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This course focuses on using evidence-based research and data to inform program and instructional design decisions. Students will conduct a review of scholarly literature to investigate a topic and identify gaps in the research. Students will also select between quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research methodologies to pose research questions and write a research proposal for further study.
Prerequisites: LDT 500A & LDT 500B
AI personalizes learning paths, automates administrative tasks and provides real-time feedback, improving engagement and educational outcomes.
AI automates repetitive tasks, generates innovative designs and uses data to refine projects, enhancing efficiency and creativity in design processes.
ChatGPT can handle routine tasks and provide insights, supporting instructional designers but not replacing them, as human oversight is crucial.
AI can assist in instructional design by automating content creation and personalizing learning, but it cannot fully replace the human creative and strategic input required in the process.
You must own or have unrestricted access to a computer for this program. Courses will utilize a variety of technologies and multimedia. To complete course activities and to access course content, please verify that you have the following technologies and plug-ins available:
The average salary for this role is $65,312 — however, the exact figure is highly dependent on several factors (including employer and location).
This role involves critical thinking, working with others, technology and consulting with stakeholders. Some of the skills you’ll need to be successful as an eLearning designer include communication, writing, project management and technical expertise.
Though earning a master’s degree is not a requirement for a career as an eLearning designer, having one can deepen your knowledge in this specialized area and help you stand out from other candidates when the time comes to apply for jobs.
No, these two roles are unique. An eLearning developer’s job is to use course authoring tools and software to assemble courses once the structure and content have been determined, making them accessible for learners.
While eLearning designers are responsible for coming up with the overall structure of a course, instructional designers are tasked with fleshing out the course content and making the learning experience engaging and memorable.
eLearning designers create learning programs for online courses. This typically involves designing curricula, ensuring programs are well-structured and guiding the course’s development every step of the way as it takes shape.
Often those pursuing a career in learning design have a bachelor’s degree in education. However, those with degrees in social science, business, media arts and research-related fields typically have a skill set and experience compatible with various aspects of learning design. Earning a master’s degree in instructional design will provide additional career opportunities and bring an increase in average salary. For more information, see our 9 Things to Know About Careers in Instructional Design eBook linked below.
The advancement of digital technology allows for easier access to information, creates remote-learning opportunities and provides more options for accessibility and engagement. Technology can remove distance, language and access barriers — opening up lessons and training for more individuals. Technology can also democratize the design process by providing educators and designers greater access to tools that facilitate communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.
Job prospects for learning designers are very good — Inside Higher Ed named Learning Designer “The Hottest Job in Higher Education.” For a high level overview of learning design career paths and opportunities, see our blog post Top Jobs and Careers in Learning Design and Technology.
A learning designer develops learning experiences based on what learners need to know and do. Day-to-day responsibilities may include creating eLearning experiences and other course content that improves learning outcomes and retention; identifying learners’ areas needing improvement; researching learning design concepts and tools; and documenting the results of individual learning design projects.
Good learning design prioritizes learner engagement, knowledge retention and learning outcomes, such as the learners’ ability to apply what they learned in real settings outside of the course or training environment. This, in turn, maximizes efficiencies and can reduce costs for organizations.
Learning design is the concept that learners should be the top priority when crafting an instructional exercise. It emphasizes the need to purposefully create lessons to ensure positive learning outcomes, rather than just deliver content. Most importantly, learning design is built on established theories and the science of how people learn.
Built with working professionals in mind, this asynchronous online program can easily fit into your week. On average, coursework will require between 10-20 hours per week on reading, researching and completing class assignments. While coursework will vary per professor and course, students will generally have one main assignment due on a weekly or biweekly basis and will be expected to participate in classroom discussion boards. Professors are always willing to proactively discuss any scheduling challenges that may arise during your time in the program.
Job aids typically supplement other training methods. To fully understand when to use a job aid as performance support, you’ll need to know how to assess the learning needs of your students/employees. Learning how to apply these learning aids, in addition to how to create them, is a fundamental part of learning design programs.
For more information on what goes into a training program, see our post on how to create an employee training plan.
You can use most simple desktop applications such as Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop or any of the Google Suite programs to design and create your own job aid. If you’re looking for technologies that will help you with research, design and instruction, see our list of top instructional design software.
Here are some additional tips:
There are dozens of different types of job aids, many of which you probably encounter on a day-to-day basis. Any quick reference guide can be considered a “job aid,” such as signs in public restrooms that show people how to wash their hands. Even recipe books and to-do lists can be considered job aids.
