Instructional Design, MS

Description of Program

Instructional design (ID) is a craft – a blend of science and art. Students who complete the Master of Science in Instructional Design (MSID) program will be able to apply intermediate design skills within work settings that span all industry sectors. The MSID program outcomes are aligned to the ID competencies established by the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction (IBSTPI), the Association for Talent Development (ATD), and the standards of the Association for Educational Communication and Technology (AECT). These competencies and standards include planning, analyses, universal design, development, rapid prototyping, implementation, evaluation, and project management of instructional and training interventions.

**Note: Program availability may vary by state - please contact the Enrollment Office for more information**

Learning Outcomes

• Employ communication strategies in instructional design
• Investigate ethical, legal, and political factors influencing instructional and training interventions
• Analyze relevant principles and theories in the context of instructional design
• Conduct necessary analyses to inform the design of instructional and training solutions
• Design research-based instructional and training solutions using multiple delivery systems

Basis for Admissions

A conferred Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited academic institution or an international institution determined to be equivalent through an approved evaluation service.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Instructional Design (MSID) requires 36 credit hours for degree completion. Students who are considering any degree program are strongly encouraged to check specific state requirements carefully to be sure any degree program they consider will be accepted for purposes of certification or recertification, promotion, or advancement on school district salary schedules.

The MSID degree program has the following graduation requirements:

• A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate instruction must be completed through NCU
• Official transcripts on file for all transfer credits accepted by the University

The University may accept a maximum of 12 semester credits in transfer toward the Master of Science in Instructional Design for graduate course work completed at an accredited college or university with a grade average of “B” or better. See the Transfer Credit Policy for additional information.

Time to Completion

NCU allows 6 years to complete all 36 credit hour master’s programs.

Normal time to completion for this program is 27 months.

Time to completion varies depending upon the pace in which a student completes courses and the number of transfer credits accepted. As most NCU students are working adults balancing educational, professional, and personal commitments, our academic and finance advisors will work with you to develop a program schedule that works best for your needs.

The normal time disclosed above reflects the experience of students who may have entered under different program requirements. In the quest for continuous improvement, academic leadership has revised the program to optimize curriculum and pace, facilitate student learning, and improve chances for success. Therefore, the program is now designed for students enrolling today to take advantage of these revised course structures, lengths, and schedules. New students following the preferred schedule designed by the Dean for this program, and applying no transfer credits, can expect to finish in as little as 25 months.

Students who are unable to complete a degree program within the stated time limits are dismissed. If a student believes they have extenuating circumstances they may document the circumstances and send a request for consideration to their respective School Dean or designee. Exceptions to the policy are determined on a case-by-case basis and are granted only once.

Course Sequence

• EDU-5000 - Foundations for Graduate Study in Education
• ID-5000 - Fundamentals of Instructional Design
• ID-5010 - Applying Theory to Instructional Design
• ID-5020 - Analyzing Needs, Contexts, and Learners
• ID-5030 - Assessment of Learning
• ID-5040 - Design Principles for Multimedia Learning
• ID-5050 - Development of Learning Materials
• ID-5060 - Authoring Tools for Design and Development
• ID-5070 - Development Models and Evaluation of Design
• ID-5080 - Special Considerations in Design Practice
• ID-5090 - Project Management for Instructional Design
• ID-6000 - Instructional Design Capstone Experience