Instructional Design Graduate Certificate Programs

Updated: Dec 16, 2023

Instructional Design is an important area of education. In this arena, you will design learning environments including curricula and analyze existing learning materials, improving them for a range of educational providers – including schools and businesses.

An Instructional Design Graduate Certificate is for teachers, educators, and those with great analytical skills looking to enter a career in teaching development, heading an academic department, and more.

What Are the Online Instructional Design Graduate Certificate Requirements?

If you are considering applying for an instructional design graduate certificate, you should know that each school has a list of admission requirements. While these will vary, most will include the following:

  • Bachelor's and master’s degrees in a relevant education or administration subject. Education, ideally, though MPP and MPA are also acceptable
  • 3.0 minimum GPA
  • Official transcripts from all universities previously attended
  • Applicants from a non-English-speaking country must provide proof of proficiency through recognized certifications such as TOEFL, PTEA, and IELTS. ELS112 and DuoLingo are acceptable to some schools
  • Academic recommendation letters or employer references – usually 2-3
  • Resume/CV
  • Application fee
  • A personal statement – up to 500 words
  • Some schools may ask for an essay answering a question about teaching or instructional design

What Type of Classes Are Included in the Online Instructional Design Graduate Certificate Curriculum?

An instructional design graduate certificate can often be completed in just a few semesters (around one academic year). The curriculum will include mandatory coursework and often several electives. Common course titles and topics include:

  • Introduction to Learning Science
  • Designing Virtual Communities
  • Gamification
  • Instructional Design Method
  • Instructional Design: Project Management
  • Learning with Social Media and Mobile Devices
  • Teaching and Learning Issues
  • E-Learning Methods
  • Learning Technologies
  • Instructional Design for Disabilities
  • Trends and Issues in Instructional Design
  • Instructional Strategies and Assessment Methods
  • Designing Computer-Based Training
  • Project Management for Instructional Development
  • Practicum / Capstone Project

What Type of Career Can I Pursue with an Online Instructional Design Graduate Certificate?

With an instructional design graduate certificate, careers in both academia and business will be open to you. Popular career pathways include:

  • Course Design Director: Responsible for all elements of course design. You can work in formal education establishments or in business training, designing courses for all types of education.
  • Chief Learning Officer: Working typically in a business environment, you will be responsible for overseeing the organization's wider strategy for training, employee learning facilities, and equipment.
  • Business Trainer: While the CLO is the chief administrator of business training, the trainer teaches employees on a one-to-one or group basis. You will train on specific skills such as communication or technical training.
  • Education Consultant: Working as an independent, you will advise private schools, businesses, and any other educational establishment on a range of training, course, and administrative subjects.

Instructional Design Graduate Certificate Programs List

Interested in an instructional design graduate certificate program? Check out our listings below to find a traditional, online, or hybrid program near you.

Alabama

SchoolLocationDetails
Alabama State UniversityMontgomery, ALHybrid - Instructional Design
Auburn University at MontgomeryMontgomery, ALHybrid - Instructional Design
University of MontevalloMontevallo, ALHybrid - Instructional Design
University of West AlabamaLivingston, ALHybrid - Instructional Design

California

SchoolLocationDetails
California State University-SacramentoSacramento, CAInstructional Design for eLearning
California State University, FullertonFullerton, CAOnline - Instructional Design
San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CAInstructional Design
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los AngelesLos Angeles, CAInstructional Design

Connecticut

SchoolLocationDetails
Fairfield UniversityFairfield, CTHybrid - Instructional Design
University of ConnecticutStorrs, CTHybrid - Instructional Design

Florida

SchoolLocationDetails
Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FLHybrid - Instructional Design
Full Sail UniversityWinter Park, FLOnline - Instructional Design & Technology
Nova Southeastern UniversityFort Lauderdale, FLHybrid - Instructional Design
Seminole State College of FloridaSanford, FLOnline - Instructional Design

