Master’s in Instructional Design Degree
Equip yourself to make an impact through instructional design. The Master of Science in Instructional Design at Grand Canyon University (GCU) can prepare you to support organizations or educational environments. The instructional design degree online and as an evening cohort at GCU is designed for professionals who wish to further their skills in instructional design and curriculum development in both educational institutions and corporate training environments.
What Will I Learn In This Instructional Design Master’s Degree Program
The field of instructional design encompasses many aspects of education, including the use of emerging technologies for teaching, evaluation of learning interventions and the application of effective instructional interventions to improve learning outcomes. The instructional design master’s degree at GCU goes beyond the scope of academic education, additionally equipping you with teaching and training skills that can be used to improve performance of a variety of institutions and organizations.
Skills covered in GCU’s master’s degree in instructional design program include the following:
- Consultative problem solving
- Analysis of educational, organizational or training needs
- Design and development of instructional methods
- Implementation and measurement of outcomes
- Collaboration with subject-matter experts
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GCU’s master’s in instructional design program can prepare students with a wide breadth of knowledge, from the history of instructional design to emerging methods for instructional delivery. Upon completion of the 32-credit instructional design program, students will have had the opportunity to gain the knowledge necessary for a career in professional instructional design.
GCU’s Master’s in Instructional Design Produces Work-Ready Graduates
The master’s in instructional design degree is designed to equip you with the applicable skills to prepare you for implementation upon graduation. You can develop a foundational understanding of the theoretical groundwork of instructional design.
Throughout program courses, you will be taught to apply these theories and combine them with skills such as research, analysis and problem-solving in order to solve a great variety of instructional issues. Coursework allows you to build up your research skills and enables you to analyze and interpret appropriate data to make evidence-driven design decisions.
As a master’s degree in instructional design graduate, you can develop a deep background incorporating technology into instructional design. Throughout your instructional design courses, you will collaborate within organizations through the use of digital tools and incorporate multimedia tools, informed by multimedia learning principles and visual graphics guidelines. Students additionally gain hands-on experience creating, assessing and managing training materials using technology and multimedia tools. Instructional design courses include first-hand training in Adobe Captivate, an instructional design software that is a requirement for this program.
Benefits of a Master’s in Instructional Design Degree
The combination of skills gained throughout the instructional design degree online (as well as on campus in the evening) program can help students to identify learning needs, determine desired outcomes and create effective learning interventions within both educational institutions and corporate training environments.
This master’s degree in instructional design online, as well as on campus in the evening, is designed for teachers who already hold licensure. While this program includes practicum/field experience, the program does not include a student teaching experience and is not intended to lead to licensure. Additionally, most non-licensure education degree programs, such as this instructional design degree, are tailored for licensed teachers seeking to further their education and expand their knowledge and skills.
Career Pathways for Instructional Design Master’s Degree Graduates
Graduates of the master’s degree in instructional design program at GCU have been taught to work in educational institutions at the K-12 or college level, including the design of academic curriculum within business settings and organizations. Graduates of the master’s in instructional design degree from GCU, may be able to pursue the following career opportunities:
- Librarian and media collection specialist
- Training and development specialist
- Instructional coordinator
Instructional Design Master Degree FAQs
Deciding on a master’s degree is a big decision. We have prepared a list of your most frequently asked questions regarding the instructional design degree at GCU to help make your decision easier.
Instructional design in education refers to the process of creating educational or training materials and experiences in an efficient and effective manner. This process typically involves analyzing learning needs, determining desired outcomes, selecting appropriate instructional strategies and creating and testing instructional materials. The goal of GCU’s instructional design degree online and on campus in the evenings is to optimize the learning process and improve student outcomes by applying theories, principles and methods to the design of instructional materials and activities.
Instructional designers are often referred to as instructional coordinators and can be used interchangeably depending on the organization or institution. Both titles refer to individuals who are responsible for the design and implementation of educational and training programs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, instructional coordinators have a median annual wage of $63,740 as of May 2021.1
Many instructional designers have a background in education, training and instruction, instructional technology or a related field.2 Specific requirements for becoming an instructional designer may vary depending on the organization and the type of instructional design work being performed. Ultimately, instructional designers should have strong project management and communication skills, as well as a solid understanding of learning theory and instructional design principles.
The difficulty level of an instructional design degree program can be influenced by a variety of factors, such as the school you choose to attend and whether or not you have prior experience or skills. Students who may not be familiar with instructional technology options and multimedia tools could find this program more demanding compared to others. However, rest assured that with the guidance and assistance of GCU faculty and peers, you can be equipped and supported to effectively complete the instructional design courses at GCU.
1 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Instructional Coordinator as of May 2021, retrieved on Feb. 15, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as instructional coordinators. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.