While job aids are intended to be handy, quick reference guides, there are a few situations where they’re not ideal:
Absolutely. USD’s own LDT program is 100% online.
Yes. Instructional designers are in demand across industries, from public and higher education to corporate settings and even in government positions.
The average cost of a full-time, two year master’s degree program is between $44,000-$57,000 — though some programs can be much more expensive. At a cost-per-credit of $710, USD’s LDT program tuition totals $21,300.
Every program is different, but in general, a full-time master’s degree program will take you around two years to complete. You can expect part time programs to take longer depending on how many units you take in a semester.
The Master of Science in Learning Design and Technology is a 30-unit, project-based program and is designed to be completed in five semesters over 20 months.
Yes. The Master of Science in Learning Design and Technology degree program is designed specifically with working professionals in mind. The online program can be completed on your own schedule (as long as deadlines are met).
All students in the online MS-LDT program require current access to Articulate360 software for various assignments and projects. The University of San Diego will issue a one-time, discounted tech fee of $280 for all first-semester students to be granted access to an Articulate360 account. The account suite will grant access to the following tools:
Students that already have access to Articulate360 and the required tools can waive this one-time fee by submitting a Waiver Request Form. (This form will be made available to enrolled students.) Please only submit a waiver if you already have access to the following required tools: Storyline 360, Rise 360, Content Library 360, & Review 360.
All enrolled students will have access to Articulate360. If you file a Leave of Absence, withdraw/drop a course, or graduate from the program, access will be terminated until you enroll again in the program.
We’ve also compiled a list of free/freemium tools that students can use to complete their assignments. Students will have a Google Drive, Office 365 and YouTube account associated with her USDOne login.
Our instructors are subject matter experts. They are instructional design practitioners and online instructors who are fully aware of the needs of adult learners and online students. Learn more on our MSLDT faculty page.
Group Discussions are typically graded assignments posted to a discussion board embedded in each module. They require an original post and a response to peers by the end of the week. Discussion Forum is an open discussion on a variety of topics related to the course. The Discussion Board feature in Canvas is used as the platform for these online conversations.
A potential employer is not likely to value one degree over the other because they are more interested in demonstrated knowledge, skills and abilities more so than whether your degree is in LD or ID. Employers requiring or preferring that applicants have a master’s degree will be explicit about the skills they are seeking and typically will not distinguish between types of degrees such as MS, MA or MEd degrees.
Instructional design involves creating learning experiences and materials to affect change in knowledge, skills, or attitude. Learning design utilizes approaches from instructional design, user-experience design, and design thinking to create these learning experiences.
Learning Design was chosen for the degree title to reflect a shift in the industry that is more inclusive of adaptations to the systematic design of instruction that is found in traditional ID. Learning Design combines instructional design and design thinking to promote a more human-centered and creative thinking approach to designing learning solutions.
The main focus of the program is on establishing a foundation and building the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are demonstrated as the competencies expected of ID professionals. While many of the course assignments require the use of eLearning authoring software and other learning technologies, the competencies you develop are grounded in theory about how people learn and are therefore applicable to designing materials for in-person training, synchronous and asynchronous online learning, and eLearning.
While the program is fully asynchronous, office hours are an opportunity to have live discussions with faculty. The program will offer webinars throughout the year as an opportunity to engage with industry professionals and explore topics in the field.
Students choose the MS-LDT program because it provides a fast-track to entry or promotion in the instructional/learning design career they seek. Our fully asynchronous program is attractive to full-time working professionals who want and need the flexibility to manage when and where they engage with their courses. We are a year-round program, which means we offer our two foundational courses every semester. This makes it convenient for students to decide when the best time is for them to begin pursuing their academic goals.
The MS-LDT program is designed to provide working adults with a short, fast-paced, but manageable path to entry into the field of instructional/learning design. Some program aspects that may make MS-LDT the right choice for you include the various ways we attend to the needs of adult learners. These include, but are not limited to:
The MS-LDT program is a 100% online, fully asynchronous degree program.
Tuition for the MSLDT program is $735 per unit. With a total of 30 units, the full cost of tuition for the program is $22,050.
Tuition amounts shown on this website, or in other university publications or web pages, represent tuition and fees as currently approved. However, the University of San Diego reserves the right to increase or modify tuition and fees without prior notice and to make such modifications applicable to students enrolled at USD at that time as well as to incoming students. In addition, all tuition amounts and fees are subject to change at any time for correction of errors. Please note that the displayed tuition covers only the cost of courses, and additional expenses such as books and other fees are not included.