Georgia

SchoolLocationDetails
Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, GAHybrid - Instructional Design
Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, GAOnline - Instructional Design and Technology
Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GAHybrid - Instructional Design
Piedmont UniversityDemorest, GAHybrid - Instructional Design
University of GeorgiaAthens, GAHybrid - Instructional Design
University of West GeorgiaCarrollton, GAHybrid - Instructional Design
Valdosta State UniversityValdosta, GAHybrid - Instructional Design

Idaho

SchoolLocationDetails
Boise State UniversityBoise, IDHybrid - Instructional Design

Illinois

SchoolLocationDetails
Chicago School of Professional PsychologyChicago, ILOnline - Instructional Design
Concordia University-ChicagoRiver Forest, ILHybrid - Instructional Design
Eastern Illinois UniversityCharleston, ILHybrid - Instructional Design
Governors State UniversityUniversity Park, ILHybrid - Instructional Design
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, ILOnline - Instructional Design
University of St FrancisJoliet, ILOnline - Instructional Design in Online Learning

Indiana

SchoolLocationDetails
American College of EducationIndianapolis, INHybrid - Instructional Design
Indiana State UniversityTerre Haute, INOnline - Instructional Design

Kansas

SchoolLocationDetails
Wichita State UniversityWichita, KSInstructional Design

Louisiana

SchoolLocationDetails
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LAInstructional Design
Nicholls State UniversityThibodaux, LAInstructional Design

Massachusetts

SchoolLocationDetails
Boston UniversityBoston, MAHybrid - Instructional Design
Bridgewater State UniversityBridgewater, MAHybrid - Instructional Design
Cambridge CollegeBoston, MAHybrid - Instructional Design
Emmanuel UniversityBoston, MAOnline - Instructional Design and Technology

Maine

SchoolLocationDetails
University of MaineOrono, MEHybrid - Instructional Design

Michigan

SchoolLocationDetails
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MIInstructional Design
Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MIHybrid - Instructional Design

Minnesota

SchoolLocationDetails
Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MNHybrid - Instructional Design
Walden UniversityMinneapolis, MNHybrid - Instructional Design

Missouri

SchoolLocationDetails
University of Central MissouriWarrensburg, MOHybrid - Instructional Design
Webster UniversitySaint Louis, MOHybrid - Instructional Design

Mississippi

SchoolLocationDetails
Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MSHybrid - Instructional Design
University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg, MSHybrid - Instructional Design

New Hampshire

SchoolLocationDetails
Plymouth State UniversityPlymouth, NHOnline - Instructional Design

New York

SchoolLocationDetails
Canisius CollegeBuffalo, NYHybrid - Instructional Design
Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NYHybrid - Instructional Design
Manhattan CollegeRiverdale, NYHybrid - Instructional Design
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NYHybrid - Instructional Design
University at BuffaloBuffalo, NYHybrid - Instructional Design

Ohio

SchoolLocationDetails
Franklin UniversityColumbus, OHOnline - Instructional Design
Ohio UniversityAthens, OHOnline - Instructional Design
University of Akron Main CampusAkron, OHHybrid - Instructional Design

Oklahoma

SchoolLocationDetails
Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwater, OKHybrid - Instructional Design

Oregon

SchoolLocationDetails
Western Oregon UniversityMonmouth, OROnline - Instructional Design

Pennsylvania

SchoolLocationDetails
Chestnut Hill CollegePhiladelphia, PAHybrid - Instructional Design

South Carolina

SchoolLocationDetails
Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, SCHybrid - Instructional Design
Southern Weselyan UniversityCentral, SCOnline - Instructional Design

Tennessee

SchoolLocationDetails
Johnson UniversityKnoxville, TNHybrid - Instructional Design

Texas

SchoolLocationDetails
Texas A & M University-CommerceCommerce, TXOnline - Instructional Design
University of HoustonHouston, TXOnline - Learning, Design & Technology
University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburg, TXOnline - Online Instructional Designer

Virginia

SchoolLocationDetails
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIACharlottesville, VAOnline - Instructional Design & Technology

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