Instructional Design Certificate or Masters Degree
November 6, 2008I got a good question via Ask a Question yesterday and would like to hear some other opinions on this issue:
I’m very seriously considering a career change into ID. (I’ve spent 20 years in various business assignments with the last 8 in IT.) I’m involved in teaching extra-curricular activities to kids and adults in my community. I very fulfilled when I’m teaching and I’ve come to the conclusion that I want to follow this as a career path. Having said this, I’m exploring a master’s degree in ID.
I was hoping you would give me your opinion on the topic of graduate certificate vs MS degree. I’ve narrowed my search down to 2 schools. 1 school offers a grad cert along the way to getting an MS degree while the other is the MS degree on its own.
So the question is… would employers have value someone who has a lot of business experience (including facilitation skills) and only the grad cert or is the MS degree the minimum requirement. What is your opinion? (I realize this is going to depend on the company.)
My answer is that you should do the one where you think you will learn more. A certificate from a great program is probably more valuable than a masters degree from a mediocre program (although I expect your choice isn’t as black and white as that). Which program looks more interesting and personally motivating for you?
My other suggestion would be to go with the certificate program because it still gives you the flexibility of continuing on for the masters. Not knowing exactly which programs you’re looking at, I know that Indiana’s Instructional Systems Technology certificate counts as credit towards a masters. So, if you do the certificate and you really feel like you’re learning a lot and would continue to learn more, you could do the second half of the program and do the masters too. If it’s a program like that, you can do the work but still keep your options open.
While universities and other academic institutions, a masters degree might be a requirement. With companies, it’s possible it will open a few doors, but I expect that the certificate would do about the same. Cammy Bean’s small-scale survey shows only about a third of IDs having advanced degrees actually in instructional design. If two-thirds of us (including myself) don’t have a degree, I think it’s hard to argue that the masters is a firm requirement. I don’t think you should focus on the credentials part of the decision as much as looking at what’s going to be the most valuable learning experience and give you the best skills.
So that’s my perspective, as someone without either a certificate or a masters. What do you think? Would you look at a certificate differently from a masters when hiring? Would you push for the masters as the better learning experience?
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I would say that it all comes down to the program. Look for the one that will give you the most practical, hands-on experience so that you have a portfolio of examples you can show for yourself at the end.
As an employer, I’m not hung up on whether you have a degree, but rather whether you have the skills, expertise, interest, creativity, and experience.
That’s an excellent point–I didn’t think about portfolio creation as part of the program. That’s a definite plus though, and a good portfolio is a better way to show your skills than a line on your resume.
Another thing to keep in mind is that most of the masters programs out there require the GRE. If you haven’t taken it in the past 5 years, you will need to take it again. This was an issue for me when I went back to school, so I opted to go for the IST Certificate at Indiana University, which does not require the GRE. This allowed me to get started right away and left my options open as far as preparing for the GRE if I decided to go on and get my masters.
Actually there are quite a few programs that do not require a GRE exam. University of Central Florida has a M.A. Instructional Media no GRE and you can earn it over the web…..good luck….
I want to shed some light on the UCF program as I work there full time and applied to the ISD masters prog twice and got rejected both times (even though I have another grad cert in online educational media and have worked in the instructional resources office for over 3 years…along with years of technology experience). Even though they don’t make you take the GRE, applier beware! They are much more strict on your undergrad GPA…meaning even if you had a 2.999, with excellent references and experience like mine…they will NOT except you into the program. They don’t budge on the undergrad requirements…has to be 3.0 or higher. They will not look at anything else. You can even appeal and it won’t matter. So…I’m actually look at the ISD sim cert and thinking that just might be more valuable anyways than the Masters. That and as was mentioned a portfolio to land that first ISD job.
Go for the certificate if it has a good program with some great professors. That way you can immediately start looking for a job in the field. If you look for a technical training position then your IT background will be a great plus for your resume. Most technical training departments value ‘real world’ experience, particularly if they are chock full of ID’s/trainers with a Masters in ID but no real world experience in any of the topics they primarily train on.
Once your foot is in the door with your first legit training job, then the masters degree is rendered useless anyway. Your performance will be what matters. As it should be.
There are lots of folks out there coming out of Masters programs that have no experience. They are as qualified as those who have no Masters and no experience.
