Learning Design and Technology, Online MSEd

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Online

Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Curriculum and Instruction

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Overview
Courses
Careers
Badges
Admissions
Cost
Licensure
Testimonials
Faculty
News
FAQ

OVERVIEW

Make a Positive Impact on Learner Success

Develop, implement and evaluate multimedia instructional materials, and explore ways to bring instructional design to industries outside of the educational field. You’ll graduate ready to make a positive impact on each and every one of your learners in settings from nonprofits to government, and traditional classrooms to conference rooms.

Advance the Learning of Organizations, Adults, and Children

Maximize your learners’ potential by delivering effective instructional materials no matter where, or who, you’re teaching with Purdue University’s online Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Learning Design and Technology (MSEd in LDT).

Advance Employees’ Knowledge

Corporate trainers, instructional designers, e-learning managers and other corporate educators use the latest tools, strategies, processes, and practices to employ technology in corporate training and development. In doing so you become an important asset to any organization that values growth and productivity — which means job security and greater earning potential after graduation.

Elevate Traditional Classroom Learning

K–12 teachers, administrators and dedicated learning managers graduate ready to integrate technology and create optimal learning materials that help learners of all ages and abilities reach their full potential.

The online MSEd in Learning Design and Technology program prepares you to facilitate more effective learning in the classroom and become an invaluable asset to your school or district.

Credit Program

Week Typical Course Length

months to completion

$450

Cost per Credit Hour (Indiana Resident)

$670

Cost Per Credit Hour (Non-Indiana Resident)

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View a Virtual Open House

Hear directly from our directors of admissions, program directors and faculty to learn more about the program’s objectives, what it’s like to learn online, the resources we have to assist you throughout your education, and career paths after graduation.

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Discover a Rigorous Curriculum

The curriculum of the online MSEd in Learning Design and Technology incorporates the latest research in learning theory, educational technology and instructional design principles and encourages students to use their work experience as a framework for study.

The program is not only taught, but was also designed by the same world-class faculty members that head our on-campus courses, alongside adjunct professors who bring years of experience and new ideas to the classroom. The only difference between the on-campus and online programs is the added flexibility to earn your masters when and where it’s most convenient for you.

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Employment Trends for Learning Design and Technology

National employer demand trends suggest a strong need for program graduates from LDT. Employers posted over 67,000 relevant job postings in the last 12 months.¹

Currently national employment is projected to increase faster than average in four of the top five occupations identified for LDT, signaling increasing opportunities for relevant professionals over the next decade. One of these top five occupations (Training and Development Specialists) houses relevant titles like Learning and Development Specialists, Learning Strategists, and Learning and Development Leads. Within this occupation, employers frequently request skills such as “instructional design” and “adult education.” These trends indicate a robust labor market with plentiful employment opportunities for program graduates.

Training and Development specialists earned a median annual salary of $61,570 while Training and Development Managers earned a median annual salary of $120,000 in 2021. Instructional Coordinators earned a median annual salary of $63,740 in 2021, with employment opportunities projected to grow 7 percent by 2031 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.²

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Additional Information

_{¹Based on a national labor market report by EAB and Lightcast.}

_{²Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Instructional Coordinators, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/instructional-coordinators.htm (visited October 25, 2022).}

Show Your Skills

At Purdue, we give you the unique opportunity to show employers your new skills through a capstone portfolio that aligns with the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction (IBSTPI) standards. These standards are known as the industry gold standard. Upon graduation, you will have created a viable portfolio as you work through the 20-month MSEd in LDT that immediately gives you a competitive advantage in the job market.

Students are also provided access to our technology badges as part of the LDT program. Technology badges allow you to display your knowledge of distinct instructional tools, with many showcasing skills highly desired by employers. For example, included in our listing of technology badges are Camtasia (Video Production) and Articulate (e-Learning authoring tool), both of which are in high demand with employers. The technology badges are available outside of coursework although some badges may be required as part of a particular course curriculum. Moreover, with these badges, you can show employers that Purdue has certified your competence in a particular technology without having to wait until you finish the entire program. These skills will allow you to stand out in the job market.

Learn More About Technology Badges

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Admissions Requirements

Admissions decisions are based on individual experience and the applicant’s fit with the program. We recommend that all applicants speak to an enrollment counselor to verify eligibility and document accuracy in applying for the program.

