Today’s organizations are investing in learning, instructional design, and talent development projects to enhance their effectiveness and fulfill compliance requirements. Especially, during this unprecedented time, instructional designers could be the key to institutions and organizations quickly transitioning to online learning platforms. American University’s MS in Instructional Design and Learning Analytics, offered fully online, equips students with the skills to manage these programs by applying and adapting proven analytic methodologies to improve learning.

Innovative Curriculum

Success in the workplace requires more than possessing relevant knowledge. You must also know how to communicate your ideas, work with teams, make ethical decisions, think critically, and demonstrate cross-cultural competence. To ensure our graduates learn these skills - and more - our online MS in Instructional Design and Learning Analytics program was designed with the input of an advisory council comprised of industry experts using a unique curriculum structure called the Professional Studies Experience (PSE). The four-phase curriculum model, or framework, blends professionally aligned advanced training and workplace skill-building with the standard course work required of your Instructional Design and Learning Analytics degree.

In this 20-month, 30-credit online program, you will:

  • Identify and apply best practices in instructional design.
  • Evaluate a variety of adult learning theories and compare their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Identify appropriate descriptive, prescriptive, and evaluative analytic approaches for learning.
  • Evaluate and assess learning initiatives for effectiveness and ROI.
  • Create strategies for improving the planning, implementation, and management of strategic learning initiatives based on analytics.
  • Examine technological alternatives and trends to measuring and evaluating learning.
  • Assess the importance of integrity, accountability, and diversity in effecting virtual teams and projects.
  • Develop strategic problem-solving proficiencies for complex and sensitive learning and development issues impacting an organization, industry, or business unit.

Featured Courses:
Instructional Design Principles and Practice
Adult Learning Theory
Assessment and Evaluation
Learning Analytics
Evaluating Emerging Trends in Learning and Development
Instructional Design and Learning Analytics Capstone

Thrive in a Growing Field

According to the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of instructional coordinators is projected to grow 11 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. This amounts to 180,400 additional new jobs that will be created by 2024. This amounts to 450,400 total job openings through 2026.1

Job Title Median Salary2
Chief Compliance Officer $112,136
Organizational Development Manager $84,953
Training Director $84,539
Learning Management Systems Analyst $63,646
Instructional Designer $61,184

Certificate Available

American University also offers a 12-credit online Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design and Learning AnalyticsGraduate Certificate in Instructional Design and Learning Analytics. The program consists of four of the core and field/professional courses from the MS in Instructional Design and Learning Analytics degree and you can later apply the credits from your certificate toward completion of the master’s.

To learn more about American University’s online MS in Instructional Design and Learning Analytics program, complete the form to the right to request more information.

1Information accessed at www.bls.gov
2Information accessed by job title on 5/4/17 at www.payscale.com
3https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/american-university-1434
4https://www.american.edu/about/sustainability/carbon-neutrality.cfm

Stephanie Schott, Assistant Dean for Online Learning

"One thing that we pride ourselves on as the School of Professional and Extended Studies is that all of the courses, from the introductory course all the way through the capstone, are applicable. All of these courses are very hands on. They require students to not only learn new concepts and skills, but apply them."