What is Learning Design and Technology?
In essence, Learning Design and Technology is a systematic way of designing learning materials and experiences to help people learn and perform better. Learning Design and Technology applies to a variety of contexts (K-12 and higher education, business, government, and healthcare), and to both face-to-face and online education.
Learning Design and Technology graduates are equipped with knowledge about how people learn, skills in designing effective instruction to achieve performance goals, and expertise in a suite of multimedia and e-learning tools such as Adobe, Camtasia, and game-based learning applications.
Learning Design and Technology is a promising field with an increasing demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor projects a 10% increase in employment from 2020-2030. During the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, a job title traditionally held by graduates from Learning Design and Technology programs, was regarded as the hottest job in higher education.
Learning Design and Technology graduates hold a variety of job titles such as instructional designer/coordinator, learning experience designer, distance learning/e-learning specialist, curriculum designer, training specialist, educational technologist, and director of educational technology.
Do I need a degree or experience in education to study Learning Design and Technology?
No. Our students and alumni come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are indeed teachers or college instructors who wish to update knowledge and skills in teaching and in designing/developing effective instruction for 21st century learners. Others are from business, medical, government, or military sectors who share a similar goal of improving workplace learning for employees, patients, clients, or military personnel. Still others choose Learning Design and Technology for a career change to join the exciting world of e-learning, virtual learning, and instructional technology. If you are unsure about your background for studying Learning Design and Technology, feel free to contact Dr. Kun Huang at k.huang@uky.edu for a discussion.
What Learning Design and Technology programs are available?
Master of Science (M.S.) in Learning Design and Technology (100% online)
- Fully online Master’s degree
- Flexible 8-week format for most courses
- No GRE required
- An embedded Graduate Certificate in Distance Education
- In-state tuition for out-of-state students
Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Instruction and Administration (Learning Design and Technology emphasis)
The doctoral program is designed to prepare you for conducting research, teaching, managing instructional design/technology units, and assuming leadership roles in the field of instructional design and technology.
Graduate Certificate in Distance Education (100% online)
If you are a schoolteacher or college instructor who wants to expand your teaching expertise to online education, or if you are looking to develop engaging online training for your organization, this fully online certificate program is designed for you. The certificate can be earned alone or concurrently as part of the Master’s program in Learning Design and Technology.
State Authorization and Licensure
If you plan to complete a University of Kentucky online program while living outside of Kentucky, you should check the Out-of-State Students page to determine if the University of Kentucky is authorized to provide this program in your state of residence. If you plan to use the degree to seek licensure, you should also determine if the degree meets the educational requirements for licensure in your state.