Master of Arts in Instructional Design and Technology
100% Online | Flexible for Working Adults | Earn Your Degree in 3 Semesters or Complete at Your Own Pace | Portfolio-Focused Learning | Career-Ready Skills in eLearning & Design | Affordable CSU Tuition | Stack the IDT Graduate Certificate with No Additional Cost and Time
Advance your career with our Master of Arts in Instructional Design & Technology (IDT) blending design thinking, technology integration, and applied AI tools to
- Lead in an era where learning and artificial intelligence converge.
- Create personalized, data-driven and inclusive learning experiences that engage today’s digital learners.
- Apply human performance technology for organizational change and management across industries.
What You’ll Learn
- Instructional Design Models and Frameworks
- eLearning Development Tools leveraging Artificial Intelligence capabilities and Media Production
- Data Driven Design Approaches Using Artificial Intelligence Tools
- Learning Analytics and User Experience (UX) Design
- Game Design and AI aided App Development for Learning
- Project Management for Learning Programs
- Organizational change communication and management
Employment Opportunities
A Master of Arts in Instructional Design and Technology degree prepares you for careers such as:
- Instructional Designer
- Learning Experience Designer (LXD)
- Educational Technologist
- eLearning Developer
- Curriculum Designer / Developer
- K–12 Instructional Technology Coach
- Educational Program Coordinator
- Higher Education Instructional Designer
- Faculty Development Specialist
- Online Learning Manager
- Corporate Training and Development Specialist
- Learning and Development (L&D) Manager
- Learning Systems Administrator (LMS Specialist)
- AI Learning Experience Specialist
- Digital Learning Strategist
- UX Designer for Learning
- Educational Consultant
- EdTech Entrepreneur / Startup Founder
- Innovation and Learning Design Consultant
- Project Manager for Learning Technologies
Program Curriculum
Learn by Designing Real Solutions
Our curriculum combines foundational courses, technical electives, and a culminating capstone project that builds your professional portfolio.
**All our courses include AI integration component into the current ID field practices.
| Core Courses (6 Units) | Units |
|---|---|
| ITEC 800: Theoretical Foundations of Instructional Technologies (Fall) | 3 |
| ITEC 801: Introduction to Learning Design, Design Thinking, and Innovation (Spring) | 3 |
| Research Requirement (6 Units) | |
| ITEC 805: Needs Assessment and Program Evaluation (Fall) | 3 |
| Research Electives: Select three units (one course) from the following: | 3 |
| ITEC 816: Designing Digital Learning Spaces of the Future | |
| ITEC 830: Design of Learning Environments with Emerging Technologies (Spring) | |
| ITEC 850: Design and Management of Training Projects | |
| Electives (15 Units): Select 15 units of elective coursework in collaboration with your advisor. | 15 |
| Recommended electives include the following: | |
| ITEC 720: Fieldwork in Educational Technology (Fall, Spring) | |
| ITEC 740: Visual Design for Learning (Fall) | |
| TEC 815 Integration of Instructional Computing (TBD) | |
| ITEC 816: Designing Digital Learning Spaces of the Future (TBD) | |
| ITEC 818 Digital Game Play Design for Learning (TBD) | |
| TEC 819 Mobile Application Design and Development (TBD) | |
| ITEC 825: Digital Product Usability Testing (Spring) | |
| ITEC 830: Design of Learning Environments with Emerging Technologies (Spring) | |
| ITEC 833: Instructional Products Design Studio (Spring) | |
| ITEC 842: Cognition, Mind, and Learning for Educators (Spring) | |
| ITEC 850: Design and Management of Training Projects (Fall) | |
| ITEC 860: Online and Flexible Learning Systems Design (Fall) | |
| ITEC 865: Fundamentals of Designing Interactive E-Learning Courses (Spring) | |
| ITEC 899 Independent Study in Instructional Technologies (Fall, Spring) | |
| Culminating Experience (3 Units) | |
| ITEC 894: Creative Work (Fall, Spring) OR | 3 |
| ITEC 895: Field Study (Fall, Spring) | |
| Total | 30 |
Application and Admissions
Join a Community of Learning Innovators
We welcome applicants from all professional backgrounds from K-12 educators to corporate trainers and career changers.
Apply Now | Download our Brochure | Contact Our advisor | Have Questions
Basic Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 units of college coursework recommended from an accredited institution.
- Statement of purpose outlining your professional goals
Please review the Graduate Application Procedures for Admission.
Application Deadlines:
- Fall Admission: Aug 6
- Spring Admission: Jan 9
Western Regional Graduate Program
The MA in Instructional Design and Technology is part of the Western Regional Graduate Program, which enables students in 16 Western States and territories to enroll in this MA program as a nonresident yet pay the lower California in-state resident tuition rate. For more information, please visit the Western Regional Graduate Program site.
Career Outcomes
Shape the Future of Learning
Our graduates have been designing learning solutions in diverse industries from schools and universities to healthcare, tech, and corporate environments – for fifty years.
Program Legacy and Alumni Network
- Nearly 50 years of innovation in Instructional Design & Technology.
- A powerful alumni network across the U.S. and abroad, shaping learning in education, business, and government.
- Graduates in leadership roles influence industry standards and hiring decisions.
- A dynamic mentorship program links current students with alumni for real-world insight and career growth.
International Applicants: Because the IDT MA degree is offered fully online, San Francisco State University cannot issue an I-20 to international applicants. International students can complete the program from their country of residence.