Master of Arts in Instructional Design

Please enable javascript for best experience.

In this fully online program, you’ll learn to design, implement and assess educational programs, such as online courses, professional development seminars and walk-throughs for products and services. You’ll also learn how to optimize the learning strategies of people and organizations.

In addition to practical course work, you’ll explore the theoretical components of curriculum design: how and why people learn what they learn and the best ways to deliver it.

Fast Facts

Applications open: Late June 2024
Program mode: 100% online | Cohort format
Program duration: 21 months (30 units)
Cost per unit: $833 (Financial Aid available)
No GRE Required

According to a new study by Global Market Insights, the eLearning market is set to reach $375 billion by 2026.— Global Market Insights

Instructional coordinators employed in California on average earn $81,410 (top 10% of workers earn $123,860) whereas in the United States, workers on average earn $66,290 (and those in the top 10% earned more than $103,790). — O•Net Online

Employment of instructional designers is projected to grow 11 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. — Bureau of Labor Statistics

The projected percent change in employment from 2019 to 2029 for Instructional Coordinators is expected to be between 5-7% which is faster than the average. — National Center for Education Statistics

57% of L&D pros (6600 survey respondents) are expected to spend more on online learning globally during 2020 and 94% of employees say they would stay at a company longer if it invested in their learning and development. — LinkedIn Learning 2020 Workplace Learning Report

60% of workers employed in this field have a Master’s degree. — O•Net Online

Career outlook

A booming field, instructional design is a part of every major organization – from training sessions to employee onboarding. Unsurprisingly, organizations across the nation are aggressively recruiting and compensating well-educated instructional designers.

Over the last two years, the job market for instructional designers grew significantly, in both size and pay:

10% occupational growth in the next decade

$85,466 average salary in the United States

Get Started Today

Innovative education starts here.

At CSUN, we don’t just teach you how to design innovative programs. We design them ourselves.

Whether it’s a new industry development or a change in technology, we provide you with the tools and insight to create and implement cutting-edge programs and services – just like this one.

And as you learn, faculty will use their knowledge of the industry to help you leverage the program’s concepts and methods into new career opportunities.

Request More Info

Enter a rapidly growing field.

In designing this program, we focused, from the start, on what an instructional designer would need on the job: strong technical skills, smart design principles and sound ethical judgment.

You’ll learn how to:

Design professional and educational courses
Design and assess instructional media for diversity, equity and inclusion
Ensure wide accessibility in designs and outcomes
Introduce sustainable innovations
Educate organizations on a large scale
Create how-to modules
Optimize learning outcomes

Get Started Today

Why you'll love us.

NO TEMPLATES, EVER.
At CSUN, we don’t fill courses. We build them, entirely from scratch, each and every time we launch a program. This leads to a unique education, with real and lasting outcomes in your career.
EXPERT INSTRUCTION AND DESIGN.
Our world-class faculty design and teach all courses, helping you gain today’s most in-demand skills – and bringing the industry directly to you.
GROUP-POWERED LEARNING.
When you enroll, we place you in a small, interactive group of peers from diverse organizations and industries. And from day one to graduation, you’ll learn and grow together.
VIP SUPPORT.
As you earn your education, we’ll stay with you every step of the way, offering close, personal support when and where you need it.

Get Started Today

Why instructional design?

With the world’s transition to remote learning, instructional design is in high demand. Now more than ever, these experts are needed to create virtual programs and orchestrate the shift – sometimes a very rapid one – from in-person to online education.

Considered the “architects” of the learning experience, instructional designers develop the majority of today’s educational content, especially what’s online. Needed by a wide range of organizations, from corporations to higher ed, instructional design is an indispensable part of how we communicate ideas and educate people.

Through instructional designers, organizations communicate policy, train employees and implement wide-scale change. Everything from private language lessons, like Rosetta Stone, to online master’s programs, such as this one, is the work of instructional design.

For organizations in both education and industry, instructional design is essential. Whether it’s in the office or in the classroom, clear, effective training materials are needed to teach students and employees new skills, ideas or policies.

Request More Info

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: How many hours a week should I plan to dedicate to classes?

Answer: Credit-bearing programs conform to Carnegie hours (i.e., one credit equals one hour of class time, plus two hours of homework). Our programs usually have six to nine credits per term. Nine credits equals 27 hours a week dedicated to classes.

Question: What professions will this degree prepare me for?

Answer:

Instructional designer
Online instructor
Course developer
Curriculum designer/specialist
Learning specialist
Instructional coordinator
Corporate trainer
Entrepreneur
Instructional technologist
Digital media designer
Master’s-level instructional design professionals for training and development roles.

Question: What aspects of instructional design are part of this program?

Answer: We will look at instructional design by exploring case studies and learning about the latest tools (LMSs and tools for assessment, collaboration etc.).

Question: What resources will be provided in addition to lectures?

Answer: Each course requires significant reading and/or videos to supplement the live online class. Many of the best resources are recent articles and book chapters.

Question: How many projects will be completed in the program?

Answer: There will be a number of small projects in different classes (three to five) and one large thesis project. We encourage students to build on their prior work, so projects may not necessarily be independent of each other.