Instructional Design Master’s Degree Programs

A master’s in instructional designer prepares professionals to work at the intersection of design, education, and communications. As the world becomes more digital and people are interacting with digital interfaces for everything from healthcare to entertainment, instructional design and instructional designers are becoming more important. Today, there are a number of instructional design master’s program options to choose from.

Here’s a quick example of what an instructional designer might do: Imagine there is a new version of Microsoft Office. A business wants to switch over but doesn’t know how to get their workers to ease into the transition. This business decides to hire an instructional designer or an instructional design team to help. This team would visit with management, listen to their needs, and develop a plan of action to teach the workforce the new software. This plan would then be implemented and its success measured. Check out our complete guide on “What is instructional design?” for more details

Think about how common that kind of scenario is today, and think about how many people are downloading new apps, or trying new digital products for the first time. In all of those instances, good instructional design can help new users navigate and be successful.

Master’s of Instructional Design Program Overview

Today, there are a number of ways to earn a master’s of instructional design degree including in-person degree programs and online master’s of instructional design programs.

A meaningful and directed curriculum is key to a successful education in instructional design. A highly respected master’s degree in instructional design will prepare you to develop courses and learning strategies of your own to impact the lives of thousands of learners.

An instructional design degree equips you with a range of skills including how to understand the pressing issue at hand, the task that must be learned and taught, and a variety of techniques for teaching it. The master’s will show you how to work with a wide variety of students of all ages. You will learn how to connect with their learning style, individual needs, and help them thrive in your learning arena.

Instructional design teaches you various learning theories to help you identify important characteristics in yourself for developing instruction. Although it is a teaching and educational degree, you will not need a teaching license unless you plan on working in an institution of learning that requires one.

The instructional design field is an exciting one. Prepare yourself to study with peers who also enjoy the field of instructional design and are passionate about obtaining a career in the industry. Many degree programs will allow you to take on group projects in order for you to learn from each other. Others may have contests in which the best student project wins some sort of prize or even the opportunity to work on an instructional design task in the real world. Be sure and do your best on these types of projects as they can be a highlight for your educational career after you graduate.

Other Considerations

Many master’s degrees in instructional design may require a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Some programs offer you the ability to earn this bachelor’s degree during your studies. Many also allow you to transfer in existing credits for other degrees you may have, have pursued, or are pursuing. Be sure to check with your colleges of choice to see which has the best options for you.

Each learning institution has its own curriculum, but you can generally expect four different types of classes:

1. Foundations of instructional design such as analysis, issues, instructions, and more.
2. Research for design, questions, analysis, and how to develop proposals.
3. Measurement in data analysis, evaluations, processes, and other issues.
4. Individual and/or group projects for imagined or real world tasks. 

You may also take specialty classes if you wish to enter a special field in instructional design such as education, corporate, non-profit, and others. One thing you should definitely focus on during your education is the development of a professional portfolio to show potential employers your skills.

No matter what your field of study, the goal of any instructional design master’s degree is to each you how to:

• Analyze: You learn to understand the needs of learners including why a learning solution is required of them. It may be the case that some other type of solution is needed such as overall performance improvement or a different, non-measurable goal such as improving teamwork. You also develop goals in training, learning objectives, and how the training will be delivered.
• Design and development: This involves the actual creation of instructional materials as well as the delivery methods you will use. It may involve curriculum, lesson plans, presentations, job aids, participant guides, e-learning tools, and anything else to be used in the teaching of the subject material.
• Implementation: Now that you have your teaching materials, presentation, etc. it is time to take them into your classroom whether it be in person, online, or via another method. You will interact with your students, take their questions, pass on your knowledge, and finalize. 
• Evaluation: There are a number of methods to evaluate the success of your program. These can include but are not limited to reviews from students, exams on the material, performance evaluations to determine the level of improvement, if any.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Each school has its own criteria for tuition. However, you should not use total cost as your only method for choosing a school, or even your top method. There are many other factors to consider. For example, you may want to fast track your degree. In this case, you may want to evaluate the cost saved versus the time you will save to see which is right for you. You may also want to earn an instructional design degree in a certain field. In other cases, you may already have college credits or a degree in another field. 

Financial aid is an option for just about any school, college, university, or other. Most financial aid programs require you to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is a standard form most students fill out when seeking financial aid for any higher learning, including an instructional design degree. You must fill it our for every year you attend school. However, it can be done online at no cost. Learn more by visiting the official FAFSA site.

Other costs vary by institution, as well as by whether you choose to attend online, in-person, or a combination of both. They may include textbooks, teaching aids, parking, taxes, internet fees, and others. However, many of these expenses are tax deductible when filing your return, even if you choose to fill out the short form.

Career Outlook

Instructional design professionals may also be referred to as training and development specialists. The earnings for this job classification vary from field-to-field. However, the average salary for someone in instructional design was $62,700 for 2020, the latest year data is available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The best paying fields were professional, scientific, technical, finance, and insurance. The worst pay was for those who entered into administrative or supportive services. However, all salaries were above the national average.

FAQ

The Recap

Instructional design is a new and exciting career that continues to develop over time. It is not a standard career, and continuing education may help you stand out from the crowd. Your career will most likely begin at the entry level and lead to more robust duties in the future. As your education and career progresses, be sure to document all the challenges and solutions you develop to show to future employers. A master’s degree in instructional design may be right for you if you are ready to become a leader to those who need your skills, as well as a student always looking to learn something new.