M.Ed. Instructional Design & Technology: Training & Development
32
Credit Hours
12
Month Completion
Class Type
Next Start Date
Aug 18, 2025
Placement Tests
GMAT/GRE not required for admission

Redefine learning design and delivery with an M.Ed. in Instructional Design with Training & Development Specialization

If you enjoy creating impactful learning experiences for learners in corporate, nonprofit or governmental settings, Franklin’s M.Ed. in Instructional Design & Technology with a Specialization in Training & Development can position you to effectively create programs that enhance workforce skills and productivity. With a focus on human performance technology, learning management systems and project and relationship management, the 12-month online program equips you to improve employee performance and contribute to organizational success. 

Program Availability

On Site

12-Month Completion

Earn your M.Ed. and qualify for training + development roles faster.

$2,000 Smart Start Scholarship

New students in the M.Ed. students qualify for an automatic $2,000 scholarship.

Hands-On Learning

Build your skills using industry-leading tools like Articulate 360. 

Tailored to Fit Your Life

Focus on one class at a time.

Real-World Practitioners

Learn from experienced, in-field professionals.

100% Online Coursework

Balance earning your degree with other work-life commitments.

Program Overview

Understand the theories and models that shape the instructional design industry

Organizations increasingly recognize the importance of employee development to remain competitive. As a result, professionals with expertise in training and development are in demand to design programs that enhance workforce skills and productivity.

You’ll gain a strong foundation in learning theories and instructional design models through courses that equip you with fundamental knowledge, as well as opportunities to apply your learning. You'll explore how people learn and develop strategies to design effective instructional solutions. Courses will equip you with the skills to develop strategic instructional strategies for diverse scenarios and situations, including the opportunity to create a learning or training event in a business, healthcare or education setting. By the end of this course, you will be equipped with a comprehensive plan to kick-start your instructional design career.

Master intricate principles of human performance technology

A career in training and development enables you to make a direct impact on employee performance and satisfaction. You’ll develop programs that not only teach new skills, but also foster a culture of continuous learning and development, making a meaningful contribution to organizational success.

You will be empowered to dissect complex performance problems and identify the most effective solutions. By navigating real-world scenarios and case studies, you'll gain the insight to recommend interventions tailored to specific performance issues. Not only will you understand how to apply these interventions, but also comprehend the ripple effect they could have on organizations, business processes and individuals. End the course with the valuable ability to evaluate the results of your implemented strategies, further cementing your role as a key player in any business' success.

Learn by doing with industry-aligned tools

Every course in the M.Ed. in Instructional Design & Technology program is project-based, offering hands-on experience with tools (Articulate 360), systems (LMS) and processes (project management). Course assignments in the M.Ed. in Instructional Design-Training & Development program mirror on-the-job scenarios like designing learning events using technology and collaboration tools, or creating e-learning units and managing reusable learning content effectively.

The program culminates with a capstone course, in which you'll work with a client to provide instructional design training or curriculum design. From designing e-learning modules to managing instructional projects, throughout your master's coursework, you'll build a portfolio that demonstrates real-world expertise.

Prepare for CPTD or CPT certification

Franklin’s industry-aligned Instructional Design & Technology curriculum is designed to help you confidently pursue certifications like the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD), a globally recognized learning and development credential, and the Certified Performance Technologist (CPT), the sole performance improvement certification. These recognized credentials validate your expertise in employer-sought skills and open doors to higher-level roles in instructional design and performance improvement.  

Choose an M.Ed. in Instructional Design that’s made for you

Balancing career, education and life is easier with Franklin. Our 100% online courses and flexible six-week courses allow you to focus on one class at a time. Perfect for busy professionals, the online M.Ed. in Instructional Design with Training & Development specialization can be completed in as few as 12 months. Plus, by combining our affordable tuition rates, with either a $2,000 Smart Start Scholarship, or tuition discounts available through employers and professional organizations, investing in your future has never made more sense. 

At Franklin, you'll learn from expert instructors who bring industry insights directly to your coursework, build your professional network by collaborating with peers across educational disciplines, and graduate with job-ready skills and a portfolio that reflects your talent and abilities. 

Read more >

Your Best Value M.Ed. in Instructional Design

Choose Franklin's Master of Education in Instructional Design & Learning Technology and get a high-quality degree that fits your life and your budget.

Competitive Tuition

$670
PER CREDIT HOUR

Competitive tuition rates provide value and quality.

