UMass Boston

Instructional & Learning Design Certificate

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Get certified to create education and training programs for the adult learner in professional and academic environments.

UMass Boston’s Instructional and Learning Design Certificate focuses on the creation of education and training programs for adults in both professional and academic environments. It’s designed for educational professionals, corporate training specialists, librarians, 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 a strong foundation in corresponding design theories and evaluation methods. Apply these skills to virtually any field — from sales to engineering to professional development. You have the option to continue on for an additional two semesters to earn a full Instructional Design MEd.

This graduate certificate focuses specifically on design, assessment, and evaluation considerations of instruction. As well, this certificate addresses learning theory and other design elements required in training and education. The content of this certificate is applied across all education and training arenas that involve adult learners, including higher education institutes, corporate associations, and health care industries. You'll gain the foundational knowledge and skills needed to be a successful instructional design specialist across a variety of settings.

The Graduate Certificate in Instructional & Learning Design is for training and educational professionals practicing instructional design that have a firm grasp on current learning technologies but without formal training in relevant learning theories and methods. This Certificate augments the learning technology experience educational professionals may already possess with a strong foundation in adult learning theory, effective design principles, and sound methods of evaluation. The Instructional and Learning Design Certificate equips you with necessary knowledge to design, develop, implement, and assess learning interventions based on expertise in your field.

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How to Apply

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:

  • A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of recognized standing or an international equivalent at the time of enrollment
  • A minimum, cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (or international equivalent) in all undergraduate work
  • Official transcripts for all institutions where you have earned more than 6 credits; if your transcript is in a language other than English, please include an English translation, validated by an official public translator
  • Statement of purpose
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation
  • If applicable, request official TOEFL, IELTS, PTE and Duolingo scores to be sent to the University of Massachusetts Boston

Deadlines & Cost

Deadlines: July 1 for fall, December 1 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.

Program Cost Information: Bursar's website

Curriculum

Required Courses (12 Credits)

  • INSDSG 601 - Foundations in Instructional Design and Learning Technology 3 Credit(s)
  • INSDSG 602 - The Adult as Learner 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)

Elective (3 Credits)

Complete one from below.

  • INSDSG 604 - Communication Theory and Practice 3 Credit(s)
  • INSDSG 605 - Collaborative Learning Design 3 Credit(s)
  • INSDSG 607 - Using Primary Research for Evidence-Based Practice 3 Credit(s)
  • INSDSG 610 - Video Principles for Instructional Design 3 Credit(s)
  • INSDSG 616 - The Design and Authoring of eLearning 3 Credit(s)
  • INSDSG 634 - Project Management in Instructional Design 3 Credit(s)
  • INSDSG 640 - Planning, Design and Development of eLearning 3 Credit(s)
  • INSDSG 646 - Universal Course Design: A Pathway to Mindful and Creative Adult Learning for All 3 Credit(s)

Graduation Criteria

Complete 15 credits from five courses including four required courses and one elective.

Statute of limitations: Five years.

Contact

Graduate Program Director Carol Sharicz
carol.sharicz [at] umb.edu

Lecturer Fran Keefe
fran.keefe [at] umb.edu

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