The Advantages To Earning An Instructional Design and Technology Degree
An instructional design and technology degree provides individuals with the skills and technical information necessary for personal and professional success within the educational system. Instructional design and technology programs give students a versatile educational background in computer science, learning theories, programming, web design, and management systems. Graduates from instructional design and technology degrees give students the ability to design, improve, and manage forms of educational instruction using learning theories and various forms of technology.
Most colleges and universities have developed innovative online degree programs to extend instruction to students unable to attend on campus courses due to work or family responsibilities. Most online programs offer the same educational experiences as their traditional, on campus counterparts. Online classes also give students the added benefits of a more personalized degree and increased flexibility of course scheduling. Most online classes feature groups of 25 students, 24 hour access to course materials and other instruction, and one to one access with instructors and other students via Internet chats. Many students find the most affordable, convenient, and efficient way to expand education is through online programs.
What Students Learn Within Instructional Design And Technology Degree Programs
Instructional design and technology degree programs offer graduates the professional skills and technical knowledge necessary to qualify for a variety of educational careers. Instructional design and technology programs are based in academic theories of education and instruction, management systems, human development, communication, computer science, web design, programming, and human computer interaction. Most instructional design and technology professionals are required to posses master’s degree to qualify for employment. Some students begin studies with an associate’s degree in education.
Associate’s level ourses include: fundamentals of speech, English composition, visual arts of today, introduction to art history, introduction to humanities, ethics and critical thinking, introduction to philosophy, understanding religious traditions, mythology, history of architecture, Western civilization to 1750, Western civilization 1750 to present, American literature, English literature, contemporary literature, World literature, human development, college Algebra, informal geometry, informal geometry, statistical methods, fundamentals of biology, human biology, fundamentals of physical science, U.S. history, introduction to anthropology, basic economics, general psychology, and introduction to accounting. Associate degree graduates generally advance to entry level employment within various occupations or continue studies within bachelor degree programs.
Courses at a bachelor level include: communication skills for career development, understanding today’s instructional environments, how people learn, human development, literacy in the 21st century, curriculum design, evaluation and assessment, technology and learning web design, ethical and fair use of instructional materials, introduction to distance education, instructional design, multimedia tools, internet publishing and design, video production, writing for online media, organizational psychology, multimedia development and design, and multimedia editing. Graduates from bachelor level programs may enter employment or advance to master’s degree programs.
Master’s degree courses include: foundations of theory and practice in master’s studies, survey of research methodology, principles of instructional design, processes of instructional design, project management for e-Learning development, design of instructional media, application of learning theories to instructional design, evaluation and assessment of instructional design, internship for instructional design for online learning, the delivery of distance education, interface design, instructional media tools, strategies for building online learning communities, organizational psychology, theory and methods for graduate learners, and needs assessment: models and procedures. Graduates with master’s degrees qualify for upper level employment within the field of instructional design and technology or may advance to doctoral degree programs.
Courses at a doctoral level include: psychological foundations of learning, principles of instruction, educational research, statistics, qualitative research methods, social network media, instructional delivery systems, school networks, instructional design, instructional systems design, visual literacy, prototype studio, and instructional design and technology authoring systems. Graduates who complete doctoral degree programs qualify as experts and may work within universities and research facilities.
Prospective Jobs For Graduates With Instructional Design And Technology Degrees
Graduates with instructional design and technology degrees have the educational background necessary to work within many educational and technological industries. Most graduates with instructional design and technology degrees advance to employment within public or private school districts, vocational schools, colleges, or universities. Some graduates work within corporations, government training programs, or online educational schools. Graduates who complete associate’s degrees gain employment as administrative assistants, teacher’s aides, childcare workers, tutors, or assistant preschool staff. Graduates with bachelor’s degrees generally work as course editors, training and development specialists, or instructional designers. Graduates with master’s degrees often work as upper level executives, researchers, training and development specialists, multimedia specialists, instructional designers, or curriculum designers. Graduates with doctoral degrees are qualified as experts and may work as instructors within vocational schools, colleges, or universities. Many also may work as researchers within various educational institutions or freelance consultants within self operated businesses.
Salary Range For Graduates With Instructional Design And Technology Degrees
Graduates with instructional design and technological degrees have varying salaries based upon factors like: level of education, organization of employment, work experience, geographic location, and area of specialty. Graduates with advanced degrees and experience generally have earnings higher than graduates with less education and experience. Graduates who complete associate degrees and work as teacher’s aides have salaries ranging from $18,840 to $31,430 annually. Graduates with bachelor degrees employed as training and development specialists have earnings ranging from $40.640 to $71,180 annually. Master’s degree graduates who work as curriculum designers earn salaries ranging from 442,070 to $75,000 annually. Graduates who complete doctoral studies and work as college or university professors generally earn $41,600 to $83,960 annually.
Career Outlook and Advancement Opportunities For Graduates with Instructional Design and Technology Degrees
Graduates with instructional design and technology degrees gain technical, occupational, and educational knowledge necessary to work within educational institutions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports job growth for curriculum developers, instructional coordinators, and instructional design and technology degree graduates to increase by 23 percent through 2018 at a much faster than average rate in comparison to other occupations. Changing government regulations to improve the quality of education and student performance, technological advances, expanding population, and the increase in number of schools updating and developing curricula is expected to contribute to job growth in the field of instructional design and technology. Additionally, graduates who specialize training on adult education or lifelong learning programs, programs for special needs students, or programs for English as a second language students will find increased employability. Factors like decreased governmental funding, budgetary constraints, and economic downturns could adversely affect the number of jobs available to graduates.
Overall, despite economic conditions, employment within the field of instructional design and technology is expected to remain stable. Many graduates with undergraduate instructional design and technology degrees begin entry level employment and advance to jobs with greater responsibilities and higher salaries. Graduates with advanced degrees and experience often begin employment in supervisory or management positions and advance to jobs with increase responsibilities within schools systems or executive positions within private organizations. As with most occupations, graduates who continue education and increase work experience often attract promotions and jobs with higher salaries and increased responsibilities.
