M.S. Instructional Design & Learning Technology
32
Credit Hours
16
Month Completion
Class Type
Next Start Date
May 20, 2024
Placement Tests
GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Embedded Credentials
Graduate Certificate

Innovate learning with a master’s in instructional design

Smart leaders know that talented employees help make the difference between success and failure. Savvy ones know something else: investing in immersive educational experiences is crucial to equipping their people and maximizing their potential. Franklin’s M.S. Instructional Design & Learning Technology (IDLT) degree program and our faculty of industry experts puts you at the forefront of this growing industry with exciting career options. With our program, you’ll learn how to analyze learning needs, design solutions and evaluate effectiveness.

Program Availability

On Site

ATD & ISPI Aligned

Learn from a curriculum tailored to industry-leading standards.

16-Month Completion

Finish your master's in instructional design and learning technology faster.

Top-Rated Technology

Get hands-on experience with industry-standard software, systems and tools.

Real-World Practitioners

Benefit from the experience of professional instructional designers.

100% Online Classes

Earn your degree around your schedule.

Master's in Instructional Design Degree Overview

Analyze learning needs and design immersive educational experiences

When it comes to performance, successful companies know that skilled, knowledgeable people make the difference. That’s why more and more organizations invest in immersive educational experiences to develop and equip their talent.

At the forefront of this human resources revolution are those with an M.S.-Instructional Design & Learning Technology (IDLT) degree. Our transfer-friendly master's in Instructional Design enables students to take a holistic approach to education in a variety of settings. Students learn to analyze learning needs, design appropriate solutions and evaluate the effectiveness of these solutions. And, as it turns out, advancing learning and contributing to the professional development of others may advance your career as well. In fact, job opportunities in the instructional design field are projected to grow by 9 percent over the next decade.*

Design instructional interventions that meet learning needs

Franklin’s online instructional design master's degree program focuses on instructional design as a means to drive performance improvement. Instructional design focuses on the delivery of transformational training and education solutions to develop the skills and knowledge of workers.

In addition to using learning and instructional theory to ensure quality of instruction, our IDLT curriculum also integrates human performance improvement. Related coursework examines the specific causes leading to poor performance, and analyzes how to overcome them by studying how a person operates in a specific setting, which skills they need to be successful, and which strategies will help enable them to succeed.

Combined, these two areas will arm you to become a change agent that designs innovative learning and performance improvement strategies that close the gap on an organization’s most pressing performance problems.

Gain marketable skills in as few as 16 months

Franklin’s instructional design master's program curriculum is designed to industry standards, including ATD and ISPI, and teaches you skills highly sought after by employers in these areas: instructional systems design, educational technology, eLearning development, content development, and performance improvement. As a result, you’ll be well prepared to enter or advance your career as an instructional designer, trainer or educator.

Plus, you’ll assemble and present a portfolio of work, so you’ll be ready to share actual samples of instructional materials you’ve designed with potential employers. And you will gain hands-on experience with industry software and leverage emerging technologies to design instruction, including e-learning.

Franklin University’s masters in instructional design can be completed in as few as 16 months, and you can get started right away because there’s no GRE requirement if you meet certain standards.

Earn a relevant degree in sync with your professional development 

Franklin’s instructional design master's program is a wise choice for pragmatic learning and development professionals. Not only are our faculty scholars, researchers and leaders in the instructional design field, they are all practitioners in the University’s International Institute for Innovative Instruction. The Institute, which has built a reputation for excellence in instructional design and learning assessment through collaborations with partners in a variety of industries, is a testament to the applied nature of Franklin’s IDLT program and knowledge you will gain from our expert faculty. 

The introductory course helps you to develop a strong basis in the learning theory that you will apply to practical situations throughout the eight-course program. The next six courses can be taken in any order that suits your needs. Once you complete a total of four courses, you will be eligible to receive a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design, a credential that demonstrates your own commitment to on-going learning and professional development. You’ll conclude the degree program with a 12-week capstone experience that enables you to demonstrate your mastery of the discipline through a comprehensive project working with a client.

Another beneficial and unique aspect of the program’s curriculum is the inclusion of a course on project and relationship management. While many master’s-level instructional design programs cover the essentials of designing learning solutions and assessments, few provide the how-tos of managing projects and collaborating in cross-functional groups, which are fundamental skills for effective training and development professionals in today’s dynamic work environments.  
 

*Source information provided by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI)

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Sarah N.

M.S. Instructional Design & Learning Technology '23

"The instructional design and learning technology master's program at Franklin has provided me with a competitive edge in my career. As a working professional, wife and mother of two young children, the flexibility that the program offered an opportunity to maintain work-life balance while achieving my developmental goal. The professors at Franklin provided perspectives based on their own experiences which help tie in the content and gave me a deeper understanding of the concepts and practices. I have no doubt that my experience at Franklin will benefit my career for years to come."

Future Start Dates

Start dates for individual programs may vary and are subject to change. Please request free information & speak with an admission advisor for the latest program start dates.

Summer 2024
May
20
Recommended Register By:
May 10
Fall 2024
September
9
Recommended Register By:
Aug 30
Spring 2025
January
27
Recommended Register By:
Jan 17

Your Best Value M.S. Instructional Design & Learning Technology

Choose Franklin's M.S. Instructional Design & Learning Technology and get a high-quality degree that fits your life and your budget. 

