Master of Education in Learning Design and Technology (online)

Program Overview

The Master of Education in Learning Design and Technology online (LDT online) program will help you gain the skills to design, develop, implement and evaluate learning and instruction in a variety of settings, including PK-12, higher education, military, nonprofit and corporate learning environments.

Through this program, you will:

• Earn a master’s degree from a school with a strong reputation among employers.
• Continue working full time while taking two or three courses online each term.
• Learn to apply current research in learning and motivation.
• Gain the skills to leverage technology in curriculum design and learning assessment.
• Prepare to design and implement learning experiences in face-to-face, online and blended learning environments.

Curriculum

The LDT online program curriculum is designed by the program’s practitioner-scholar faculty with input from an advisory board of industry-leading professionals. The program will prepare you to meet three key outcomes:

• Apply learning and motivation principles to create instructional activities for diverse learners in a variety of settings and cultural contexts.
• Select appropriate and accessible media to maximize the learning experience.
• Develop and implement a plan to evaluate the effectiveness of instruction in relationship to the learning objectives and in the pursuit of equity.

Rather than focusing solely on the acquisition of technical skills, the program emphasizes a holistic understanding of instructional design. As the capstone project, you will design a learning experience for a real-world application that demonstrates the application of theories and concepts. 

Online Learning Experience

The online learning experience blends interaction with student colleagues and faculty during live class sessions and self-paced coursework assignments submitted through the learning management system. Faculty facilitate live class sessions that include interactive, engaging and collaborative small-group discussions.

Career Support

In addition to coursework, the LDT online student support team provides opportunities to build your professional skills and job prospects. These include:

• Paid internship roles such as junior instructional designer with USC Bovard College or Keck Medicine of USC.
• Resume review and check-ins about career goals.
• Networking opportunities with industry-specific organizations.
• Mentorship opportunities.
• Instructional design job search webinars and resources.

Scholarships

As an applicant, you will be automatically considered for several USC Rossier scholarships ranging from $15,000 to $20,000. There is no need to submit a separate application for these scholarships. The admission committee selects recipients based on academic achievement, demonstrated dedication to the USC Rossier mission and other characteristics. Applicants in rounds one and two will have priority.

View USC Rossier’s scholarship finder to identify other scholarships and funding opportunities. You do not have to be admitted to apply to these scholarships. Carefully note the scholarship application deadlines, which may occur before the final program application deadline.

Financial Aid

The USC Office of Student Financial Aid provides information regarding various types of financial aid and financing options.

To be considered for financial aid, you must apply for the FAFSA. After you apply, the financial aid office will determine your financial need and inform you of the federal or private loans that are available to you.

Career Outcomes

Graduates of the program are prepared to design, develop, implement, and evaluate learning environments in a wide variety of settings. Potential jobs include:

• Educational program designer
• Learning strategist
• Instructional design and evaluation specialist/instructional systems designer
• Performance assessment manager
• Training director/manager
• Director of distance learning
• Education coordinators and directors in the following settings:
  • Museums
  • Science centers
  • Aquariums
  • Tutoring centers