certificates such as Educational Games and Simulations or Designing Accessible Online Education.
DavidFoster-3a7
Community Member
4 years ago
I'm in an Instructional Design Graduate program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. They offer Graduate Certificate programs in three focuses, Training and Development, K-12 Education, and Online Education. They also offer a M. Ed. program with similar tracks. It's 100% distance learning and I'm very impressed with the coursework and instruction. Charlotte Program for the M. Ed.

The Certificate programs are linked here.
AbbyWalden
Community Member
4 years ago
I highly recommend the Master of Education - Learning Design and Leadership at University of Illinois. Top of the line faculty working with custom LMS that you wont see anywhere else. The program is completely relevant to the ever-changing landscape of ed tech and builds knew pedagogical approaches based off a solid understanding of adult learning theory. It can be completed 100% online as well!
AndreaBetanc704
Community Member
4 years ago
Hi,

Do you know some program in spanish?

Thanks
SusanBoye-Lynn
Community Member
4 years ago
Hello!

The University of New Mexico Organization, Information and Learning Systems (OILS) program is useful for Leadership Development, Organizational Development or Instructional Design students. The have BA, MA, PhD, and certificate courses. The organization I work for has found that individuals coming out of that program tend to work well in our organization. One of the features of that program for many years now, is the emphasis on cultural awareness in the creation of learning objects and curricula. https://oils.unm.edu/
MichelleKing-f1
Community Member
4 years ago
Hello all,

I am currently finishing my MEd at Arizona State University. This is a completely online digital program and we have students from all over the world attending the course. My experience at ASU has been a positive one. I have been working in L&D for almost 20 years so there were courses in the program that seemed more fundamental to me than some of the other students but I was able to learn something new and interesting in every class. The class I am taking now is about accessibility and inclusion in instructional design and digital learning. It's been my favorite course because there is an emphasis on Universal Design for Learning which I often do not see being applied to digital courses.

I am likely going to apply for an EdD program for Fall of 2022 but haven't quite decided if I will continue at ASU or try another school.

Hope that helps!
RobertaGold-9f8
Community Member
4 years ago
I got an MA in Information and Learning Technologies from University of Colorado at Denver, through the School of Education...back in '97!
ChrisReeves-2ba
Community Member
4 years ago
Hi, I know I am late to this conversation but I figured I would offer some advice. I graduated from Full Sail University with a Bachelor's in Graphic design. At the time they did not have an e-learning design degree. In my 25 + years of experience, I have found that a Design degree was sufficient enough for me to transition into e-learning. With that being said I would also recommend that an e-learning degree would be beneficial and recommended but is not a must. With so many online platforms like LinkedIn Learning (Used to be Lynda.com) you can very easily and cost-effective, get certifications in e-learning to go along with a Design degree. I have found that most Design Firms or Companies accept this. I would say that for any design degree Full Sail University ( one of the top five design Universities in the country) and with online platforms for your degree, I would highly recommend this University.
BWoods
Former Staff
4 years ago
Hi Chris,

I'm always so excited to encounter another Full Sail graduate! I took their Instructional Design & Technology master of science degree program way back when it was still called Education Media Design and Technology. I loved the courses I took and found that Full Sail did a stellar job of understanding what a great online learning experience could be like.
- ChrisReeves-2ba
  Community Member
  4 years ago
  I love it when I meet fellow Full Sail Grads. I have always thought about going back and adding it to my degree. I started out as a traditional designer with no real special field. I did all and everything I could get my hands on. Anything from movies, wine label design, print design, web design, and well you get the picture. I gravitated to Learning Design about 10 years ago and have been there ever since. Absolutely love it.
ZacharyTrower
Community Member
4 years ago
I am enrolled in a Instructional Design MA group of courses through the Orginization, Information & Learning Sciences (OILS) program and University of New Mexico. 100% Online and the classes are relatively cheap, and courses aren't too bad. I wish I would have known about the Boise State program earlier in my current field of work (Engineering) I think the Masters of Science would carry a little more weight than the Masters of Arts I am enrolled in.