After high school, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree in education that leads to teacher licensure. Following your degree, you will need to apply for a teaching license. Although it’s possible to land an instructional design job without a teaching license, many employers in this field prefer candidates who do have this qualification.
You’ll also need to earn a master’s degree. It’s best to look for a program that focuses specifically on instructional design, rather than education in general. After earning your master’s degree, you’ll be ready to apply for your first instructional design job.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Education
Depending on the school you choose, you may have the option of selecting either a general education degree (e.g. Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education) or one that concentrates on a particular specialty, such as a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an Emphasis in Teaching Reading degree.
If you think you might like to specialize and you already have an idea of which area you’d prefer, you can choose a degree with a concentration. Whichever program you choose, it should lead to initial teacher licensure. Even if you aren’t planning on becoming a teacher, many instructional designer jobs, such as those within public school systems, require candidates to have a teacher’s license.
You will also need to complete one or more student teaching experiences. This will involve being placed with an experienced teacher for a semester. You’ll start by carefully observing the teacher, classroom and students, and then progress to working with students individually, in small groups and as a whole class.
Acquire a Teaching License
If you plan on working for a public school system or another type of employer that requires a teaching license, you may want to acquire one as soon as you earn your bachelor’s degree. You’ll need to meet the requirements established by your state, which will likely include providing proof of degree completion, transcripts and proof of student teaching experience.
Earn a Master’s in Instructional Design
Instructional designers are generally expected to have a master’s degree; a doctorate is usually not required. You could choose a master’s degree in teaching your chosen specialty area, if applicable. However, some schools do offer a master’s in instructional design, which is the ideal choice for aspiring instructional designers.
A master’s degree typically takes two years of full-time study to complete. When you enroll in a master’s in instructional design program, you can expect to study topics such as the following:
- Neuroscience, behavioral and cognitive sciences as they relate to how they brain learns and retains memories
- Fundamentals in applied research in education, including qualitative, quantitative and action research approaches
- The history, research-based structures and practical approaches of instructional design
- Current theories of learning and their application to the development of curricula and learning materials
Toward the end of your program, you may complete a capstone course. This is intended to demonstrate the culmination of your skills and knowledge. For example, you may develop a curriculum or lesson plans as part of your capstone course. By the end of your degree program, you should have also developed a professional portfolio of your work that you can use to increase your odds of landing your first instructional design job.
