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Master the design and creation of education, training, and development programs for the adult learner in professional and academic environments.
UMass Boston’s Instructional Design MEd focuses on the creation of education, training, and development programs for adults in both professional and academic environments. It’s designed for educational professionals, corporate training specialists, consultants, and other educational design mavens who want to hone their skills and add a certification to their résumé. Explore cutting-edge learning technologies and develop instructional strategies and skills to facilitate adult learning and use educational media and technology to enhance learning. Apply these skills to virtually any field — business and industry, schools and colleges, government agencies and the military, health care organizations, religious institutions, and professional societies.
UMass Boston’s MEd Program in Instructional Design offers a practical master’s degree that is ideal for career professionals engaged in the education, training, and development of adult learners in the work place. This multi-disciplinary academic program provides students with a dynamic learning process through a comprehensive course of study that gives equal importance to both the planning and the delivery of adult instruction.
Applications of instructional design can be seen today in business and industry; in schools and colleges, government agencies, and the military; in health care organizations, religious institutions, and professional societies. Using the principles and practices of adult education, the program’s theoretical and applied courses concentrate in three areas:
- Building a foundation and conceptual framework for the instructional design process
- Developing instructional strategies and skills to facilitate adult learning
- Using educational media and technology to enhance learning
Plan Your Education
How to Apply
Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:
- A personal interview with the program faculty
- Two letters of recommendation from former teachers familiar with the applicant’s recent academic work, or from employers familiar with his or her professional ability
Deadlines & Cost
Deadlines: June 15 for fall, November 1 (priority deadline) and December 1 (final deadline) for spring
Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.
Estimate Your Program Cost: Get a feel for your expected program costs using the Graduate Program Cost Calculator.
Program Cost Information: For more detailed information on costs, please visit the Bursar's website or send an email to Bursar@umb.edu. Please refer to Graduate Student Financial Aid for more information on financial aid.
Curriculum
Core Courses (24 Credits)
- INSDSG 601 - Foundations in Instructional Design and Learning Technology 3 Credit(s)
- INSDSG 602 - The Adult as Learner 3 Credit(s)
- INSDSG 604 - Communication Theory and Practice 3 Credit(s)
- INSDSG 607 - Using Primary Research for Evidence-Based Practice 3 Credit(s)
- INSDSG 640 - Planning, Design and Development of eLearning 3 Credit(s)
- INSDSG 642 - Assessment and Evaluation in Instructional Design 3 Credit(s)
- INSDSG 684 - Design and Instruction of Online Courses 3 Credit(s)
- INSDSG 690 - Capstone Seminar 3 Credit(s)
Electives (12 Credits)
Complete four courses from below.
Independent study and internship courses can only be taken with advance permission of the graduate program director.
Students may take up to two courses from other departments with advance permission of the graduate program director.
- INSDSG 610 - Video Principles for Instructional Design 3 Credit(s)
- INSDSG 634 - Project Management in Instructional Design 3 Credit(s)
- INSDSG 646 - Universal Course Design: A Pathway to Mindful and Creative Adult Learning for All 3 Credit(s)
- INSDSG 655 - Project in Multimedia 3 Credit(s)
- INSDSG 696 - Independent Study 1-6 Credit(s)
- INSDSG 697 - Special Topics in Instructional Design 1-6 Credit(s)
- INSDSG 698 - Internship 1-6 Credit(s)
Learning Outcomes
In this program, students will:
- Build a foundation and conceptual framework for the instructional design process
- Develop instructional strategies and skills to facilitate adult learning
- Use educational media and technology to enhance learning
Graduation Criteria
Program Requirements
Complete 36 credits from twelve courses including eight required courses and four electives.
Capstone: Completion of a project or thesis.
Statute of limitations: Five years.
Contact
Graduate Program Director:
Carol Sharicz
carol.sharicz [at] umb.edu
Fran Keefe
fran.keefe [at] umb.edu
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UMass Boston programs are designed to meet the requirements for licensure or certification in Massachusetts. Please contact your state licensing or certification board to determine whether the program meets the requirements for licensure or certification in other states.
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