Smart Start Scholarship

$21,440
Total Tuition
$2,000
Automatic Scholarship
$19,440
Tuition with Scholarship

Franklin’s competitive tuition rate and our Smart Start Scholarship puts your degree within reach.

Take One Class at a Time

Balance your education with your life and finish in 12 months. 

Finish Fast

12
MONTHS TO COMPLETE

Realize your career goals sooner and reap the benefits. 

Partner? Pay Less.

Search below to see if you could save tuition through an employer or professional organization partnership.


 
$21,440
Total Tuition
(After Partner Discount)

Tuition Guarantee

Inflation-proof your degree cost by locking-in your tuition rate from day one through graduation.

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Courses & Curriculum

32 Semester Hours
Major Area Required
IDT 601 - Foundations of Instructional Design (4)

Learning theories and instructional design models are the two fundamental pillars for the field of instructional design. In this course, students will study the learning theories and philosophies that have formed, influence, and support this field. Students will also study instructional systems theories, models, and systematic approaches to instructional design. In this course, students will apply these theories, strategies, and instructional models to create a learning, instructional design, or training event in their chosen setting, whether business, government, healthcare, higher ed, industry, k-12, or other. At the end of this course, students will make a plan on how to prepare for an instructional design career.

IDT 650 - Evaluation (4)

This course presents fundamental principles and practices for evaluating courses and programs, with a focus on formative and summative evaluation and criterion-referenced testing. Students will explore evaluation models and theories, create a learner satisfaction survey, create criterion-referenced tests, create grading rubrics, and work with a data set to interpret data and make recommendations to improve a course or unit of instruction. Projects completed in the course will become part of the student’s portfolio.

IDT 660 - Advanced Instructional Design & Performance Technology (4)

In this course, students will learn advanced instructional design skills for the workplace, contemporary research in instruction design, and modern learning technologies. Students will also face design challenges and provide solutions to address those challenges. This is a course to prepare students to enter the workplace and be successful. Students should take this course in the latter part of the degree.

IDT 670 - Capstone (4)

The Capstone Project experience provides students with the opportunity to receive academic credit for experience in an authentic work environment, which may be either external or internal to the University depending on the student’s preference. The Capstone Project involves a partnership among the student, the faculty member, and an approved project sponsor. The faculty member and the project sponsor will evaluate project deliverables according to the achievement of milestones and the submission of materials identified in a Learning Contract. The Learning Contract must specify a relatively comprehensive experience that can be completed within the time frame of the 12-module course. Projects completed in the course will become part of the student’s portfolio.

Specialization

Training & Development:

IDT 620 - Principles of Human Performance Technology (4)

In this course, you will learn a framework for understanding human performance by working with scenarios and case studies to analyze performance problems, determine the level and type of intervention required, and make recommendations for a suite of solutions that will achieve the desired impacts.

IDT 645 - Learning Management Systems (4)

In this course, students will study the practices employed to manage and deliver instructional content in an online environment. Students will interact with a functional Learning Management System (LMS) to manage the design, development, delivery, and evaluation of reusable learning content.

OR

Curriculum & Instruction - Higher Education:

EDUC 615 - Critical Issues in Education & Community Relations (4)

This course examines current and emerging issues and trends impacting education: inquiring into demographic shifts; globalization; technology, data-based decision-making; inclusion of diverse learners in American schools; and recent research on student achievement when influenced by race, gender, and poverty. Additionally, the issues and responsibilities related to understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural contexts as they impact the school community.

EDUC 625 - Curriculum Leadership in Higher Education (4)

This course will examine curriculum leadership in higher education. Students will learn foundations of curriculum in U.S. Colleges and Universities, curriculum design principles, frameworks, processes and curriculum mapping. Students will also learn the techniques for evaluating a curriculum and proper instructional alignment.

EDUC 616 - Introduction to Student Affairs (4)

The purpose of this course is to provide a survey and overview of student affairs theory and practice. It introduces learners to the foundational philosophies of the profession, examines the integration of student affairs functions and administrators in higher education, explores the variety of roles student affairs professionals play on college campuses, and seeks to develop an understanding of institutional cultures and the professional's role within those cultures. These objectives will be explored within the context of examining the central role student affairs plays in helping students gain and articulate transferable skills gained through experiences outside of the classroom.

