UMaine Online

What can I do with a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design?

Instructional technology is fast becoming a challenging and rewarding career move for educators at all levels. Education technology is becoming a mainstay for educational programs across ages and classroom settings. Earning a M.Ed. in Instructional Technology places you at the center of this emerging field.

Students who complete this program will be prepared for careers as

• Facilitators or directors in education settings as resources for implementing technology in the classroom
• Instructional designers inside or outside the classroom
• Developers of instructional materials across a variety of media
• Curriculum development designers who utilizing education technology
• Education consulting

The Bureau of Labor statistics projects an increase of 13% for instructional technologists in education between 2012 and 2022.

General Overview of the Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design

A collaborative certificate between the University of Maine, the University of Maine Farmington, and the University of Southern Maine

This Graduate Certificate helps students become leaders in the theory and practice of designing and assessing effective instructional design.  Instructional Design is a rapidly growing field, this emerging and competitive job market spans higher education, informal education, and business.

Students in this certificate may be seeking skills to enhance their own capacity for delivering instruction, or their ability to work with others who are designing for instruction.   Additionally, students will gain skills in project management and collaborative work environments.  Students will also practice effective strategies for coaching and peer mentoring to help motivate and encourage local capacity building.  

The certificate culminates in an applied practica where students will target specific areas for professional growth, and work carefully with the faculty advisor to engage in a full cycle of instructional design.

Online and Engaged

All programs offered through the collaborative Masters in Instructional Technology are 100% online. As a faculty team we have designed the courses to expect a high level of interaction and participation in an on-going format.  Many of our courses utilize synchronous video-conferencing sessions to encourage collaboration, discussion, and peer-networking.  We value the diverse backgrounds of the students in the program and encourage dynamic discussion and peer feedback from these various perspectives to enrich the learning experience. We expect consistent engagement with current research, course readings and online materials, and clear communication with the faculty member.