Mission
The Instructional Design & Development emphasis area provides students with knowledge of cutting-edge computer and multimedia technology and its application in diverse educational contexts, such as K-12 education, higher education, and training situations in business and industry.
Our goal is to prepare professionals who are current in the systematic analysis of learning and performance problems, and the design and development of effective instruction.
Students Complete Their Program as Part of a Cohort Based at the UGA Gwinnett Campus
UGA’s Instructional Design & Development area within the Learning, Design, and Technology program is designed to accommodate the schedules and busy lives of working professionals. The M.Ed. and Ed.S. degree tracks are delivered in a flexible mode that combines innovative class scheduling and online courses to accommodate a variety of work schedules.
Students are expected to take two classes per semester as part of a two-year cohort. Students who keep pace with the cohort should finish the program in two years.
In general, one of the two classes takes place almost completely online, while the other meets predominately face-to-face at the UGA Gwinnett Campus. Other meeting modes, locations, and technologies will be used as needed. No routine travel to the University campus in Athens is necessary; however infrequent, occasional trips to Athens may be needed.
One cohort of approximately 25-30 students is admitted per year. Two cohorts run simultaneously, with a new cohort beginning each summer and/or fall term (depending on the year). Prospective students should check with the program (idesign@uga.edu) to determine if space is still available in the current cohort.
Employment Opportunities
Graduates of our program have found positions with the following organizations:
- Instructional design firms and corporate training departments: Companies with their own instructional design departments and independent firms that specialize in instructional design or computer-based education.
- Government, military, and health related training agencies: Agencies involved in instructional design and computer-based applications.
- Higher education and technical schools: Institutions that employ faculty, computer and media specialists, and technology coordinators.
- Computer sales and consulting firms: Computer sales companies having clients with specific computer needs such as software development, and training of employees in computer use.
- K-12 Schools: School systems that hire Technology Coordinators or recruit certified teachers with strong skills in technology integration. (Note: Getting an M.Ed. or Ed.S. in the IDD emphasis area does not lead to initial teaching certification.)