By the way…learn the tools. Countless people say they are elearning developers but have no clue how to develop anything unless it’s in powerpoint. Learn html, learn flash (not just how to animate bouncing balls – learn actionscript, which is what really will set your apart), and learn how to develop and edit good graphics using Photoshop and/or Fireworks. Learn Captivate. If you know the Adobe Suite and Captivate and can show some interest then you can get a job.
mark
Absolute rubbish equating no degree and no experience with degree and no experience. Obviously, you are like many of the other posters, namely, lacking in formal education or even passing familiarity with the processes involved in same. As an FYI thing, since you are way off base, ANYONE who earns a M.S. in Education – Instructional Design will have a great deal of EXPERIENCE. It’s called “course work” and for those lacking anything in the realm of graduate education, “no” … grad school is not like undergrad only harder. There is a tremendous amount of converting theory to practice and the assignments are essentially practical exercises.
As a CERIFIED teacher (secondary) and holding an M.S. in Instructional Design I have forgot more about the reality of what constitutes GOOD instructional design than the vast majority of the so called “on the job training and lacking a degree” crowd. Unlike the “shake and bake” who hold out their “experience” as some form of shield I KNOW for a FACt by way of repeated experience what the end user product needs to look like in order to function as intended. You uneducated as simply over inflated hacks who couldn’t construct a viable lesson plan to save your own life … much less actually get up on platform and teach.
You may have graduated from a program that makes people put theory into practice, but many of the programs are theory only. See Karl Kapp’s Help, I have an Instructional Design Master’s Degree and I Can’t Create E-Learning for an example. In those programs, the course work seems to be just attending lectures and writing research papers. Do you really think that traditional academic research papers qualify as “experience”? If the course work is authentic assessment, using the tools and creating learning, that’s a different issue entirely, and in that case I would agree with you that it is relevant experience. I think that’s really where this discussion ended up: programs that help you create a portfolio of work are valuable; purely theory-based programs aren’t. You can disagree about the relative value of a certificate over a full masters program, of course, but do you really want to argue that any masters degree, even in a purely theory-based program, is automatically better than someone with a proven track record of creating successful learning?
I also find it incredibly hypocritical for you to discount the fact that I was a certified teacher and have an education degree because I haven’t done the masters, but still count that teaching experience for yourself. Pick a state or national music standard for any age K-12 and I’ll happily write you a lesson plan. So why does your teaching experience count, but mine makes me an uneducated and “inflated hack”?
Kudos to you Christy! For the poster’s information I graduated with an MA from an excellent program in Chicago. In the 3-year program, I learned to create assessment tools, storyboards, project manage etc., but without the technology it’s useless. I beg to differ that anyone who does not have a “formal” ID education lacks the knowledge, skills and abilities to create relevant content. I would trade my MA for Christy’s experience any day if it meant using the knowledge in a the real world.
@Jean, good point. That’s definitely something to plan for at least, even if it isn’t a final deciding factor.
@Mark, I like your focus on real world experience. I think that echoes Cammy’s point about portfolios: if you have a program with real world experience, you should be able to create real projects to include in a portfolio.
I really need to keep working on learning Flash; that’s where my skills aren’t there yet. It’s an ongoing learning process.
Thanks everyone for your comments and feedback! All of you have hit on great points!
In case you are wondering, the two schools that I narrowed down to are Bosie State and Western Governors.
I looked at about 25 online programs and these two meet my affordability and do not require a GRE. After reading reviews on both programs from other students and considering feedback here, I’ve decided that Boise is the best option. They have a solid program, tuition is reasonable, no GRE, starts with a cert leading into MS, opportunity to build a portfolio, and integration of technology.
So thanks again everyone!
Best
Vaughn
I am enrolled in the Ed Tech program at San Diego State and am loving it. They cover a great range of topics covering instructional design and eLearning Development and do a great job of giving you real world experience. Much like Boise State you can start out by working on a certificate then move on to the Masters. The downside is that the GRE is a requirement. Good Luck
@Joe, San Diego State’s program does look good, and the model of certificate leading to masters is a beneficial structure. I believe that’s the program where a tuition discount is available for eLearning Guild members, right?
In my experience, most of the jobs I have looked at, do not require a Master’s. In fact, I am finding it is a disadvantage as most employers are like Mike outlined: they want the technology skills with some of the educational background. Often they go outside for instructional models or they have the “instructional side” and “technology side” (and ne’er the two shall meet!).
If you have both, the technical and the educational, then you will be golden. If you have done training in the community, and enjoy it and do it well, then a certificate will give you the vocabulary and theoretical base to discuss why you do what you do and why it is effective.
@Virginia, definitely some of the value in a formal program is being able to justify the design decisions you make. I think you can get some of that in either a full degree or a certificate, although probably more of it in a full masters program.