OR

Curriculum & Instruction - K-12 Education:

EDUC 613 - Leading Curricular & Instructional Alignment in K-12 Education (4)

This course will focus on the tools that educators need to achieve deep alignment. Effective curriculum design and deep alignment are critical factors in maximizing student achievement. The purpose of the course is to strengthen the knowledge and skills of learners as instructional designers and managers by evaluating models for managing curriculum as they identify and research current and emerging issues in curriculum.

EDUC 615 - Critical Issues in Education & Community Relations (4)

This course examines current and emerging issues and trends impacting education: inquiring into demographic shifts; globalization; technology, data-based decision-making; inclusion of diverse learners in American schools; and recent research on student achievement when influenced by race, gender, and poverty. Additionally, the issues and responsibilities related to understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural contexts as they impact the school community.

EDUC 618 - Strategies for Inclusive Classrooms (4)

This course covers curriculum and intervention strategies for working with children in a supportive, equitable, culturally responsive, and inclusive culture within the educational environment. Learners will use their observation, assessment and communication skills to meet the individualized needs of children in inclusive environments. Includes the role of the teacher as a professional working with families, collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, and cultural competence.

Program Details

Employment Outlook

10%

From 2023-2033, jobs in Education are expected to increase by 10%

Occupation Median Salary (2023) Job Postings (2023) Projected Growth (2023-2033)
Occupation
Training and Development Managers $125,050 27,958 11%
Training and Development Managers
Median Salary: $125,050
Job Postings: 27,958
Projected Growth: 11%
Occupation
Job Titles
Skills
Industry
Description

Training and Development Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

Projected Growth
Job TitleJob Postings% of Job Postings
Learning and Development Managers4,12315%
Training Managers3,13911%
Managers-in-Training2,71110%
Training and Development Managers2,2318%
Directors of Staff Development5,44920%
Show More
SkillJob Postings% of Total Postings
Project Management7,15619%
Learning Management Systems5,43615%
Marketing4,93613%
Instructional Design4,29012%
Adult Education3,98711%
Show More
 
Industry% of Occupation in Industry
Federal Government, Military16%
Management of Companies and Enterprises13%
Education and Hospitals (State Government)3%
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services3%
Computer Systems Design and Related Services3%
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals3%
Other59%
Instructional Coordinators $74,610 43,022 8%
Instructional Coordinators
Median Salary: $74,610
Job Postings: 43,022
Projected Growth: 8%
Occupation
Job Titles
Skills
Industry
Description

Instructional Coordinators develop instructional material, coordinate educational content, and incorporate current technology into instruction in order to provide guidelines to educators and instructors for developing curricula and conducting courses. May train and coach teachers. Includes educational consultants and specialists, and instructional material directors.

Projected Growth
Job TitleJob Postings% of Job Postings
Instructional Designers12,15028%
Education Specialists4,15210%
Education Coordinators2,6036%
Learning Specialists2,2795%
Curriculum Specialists1,8474%
Show More
SkillJob Postings% of Total Postings
Instructional Design16,15828%
Curriculum Development11,38420%
Learning Management Systems10,12018%
Project Management9,14916%
Adult Education8,44515%
Show More
 
Industry% of Occupation in Industry
Education and Hospitals (Local Government)40%
Education and Hospitals (State Government)12%
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools8%
Educational Support Services8%
Elementary and Secondary Schools8%
State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals4%
Other20%
Training and Development Specialists $64,355 80,224 12%
Training and Development Specialists
Median Salary: $64,355
Job Postings: 80,224
Projected Growth: 12%
Occupation
Job Titles
Skills
Industry
Description

Training and Development Specialists design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.

Projected Growth
Job TitleJob Postings% of Job Postings
Operations Management Trainees19,20924%
Training Specialists9,67612%
Complex Managers5,6867%
Training Coordinators5,3567%
Technical Trainers4,4006%
Show More
SkillJob Postings% of Total Postings
Process Improvement15,06313%
Merchandising14,04512%
Business Process13,08712%
Performance Management12,73011%
Community Outreach12,13211%
Show More
 
Industry% of Occupation in Industry
Restaurants and Other Eating Places7%
Management of Companies and Enterprises5%
Computer Systems Design and Related Services4%
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services4%
Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals3%
Business Schools and Computer and Management Training3%
Other74%

Source: Employment Outlook data is provided by Lightcast. Franklin University cannot guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.

M.Ed. in Instructional Design & Learning Technology Knowledge & Skillsets

Gain in-demand skills sought by employers with curriculum that teaches you:

Frequently Asked Questions