Semester	Priority Application Deadlines*
Spring	December 1
Summer	April 1
Fall	August 1

_{*Applications submitted after the priority deadline will still be considered.}

Start Your Giant Leap with One Small Step

Apply Now

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Program Costs

Tuition*	Indiana Resident	Non-Indiana Resident
Cost Per Credit Hour	$450	$670
Credit Hours	32	32
Estimated Tuition Costs**	$14,400	$21,400

Full-time Purdue-West Lafayette employees may be eligible for a 30% tuition discount. If applicable, indicate your PWL employee status when speaking to an admissions counselor.

Additional Information

_{*The program is billed per credit hour; depending on the number of credit hours will determine your per semester cost. Total Estimated Tuition Cost is based on the total required credit hours. Tuition costs are subject to increase based on approval by the Purdue University Trustees.
*Textbooks and course materials are not included
*Faculty and staff fee remissions are not valid with this program.}

_{**The cost of attending Purdue varies depending on where you choose to live, enrollment in a specific program or college, food and travel expenses, and other variables. The Office of the Bursar website shows estimated costs for the current aid year for students by semester and academic year. These amounts are used in determining a student’s estimated eligibility for financial aid. You can also use our tuition calculator to estimate tuition costs.}

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Licensure Information

This program does not lead to nor result in an educator license within or outside the State of Indiana. For licensure inquiries contact the College of Education, Office of Teacher Education and Licensure (OTEL).

Testimonials

The LDT program gave me space to experiment, reflect, and grow into the kind of designer I want to be. I created a portfolio that feels true to my voice, tackled projects rooted in real needs, and learned how to apply learning theory, motivation strategies, and evaluation models in ways that make instruction more effective. Even online, the faculty stayed engaged, gave thoughtful feedback, and helped me push my work further.

Andrea Rampone

Learning Experience Designer

My experience with the Learning Design and Technology (LDT) program at Purdue University has been truly transformative. Even as an experienced professional, this program strengthened my foundation and gave me the confidence to pursue new, higher-level opportunities in my career. I’m so proud to be part of the Purdue LDT community!

Karnika Mishra

Learning Experience Designer

I entered the LDT program because I care deeply about creating effective and engaging learning experiences. When I started this program, I was a Business Analyst in the ed tech field. After learning critical analysis and evaluation skills, I have since been promoted to Technical Product Manager. The LDT program teaches skills that are transferable across domains, roles, and positions. I knew I didn’t want to be an instructional designer when I enrolled in this program, but I hoped what I would learn would support me in my line of work–and it did so immensely.

Nikki Page

Technical Product Manager

The LDT program supported my transition from classroom teaching to corporate instructional design. I learned skills and tools that made me a competitive applicant when making a career change.

Kristen Newton

Instructional Designer

Every single course and project in the LDT program was extremely valuable and immediately relevant to the roles I was in throughout the program. The faculty were amazing — supportive, communicative, and very knowledgeable. I have truly enjoyed my time in this program and credit my confidence and success in transitioning from teaching to instructional design to this experience!

Jenna Lane

Leadership Solutions Designer

Each course in the LDT program provided ample opportunities to both give and receive meaningful feedback. This has made me a much more confident learning designer now having deep practice in adjusting and shifting my solutions using feedback.

Shannon Brown

Early Childhood Educator

Purdue’s LDT program was the most flexible and the most rigorous program of those I explored. It enabled me to develop a skill-based portfolio that got my foot in the door when applying for instructional design positions.

Zac Leghorn

Instructional Designer

I chose Purdue’s LDT program over others because most programs pigeonholed practitioners to either K-12/higher ed or corporate/government/nonprofit career tracks. Purdue’s program allowed me to explore different avenues in the instructional design field and was customizable so I could tailor my degree to my goals. Because of this approach, my classmates were very diverse and came from all professional backgrounds. I learned just as much from them as I did from the faculty, which is saying a lot because the faculty is amazing.

Rachel Resendes

Instructional Designer

program FACULTY

Learn From the Experts

Explore how Purdue’s faculty for the online MS in Education in Learning Design and Technology can prepare you for leadership and advancement.

Faculty

Holly Fiock Brown

Assistant Clinical Professor

Peg Ertmer

Professor Emerita

Marisa Exter

Associate Professor

Wanju Huang

Clinical Associate Professor

Adrie Koehler

Associate Professor

James Lehman

Professor Emeritus

Victoria Lowell

Clinical Professor

Timothy Newby

Professor Emeritus of Learning Design and Technology

Jennifer C. Richardson

150th Anniversary Professor

William R. Watson

Professor

Sunnie Watson

Assistant Dean for Engagement and Global Initiatives

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Learning Design and Technology

OVERVIEW

Make a Positive Impact on Learner Success

Advance the Learning of Organizations, Adults, and Children

View a Virtual Open House