Finish Fast

16
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$670
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Instructional Design Master's Degree Courses & Curriculum

32 Semester Hours
Major Area Required
IDPT 601 - Foundations of Instructional Design (4)

Learning theories and instructional design models are the two fundamental pillars for the field of instructional design. In this course, students will study the learning theories and philosophies that have formed, influence, and support this field. Students will also study instructional systems theories, models, and systematic approaches to instructional design. In this course, students will apply these theories, strategies, and instructional models to create a learning, instructional design, or training event in their chosen setting, whether business, government, healthcare, higher ed, industry, k-12, or other. At the end of this course, students will make a plan on how to prepare for an instructional design career.

IDPT 715 - Theories and Applications for Managing Projects and Relationships (4)

Being able to successfully manage projects and relationships are paramount skills in the current workforce. In this course, students will study project management theories, tools, and technologies and apply them in their own discipline. By the end of this course, students need to develop a project management process and a plan to resolve relationship issues.

IDPT 620 - Principles of Human Performance Technology (4)

In this course, you will learn a framework for understanding human performance by working with scenarios and case studies to analyze performance problems, determine the level and type of intervention required, and make recommendations for a suite of solutions that will achieve the desired impacts.

IDPT 640 - Enhancing Learning With Technology (4)

In this course, students will apply design principles to create a learning event that includes the use of new and emerging technologies. Students will research collaboration and networking tools for their use and value in learning environments. Delivery platforms and software will also be explored for their impact on instructional strategies. Projects completed in the course will become part of the student's portfolio.

IDPT 645 - Learning Management Systems (4)

In this course, students will study the practices employed to manage and deliver instructional content in an online environment. Students will interact with a functional Learning Management System (LMS) to manage the design, development, delivery, and evaluation of reusable learning content.

IDPT 650 - Evaluation (4)

This course presents fundamental principles and practices for evaluating courses and programs, with a focus on formative and summative evaluation and criterion-referenced testing. Students will explore evaluation models and theories, create a learner satisfaction survey, create criterion-referenced tests, create grading rubrics, and work with a data set to interpret data and make recommendations to improve a course or unit of instruction. Projects completed in the course will become part of the student?s portfolio.

IDPT 660 - Advanced Instructional Design & Performance Technology (4)

In this course, students will learn advanced instructional design skills for the workplace, contemporary research in instruction design, and modern learning technologies. Students will also face design challenges and provide solutions to address those challenges. This is a course to prepare students to enter the workplace and be successful. Students should take this course in the latter part of the degree.

IDPT 670 - Capstone (4)

The Capstone Project experience provides students with the opportunity to receive academic credit for experience in an authentic work environment, which may be either external or internal to the University depending on the student?s preference. The Capstone Project involves a partnership among the student, the faculty member, and an approved project sponsor. The faculty member and the project sponsor will evaluate project deliverables according to the achievement of milestones and the submission of materials identified in a Learning Contract. The Learning Contract must specify a relatively comprehensive experience that can be completed within the time frame of the 12-module course. Projects completed in the course will become part of the student?s portfolio.

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Microcredentials Align with Job Essentials

In today's dynamic work environments, adaptive professionals thrive. A microcredential - either as a stand-alone course or integrated into your degree program - is a short, skill-specific recognition that enables you to demonstrate your competency in a distinct area. Like Franklin's degree programs, microcredentials are aligned with market and industry demand to ensure what you learn can be put to use right away. Microcredentials are easily shared via digital badges and can be stacked to create a unique portfolio of in-demand skills.

M.S. Instructional Design & Learning Technology Program Details

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Career Opportunities

Instructional Designer

Instructional designers blend learning theories and methods with multimedia tools to create engaging learning activities as part of courses, curricula and training programs.

Instructional Coach

Instructional coaches collaborate with teachers to improve their ability to create classrooms where students can be successful.

Learning Specialist

Learning specialists work with children who have learning disabilities or behavioral issues to help them, their parents and school staff develop strategies to support academic progress.

Instructional Design Employment Outlook

9%

From 2021-2031, jobs in Instructional Design and Learning Technology are expected to increase by 9%

All Occupations

2021
200,602 jobs
2031
218,001 jobs


Source information provided by Lightcast.

Master's in Instructional Design Knowledge & Skillsets

Gain in-demand skills sought by employers with curriculum that teaches you:

M.S. in Instructional Design + Learning Technology or M.S. in IT-Learning Technology Focus?

Find the Learning Technology Program That Fits Your Goals

If you’re interested in advancing your cybersecurity career, Franklin has several great options. Compare programs and identify your perfect match.

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M.S. in Instructional Design Learning Technology
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M.S. in Information Technology - Learning Technology

Focus: 
Grow your ability to inspire others to maximize their potential while increasing your competencies in creating immersive learning experiences.
 
Skills:
Learn how to assess learning needs and create meaningful and effective solutions that inspire growth and effect change.
 
Careers: 
Put your M.S. in Instructional Design + Learning Technology to work by leading efforts to increase workforce engagement, performance and satisfaction.
 
How many courses are in the program?
Eight 12-week courses
 
How quickly can I complete the program?
16 months

Focus: 
If you’re interested in advancing your learning technology career, Franklin has several great options. Compare programs and identify your perfect match.
 
Skills:
Master the theory (knowledge) and practice (skills) needed to promote and support technology-based learning experiences for a diverse workforce.
 
Careers: 
Use your M.S. in IT-Learning Technology to help others achieve their personal and professional development goals.
 
How many courses are in the program?
Nine 12-week courses
 
How quickly can I complete the program?
16 months

Online Master's in Instructional Design Frequently Asked Questions

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