Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind of Program Is It?

Walden University's online M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology program is designed to teach you about multimedia design and research, learning theories and instruction, distance learning, program evaluation, and advanced instructional design. The degree program is structured to include a certificate in instructional design, which you earn after completing the fifth course in the curriculum. You also have the opportunity to gain hands-on design experience through the completion of student projects. A capstone course concludes the program of study.

What Are the Prerequisites?

If you apply to Walden University's M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology program, you should have a bachelor's degree, and you should have strong problem-solving skills and be comfortable working with different types of media and technologies. Applicants may need to complete additional requirements for some programs.

What Are the Program Requirements?

Degree program curriculum and credits are subject to change, and you should contact Walden University for the most current information before enrolling in a program. To earn Walden University's M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology, you must complete 30 semester credits. The degree program includes core courses and a capstone course, which accounts for three credits.

Core Courses

• Organizations, Innovation, and Change
• Leading Theories and Instruction
• Instructional Design
• Advanced Instructional Design
• Multimedia Design and Development
• Foundations of Research
• Distance Learning
• Project Management in Education and Training
• Program Evaluation
• Capstone: Practical Application of Instructional Design

What Could I Do After I Graduate?

Career Opportunities

Once you have completed Walden University's M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology program, you have an opportunity to compete for jobs in the field. Potential employers include education institutions and businesses and corporations that use instructional media to train employees. As a prospective instructional designer, you should be able to work with a wide variety of people, such as subject-matter experts. Also, you should be able to use your problem-solving skills to conduct a needs assessment and a needs analysis. Last, an instructional designer should be able to identify the best technology to instruct learners and trainees. Potential job titles include:

• Instructional designer
• Training analyst
• Learning consultant
• Web curriculum developer

Advanced Degrees

When you have finished Walden University's M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology program, you have an opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree in the field. A Ph.D. in Instructional Design or a related field includes a research component. A research topic is developed in consultation with a program advisor and then a dissertation is written, which is submitted in the final year of enrollment. The dissertation must be approved before the degree can be awarded. However, before beginning the research process, core courses must be completed. Some of these core courses could include topics such as distance education, instructional message design, human performance technology, evaluation and assessment, and cognitive approaches to instructional design.

Degrees listed are not institution-specific but constitute a sampling of continuing education options for graduates. Degrees you could pursue include:

• Doctor of Philosophy in Instructional Design and Technology
• Doctor of Philosophy in Instructional Systems
• Doctor of Philosophy in Instructional Learning
• Doctor of Philosophy in Education Technology