2 Kurt, Dr. Serhat (2016, Dec. 9). What Is Instructional Design. Educational Technology. Retrieved on June 2, 2023.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course is designed to prepare students for the graduate learning experience at Grand Canyon University. Students have opportunities to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to succeed as graduate students in the College of Education. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the tools for graduate success.
Course Description
This course focuses on brain research (from neuroscience to the behavioral and cognitive sciences) that relates to teaching and learning and suggests ways that brain research can be translated into instructional practices within organizational settings. Candidates will examine the inner workings of the brain and the effect on learning, memory, and transfer. Specifically, the course explores the body of knowledge that represents the application of brain research to instructional practice, and how knowledge about the human brain can affect the curricular, instructional, and assessment decisions that the candidates make every day. Practicum/field experience hours: None. Fingerprint clearance not required.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to applied research in education across the major quantitative, qualitative, and action research traditions. Coursework focuses on understanding the research process and its integrated components and evaluating published research reports from the perspective of a critical consumer. Scientific reasoning and research design are also explored.
Course Description
This course introduces the field of instructional design, its history, research based structures, and practical strategies. This course prepares future Instructional Design professionals to advocate for the use of a systematic approach to meeting organizational learning needs. Students explore the instructional design life cycle through the ADDIE model, culminating in a design document that guides a training intervention. Specifically, students learn to write measurable objectives and instructionally aligned, meaningful assessments.
Course Description
Candidates will be introduced to current theories of learning and approaches to curriculum design. The emphasis will be on examining and identifying the concepts, principles, and models of curriculum design. Candidates will evaluate curriculum based on learning theories and approaches to curriculum.
Course Description
This course provides hands-on work with multimedia tools, informed by multimedia learning principles and visual graphics guidelines. Learners use an empathetic process to determine training needs, and assess the use of media products in meeting those needs. In the process of developing various multimedia eLearning modules, students investigate industry standards and emerging technologies. Technology Requirement: Students are responsible for providing their own Adobe Captivate software and a computer that meets the technical requirements to run the software. The version of Adobe Captivate should not be older than the 2019 release. Verify the University Technology Requirements and Programmatic Technology Requirements in the University Policy Handbook available on www.gcu.edu. Prerequisite: EID-500.
Course Description
This course covers the theoretical underpinnings of instructional design. Students explore several instructional design models, as well as strategies for managing instructional design and development projects. Students use various systematic processes to design training interventions and present justifications for the design decisions they make. Technology Requirement: Students are responsible for providing their own Adobe Captivate software and a computer that meets the technical requirements to run the software. The version of Adobe Captivate should not be older than the 2019 release. Verify the University Technology Requirements and Programmatic Technology Requirements in the University Policy Handbook available on www.gcu.edu. Prerequisite: EID-500. Prerequisite: EID-500.
Course Description
Designing effective instruction requires a focus on learner needs and outcomes. This course focuses on using an empathetic design process to prioritize and organize learning and organizational outcomes to create instructional strategies and sequences comprised of multiple mediums. Students practice leveraging the strengths of each medium to serve learner needs and scaffold desired outcomes. Technology Requirement: Students are responsible for providing their own Adobe Captivate software and a computer that meets the technical requirements to run the software. The version of Adobe Captivate should not be older than the 2019 release. Verify the University Technology Requirements and Programmatic Technology Requirements in the University Policy Handbook available on www.gcu.edu. Prerequisite: EID-500 & EID-505.
Course Description
In the ever-evolving digital transformation age it is vital to understand a variety of people and design experiences that support what they need and want to do. In this course, students develop an experimental mindset as well as the basics of gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing a variety of evidence to inform design decisions and lay the ground work for evaluating effective instructional and learning experiences. Prerequisites: TCH-539 and EID-500.
Course Description
Organizations face obstacles, such as disruptive innovation which threaten their ability to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market place. This course explores the latest skills and strategies instructional designers can use to influence vision and strategy and assist in creating a learning organization that tracks soft and technical skills development for organizational impact and return on investment. Technology Requirement: Students are responsible for providing their own Adobe Captivate software and a computer that meets the technical requirements to run the software. The version of Adobe Captivate should not be older than the 2019 release. Verify the University Technology Requirements and Programmatic Technology Requirements in the University Policy Handbook available on www.gcu.edu. Prerequisite: EID-500.
Course Description
This course is a culmination of all instructional design knowledge and skills students have developed throughout the instructional design program. Students are stretched to demonstrate their ability to be a professional instructional designer. Students also develop a professional portfolio to show their preparation to work in the instructional design field. Technology Requirement: Students are responsible for providing their own Adobe Captivate software and a computer that meets the technical requirements to run the software. The version of Adobe Captivate should not be older than the 2019 release. Verify the University Technology Requirements and Programmatic Technology Requirements in the University Policy Handbook available on www.gcu.edu. Prerequisite: EID-500, EID-505, EID-510, EID-515, EID-520, EID-525.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.