So, you are contemplating a degree in instructional design. The first thing to know is that there are various instructional design degrees and instructional technology degrees available, but the specific preparation and concentrations may be different depending on what you want to do when you graduate. At present, most colleges and universities only offer instructional design degrees at the graduate level. These are ” MS, MA, MEd, EDS, and PhD programs.
The second thing to consider it what instructional designers do and how that fits with yours interests. Keep in mind that instructional technologists develop content that is used by trainers, other instructional designers, teachers, instructors, etc, with the goal of improving or enhancing instructional outcomes and effectiveness. Instructional designers make decisions on effectiveness of instructional methods, and instructional delivery for a stated set of learning outcomes. Therefore, this requires one to have good knowledge of learning psychology, learner analysis, and instructional media selection.
As a prospective graduate student, it is vital to take into account various factors when selecting your ideal instructional design program. Hence you should keep in mind your future career goals, your area of expertise and professional interests, online learning options, and how much it will cost you to complete your program of study.
Another thing to consider when conducting your research is how the program my be titled in the catalog. Common program names are Educational Technology, Computer Education, Instructional Technology, Instructional Design and Development, Instructional Systems Technology, Instructional Design, Learning Technologies, Instructional Design and Technology, Instructional and Performance Technology, and Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation. It is quite useful to now this as it generally is a good indicator of the coursework that you will be engaged in during the program.
Another important issue to consider is whether the university you are contemplating is one that has accreditation. Being accredited means that the graduate program has undergone in-depth self-evaluation evaluation by peer institution and peers, and accrediting bodies. Accreditation organizations have the task of performing evaluations so as to ensure that the programs are conforming to the established mission and goals, objectives and curricula, administrative and financial stipulations, as well as faculty and student expectations. Also, if you ever have to join a new program at a different university or to transfer your credits, the new institution will determine whether your degree is credible, so it is best to ensure the institution you graduate from is accredited.
Instructional design programs offer different areas of specialization to prepare their students. Instructional designers, instructional technologist, or e-learning specialists work in a variety of different settings in corporations, K-12 schools, universities, government, the military, and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s).
Whenever possible try and schedule a visit to the institution that you are interested in and talk to the instructors and students. Ask them questions about internships, jobs, employment, the kinds of courses you will be taking and the general structure of the programs. Check out the classrooms, library resources, and computer labs to see what is available to the students. This information will help you in making final decisions.
Your academic advisor can help you in the process of developing a program of study that fits your goals. The programs have required courses to provide general preparation to practice in the profession. Some departments also offer specialized tracks or courses that permit or encourage concentration in a specific area. The opportunity to specialize depends on the availability of relevant courses, on focused class projects.
Instructional design is a growing field for people who enjoy training, working with learners, developing multimedia, and designing instructional content. The profession has established a broad knowledge base in learning psychology, cultural studies, and media studies. The profession continues to expand as more organizations move toward e-learning, human performance technology, and other instructional modes.