Instructional Design Degrees
Top Instructional Design
Degrees and Programs
Globally, there are multiple universities that offer instructional design related degrees and offer an instructional design certificate. Currently, most institutions provide instructional design degrees at the graduate level (MS MA, MEd, PhD) only. Many of the programs can be completed entirely, or at lease partially online from a distance. Below are Instructional Design Central's (IDC) top rated instructional design related programs and degrees:
Featured Degree Programs
Certified Virtual Instructional Designer/Developer
As a Certified Virtual Instructional Designer/Developer, you will acquire the key skills to successfully design virtual training that is engaging and interactive and maximizes performance. Apply Langevin’s proven step-by-step design process to determine, and deal with, the critical constraints that can impact a virtual classroom design project, determine timing parameters for the course, select the best methods and tools for your content, and more! This program is backed by more than 35 years of instructional design experience and innovation.
Utah State University
Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences (ITLS)
USU’s Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences (ITLS) online graduate programs in education were ranked 13th in the nation, according to the latest numbers from U.S. News & World Report.
Top Instructional Design Certificate Programs
Multiple organizations offer certificates in instructional design or eLearning development. Although an advanced degree in instructional design (MA, MS, PhD, etc.) is generally preferred over a certification by most employers, an instructional design certification can provide the necessary skills the get started in the industry. Below is a list of a few selected instructional design certifications:
Certified Instructional Designer/Developer Program – Langevin Learning Services
This hands-on program shows you how to design successful courses that are interactive, engaging, and lively. It gives you the core skills to accurately diagnose training needs and to create relevant courses that truly improve employee job performance. Learn how to apply Langevin’s proven 12-step design process to simplify your job, save you time, and consistently produce top-quality courses. Backed by over 35 years of instructional design experience and innovation, this program provides the highest level of certification in the training industry. Learn more.
ATD Designing Learning Certificate
"Discover all of the tools necessary to develop powerful, bottom-line focused training. Using a human performance improvement approach to instructional design, you will learn best practices for conducting a needs assessment, job/task analysis, and course design and development using templates exclusive to ATD. Leave with a structured step-by-step process that can be immediately applied to the development of your own training programs." Learn more.
ATD Master Instructional
Designer Program
"Be properly prepared as the role of the instructional designer evolves and more is demanded of your talent and time. The ATD Master Instructional Designer Program covers the entire process of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of learning programs. In addition, this program explores new design models and techniques that align with emerging needs. The goal of the ATD Master Instructional Designer Program is to give you new approaches to instructional design with a focus on the latest and most effective techniques. Grounded in theory and focused on practice and application, this program will help you master your professional capacity for instructional design." Learn more.
Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design: The George Washington University
"The graduate certificate in Instructional Design provides students from varied professional backgrounds with the foundational knowledge and skills required to design and develop effective instruction for delivery in either the classroom or numerous other learning formats." Learn more.
Other ID Degree Resources
Below is list of multiple instructional designer job boards that are specifically focused on instructional design, training & development, performance improvement, educational technology, and eLearning:
TheBestSchools.com
"This website ranks top 25 instructional design and curriculum graduate schools. They selected the ID degree programs based on academic excellence, range of available classes, faculty strength, rankings and reputation." Learn more.
The eLearning Coach
"Here are degree and certificate programs related to instructional design, elearning design and development, educational technology and educational media design. This list is not a recommendation of programs, but a place to start your research." Learn more.
ID Hunter
"Explore over 65 online graduate certificate programs in instructional design, online teaching, e-learning, and related fields in an extensive free sortable table." Learn more.
Learn.org
"This site specifically features online instructional design degree programs. Earning a master's degree in Instructional Design online can lead to a career as an instructional designer, instructional coordinator or multimedia instructional designer, among other careers. Typical classes for Instructional Design curriculums include Instructional Design, The Adult as Learner, Assessment in the Instructional Design Process, Selection and Evaluation of Instructional Materials, Workplace Education: Theory and Practice, Production of Media Materials and Design and Instruction of Online Courses, among others."
Learn more.
IDC
Top ID Programs
Ranked #1
Indiana University Bloomington: Instructional Systems Technology
Focused on improving human learning and performance in diverse contexts. It is designed to help prepare practitioners and researchers to design and build processes, systems, and services for use in various settings. Individuals and organizations learn and grow through well-designed instruction, and we focus on turning issues into opportunities. (Programs & Degrees: Certificate, MSEd, EdD,PhD, offered both online and on-campus).
Ranked #2
Florida State University: Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies
Students who graduate from FSU’s Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies (ISLT) master’s and doctoral degree programs are in high demand. In today’s world, businesses, government agencies, universities, schools and many other types of organizations are interested in hiring individuals who can create innovative approaches to helping people improve their skills, knowledge, and job performance. The program has a strong focus on: Instructional design, Emerging technologies, and Performance improvement" (Programs & Degrees: Certificates, MS and PhD, offered both online and on-campus).
Ranked #3
University of Georgia: Educational Psychology
Program is designed to enhance your knowledge of human development, learning, and motivation with this program, which is appropriate anyone who wants to pursue a deeper understanding of how students learn and what makes effective learning environments. Graduates of our master of arts program usually continue on to a doctoral degree. (Programs & Degrees: Certificate, MEd, MA, PhD, offered both online and on-campus).
Ranked #4
Purdue University: Learning Design and Technology
Program prepares individuals at the master's and doctoral levels to serve as outstanding educators and leaders in the field who have expertise in the design and evaluation of learning experience that effectively integrate pedagogy and technology. (Programs & Degrees: MS and PhD, offered both online and on-campus).
Ranked #5
Michigan State University: Educational Psychology and Technology
Program prepare teachers, administrators, and other educational professionals for the thoughtful use of technologies to support teaching and learning in a range of educational environments. The program draws on current theories of learning and development to understand the role of technology in learning and instruction. (Programs & Degrees: Certificate, MAET, PhD, offered both online and on-campus).
