Western Illinois University has been recognized by Online Master’s Degrees as one of the Best Online Master’s in Educational Technology for 2023. Western is ranked 18 out of 50 colleges and universities across the country.
The Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology has offered online courses since 1996. It covers K-12 technology integration, higher education, instructional design, and online training and instruction in the corporate world. Past and present students include corporate business training coordinators, higher education instructional designers and E-Learning coordinators and K-12 technology specialists and technology coordinators.
WIU offers a 30-credit degree program, allowing students to design and implement technologies and apply design thinking to support teaching and learning to assess, design, develop and evaluate instructional materials and technology resources in a real-world context. The K-12 Technology Specialist emphasis is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education to lead to Illinois State Endorsement as a Technology Specialist. In addition, five 18-credit post-baccalaureate certificates are available.
The goal of this program is to prepare students to work in a variety of fields, including business, industry, government, K-12 and higher education and non-profit organizational settings. Students can pursue their personal and professional interests within the curriculum through hands-on learning experiences and conceptual coursework.
To complete the program, students are offered two M.S. program tracks, the general instructional design and technology emphasis and the technology specialist emphasis. Both paths require students to complete 30 total credit hours that include core courses and directed electives.
In addition to the curriculum and focus areas, students may have graduate assistantships available to them through the department or other academic areas at WIU.
WIU’s Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology with a Technology Specialist emphasis and the Technology Specialist PBC programs are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education for meeting the Technology Specialist standards.
For more information, visit bit.ly/3XWrc4m. For more information on WIU’s Master of Science program in Instructional Design and Technology (IDT), visit wiu.edu/cbt/engineering_technology/idt.
***Courtesy of Western Illinois University***
