Instructional Systems Design and Technology, Master of Education

The Master of Education in Instructional Systems Design and Technology is designed for individuals who wish to learn more about the use of instructional technology in educational, learning, instructional, and training environments. This program blends coursework from faculty with expertise in education and technology to promote a strong working knowledge of technology-oriented learning environments. The degree requires thirty hours of graduate credit.

Candidates will demonstrate the knowledge and skills required of an instructional designer by building a portfolio to demonstrate their schoolwork and a mini-thesis to reflect the design process of a project. During the last two semesters of the program, candidates research, design, evaluate, and implement an online training course while showing mastery of integrated objectives.

Students seeking the M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design & Technology may also opt to pursue either the Effective Online Instruction Certificate or Educational Technology Certificate, or both, as part of their studies.

Curriculum

Coursework exceeds the level of expectations regarding student interaction and usability, in an online environment. The experience of rigorous coursework in an online venue prepares students to practice effective distance communication and design quality distance learning instruction as well as in-person interaction for learning. In the 30-hour program, 15 credit hours (five courses) focus on the infrastructure/hardware/software of a system, while the other 15 credit hours (five courses) are foundational to design and learning theories, applications, and research-based instructional strategies.

Marketable Skills

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers. Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The online Master of Education in Instructional Systems Design and Technology program at Sam Houston State University is a combination of courses specially designed to prepare candidates for careers as instructional designers in all areas of instruction and training. With a curriculum that teaches established learning and instructional theories as well as research-based instructional design methodology and best practices, graduates have opportunities for careers as instructional designers and coaches in business and industry, healthcare, military, government, and higher education institutions as well as in the traditional K-12 venue.

Marketable skills include:

• Identify learning, instructional, and training problems and needs.
• Use technology to solve learning, instructional, and training problems.
• Present learning, instructional, and training ideas creatively using technology.

Program Breakdown

Brief breakdown of the type, or types, of degree available, their length, available enrollment, and estimated cost.

Category	Degree Summary
Catalog Entry	Master of Education (MEd)
Length	30 Credit Hours
Enrollment	Fall, Spring, Summer
Costs	Rates Per Semester
Admission Requirements	Application Materials