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Program at a Glance

Program
Master
College(s)
College of Community Innovation and Education
Department(s)
Learning Sci & Educ Research
2
Years
U.S. News & World Report Best Grad Schools Education Badge

Elevate Learning and Performance Through Innovative Instruction

The MA in Instructional Design and Technology at UCF prepares you to analyze, design and deliver high-quality conventional, online and blended training, education and professional development. The degree program offers three tracks, each one preparing you to meet the needs of various industries and educational settings. You’ll also have an opportunity to enroll in one of the program’s four graduate certificates without taking additional credit hours. This option increases your marketability by expanding your specialized knowledge in the field. And with a fully online instructional design and technology program available, you can take advantage of the flexibility and convenience of learning when and where you want.

Throughout the program, explore the science and art of designing innovative, effective, and engaging training and educational programs in business and industry, K-12 and higher education. You’ll link research to design, discover how people learn, and implement strategies to improve education, training and job performance. But it’s more than just using computers and digital media effectively. Here, you’ll learn first hand about how to assess learning needs, design and implement innovative learning tools and experiences to improve instruction, and evaluate the impact of those tools on learning.

e-Learning Track
The e-Learning Track is designed for both educators (who want to learn how to design and deliver totally online and hybrid courses) and instructional designers (who are now being hired by many universities and colleges across the country to help faculty design and deliver totally online and hybrid courses). You’ll focus on teaching the design, delivery and evaluation of high-quality e-learning materials for in-service, preservice teachers and online trainers for both totally online and blended (hybrid) learning environments.

Educational Technology Track
The Educational Technology track is designed for classroom teachers who want to increase their technical skills and become highly skilled at successfully integrating technology into the curriculum as well as develop leadership skills necessary to become site-based technology coordinators in K-12 schools, colleges and universities. After completing this track, you’ll have the knowledge to seek a new career path in education as a computer teacher, instructor and instructional designer.

Instructional Systems Track
The Instructional Systems track is designed for prospective and practicing instructional designers, training specialists and training directors/managers in business, industry, government or other settings where training, professional development and lifelong learning takes place. You’ll develop an expertise in how and why people learn, how to stimulate and facilitate learning, and in the use of alternative instructional delivery systems.

Person's hand writing on tablet

Highlights

UCF’s MA in Instructional Design and Technology was ranked as the No. 4 Best Educational Technology Program by Best Colleges in 2020.
There are over 5,000 instructional designer job openings across the United States, and the industry demands keep growing.
The demand for instructional designers is expected to grow 6 percent through 2029.
Instructional designers earn an annual average salary of $66K.

Application Deadlines

Fall
July 1
Spring
December 1
Summer
April 1

Ready to get started?

Course Overview

Multimedia in Education and Training

Place an emphasis on the elements and applications of multimedia and technology in multiple instructional settings. Includes authoring, design, alternative delivery systems, hardware and software.

Focus on the systematic analysis and design of instruction, including task, learner, and context analyses, objectives and learner assessments, media selection, flowcharting and storyboarding.

Explore issues and trends in educational and human to computer interactions theories as applied to virtual and online participatory learning environments.

What I loved most about the graduate and doctoral programs was how what I learned was immediately applicable to my work. Each program allowed me to take my learning and professionalism to the next level while also being meaningful and useful. I never felt like any course was a waste of my time. I was able to personalize my learning in a way that made my program applicable to my professional path.”

— Vicki Rath, '12

Instructional Design Skills You'll Learn

  • Organize, interpret and apply knowledge of how and why people learn.
  • Use multimedia authoring tools to develop training and educational programs and materials.
  • Work with subject matter experts to analyze and design innovative, high quality training and educational systems in preK-12, higher education, business and industry.
  • Conduct an array of analyses to assess learning needs and define learning requirements.
  • Complete formative and summative evaluations, and improve training and educational materials based on findings.

Career Opportunities

  • Course Developer or Designer
  • Distance Learning Director or Educator
  • Instructional/Multimedia Designer
  • Learning Systems Analyst
  • Technology Coordinator/Integration Specialist
  • Training Specialist, Manager or Director
  • Technology Instructional Coach

Admission Requirements

The MA in Instructional Design and Technology degree at UCF offers three tracks. Each track may have different requirements, including what’s needed to submit an application. If you choose to complete this program exclusively via UCF Online, classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.

Please note that all requested materials must be submitted by the application deadline.

In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, you must provide:

  • One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Resume

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