Learn to design, implement and assess educational solutions, such as online programs, professional development seminars and walk-throughs for products and services.
Why Study this Subject?
Considered the “architects” of the learning experience, instructional designers develop the majority of today’s educational content, especially what’s online. Needed by a wide range of organizations, from corporations to higher ed, instructional design is an indispensable part of how we communicate ideas and educate people.
Through instructional designers, organizations communicate policy, train employees and implement wide-scale change. Everything from private language lessons, like Rosetta Stone, to online master’s programs, such as this one, is the work of instructional design.
For organizations in both education and industry, instructional design is essential. Whether it’s in the office or in the classroom, clear, effective training materials are needed to teach students and employees new skills, ideas or policies.
Why Study This Subject at CSUN?
Fully Online Courses
As you hone your instructional abilities, this program helps you master essential concepts in class – all on a convenient online platform. The program’s online courses feature live class sessions, on-demand access to learning materials and daily networking opportunities.
Close, Personal Support
Throughout the program, you’ll receive the one-on-one support of a team dedicated to your personal and professional success. Whether it’s enrollment, grading or financial aid, a team of experts will help you stay on track and graduate on time.
Hands-On Learning
The program provides hands-on training with many of the field's top professional tools and technologies. Plus, most course work is project-oriented. Through this program, you’ll learn the project management tools and skills needed to lead projects and multidisciplinary design teams.
Cohort-Based Learning
In this program, you’ll join a learning community of students and faculty. With this group of professionals and industry experts, you’ll move toward graduation, building a network along the way and setting the stage for advancement in your field.
This program is offered through self-support. Visit Tseng College for more information.
What You'll Learn
This program delivers the core competencies needed by instructional designers in modern professional contexts: strong technical skills, smart design principles and sound ethical judgment.
Alongside other working adults, you’ll learn how to:
- Design professional and educational courses
- Design and assess instructional media for diversity, equity and inclusion
- Ensure wide accessibility in designs and outcomes
- Educate organizations on a large scale
- Create how-to modules
- Optimize learning outcomes
Careers & Outcomes
A booming field, instructional design is a part of every major organization – from training sessions to employee onboarding. Unsurprisingly, organizations across the nation are aggressively recruiting and compensating well-educated instructional designers.
Over the last two years, the job market for instructional designers grew significantly, in both size and pay:
- 12,000+ job postings
- 10% occupational growth in the next decade
- $85,466 average salary in the United States
- 94% job satisfaction
Top job titles in the field:
- Instructional Designer
- Instructional Coordinator
- Instructional Systems Designers
- Curriculum Designer/Specialist/Developer
- E-Learning Instructional Designers
- Course Developer
- Learning Specialist
- Corporate trainer
- Instructional Technologist