Instructional Design Graduate Certificate Programs

Updated: Oct 24, 2024

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.