It is heartening to me that it sounds like employers are really primarily concerned with what you can actually do, not the credentials or the formal path you took to learn those skills. I actually think that’s a good thing overall. I’m sorry to hear that you’re finding a masters being a disadvantage in hiring though; I think there should be a place for both formal and informal paths in the field.
I have gotten the feed back that I am “overqualified” for a job (read: perhaps too expensive or old. Surprisingly enough, I can get jobs (temporary or short-term). It is just the more secure long term jobs that employers shy away from (although I have been offered long term employment once I am working).
On the other hand, I am “underqualified” for university work, which is why I have gone back for my Ph.D.
That is very interesting. I’ve heard of a few rare cases where people were denied jobs due to not having the degree, but never people being turned away because they do have it. I can see universities wanting the PhD though.
I wish you luck!
I’m looking for a certification program in instructional design that doesn’t necessarily lead into getting a Master’s Degree. Does anyone know the best program out there, online, that has a robust technical and comprehensive curriculum? Much appreciated…
April
Most of the certificate programs are offered through universities, but there are some short-term certificate programs offered through ASTD and the Instructional Design Institute. I’m sure you’d find some value in those 2-3 day programs, but I don’t think they would be equivalent to a certificate that takes a year or more through a university.
Based on the comments and discussion here, I’d recommend looking at Boise State and San Diego State University. Indiana University in Bloomington and Bloomsburg University also have online certificate programs that look good.
Does anyone know anything about the certificate offered through Langevin? It’s an 8 day program. I assume that would not be looked at the same from an employer as a certificate from a university? (I guess my question is, are all certificates considered “equal”?).
Tracy, I don’t personally know anything about Langevin’s program. I wouldn’t expect it to carry the same weight as something over the course of a year at a university. However, if it allows you to create some content to build your portfolio, that would be beneficial. Just because it’s not equal doesn’t mean it’s without value.
I did a quick check on LinkedIn’s Q&A, and I did see a few mentions of Langevin’s program. If you’re on LinkedIn, you might try contacting those individuals for more info.
http://www.linkedin.com/answers/career-education/certification-licenses/CAR_CRT/307332-5955814
http://www.linkedin.com/answers/career-education/occupational-training/CAR_OCT/129730-17917633
Does anyone have any feedback on the Masters from University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign compared to those mentioned?
Not sure about U of IL, but look into Western IL Instructional Design and Technology program.
[...] Instructional Design Certificate or Masters Degree [...]
First my bunch of thanks to christy for such a useful article, yes a degree will open many doors but as you said, its not important to focus on the credentials, instead look at the most valuable learning experience and give you the best skills. Nice article, i will bookmark and share with my friends.
Nice Article, i will book mark and share with my friends
Interesting, I am looking at starting a masters in ID. Most of the posted jobs on the Internet seemed to be asking for the M.A. People who have done any web design will be able to fall in line since the Digital Media aspect is close. I have a Psychology background but that does not teach you education or teaching per se. I would suggest if you have Web skill sets but lack Education to look at the masters program. Education but just need the technical skill I would say a certificate. I would assume we are not just building boring power points, or mediocre web pages since that can be produced by a 12 year old. I would think that the design aspect is based on some Cognitive theories of Education or Psychology and a method of producing interesting, educational and functional materials that do deliver a high level performance. The program I am looking at is a state college(reasonable) but does have some teaching courses integrated in with the multimedia. I think you must somewhere get an education background to really produce an truly beneficial instructional product.
Just saw this, while thinking about future career directions. Thanks for the info!
Considering getting a Master’s in ID here at UNM. They dont require a GRE, you can take it online in case you move, or don’t live close by, and they charge in -state tuition for online courses no matter where you live (in state tuition in New Mexico is NOTHING!) I already have a MFA and have been adjunct teaching at the University level. Does this kind of teaching experience count in the ID world? I already have a Masters degree that I really can’t find a decent job with, wondering if I should take the plunge again, I need a degree I can use to get work! What are people’s thoughts/experiences as far as finding work right out of Master’s graduation?
Mike, I think you can leverage any teaching or training as an ID, so I’d certainly consider your experience relevant. I’ve seen people who taught at the college level who were great and developing, and I’ve seen some who were not so great, so I wouldn’t say it’s an automatic transfer, but it is helpful.
What kind of career center and support does UNM offer? One of the advantages of a local college should be their network with businesses. If you haven’t yet, ask about the job placement rates for graduates of the program. If it’s low, then they probably don’t offer enough support.
I would look to see if getting a Masters Degree will open up doors, such as teaching at a community college or working as an adjunct instructor at a university. If you get a certificate, I don’t think you can go that route.
True–if you think teaching is something you want to do, it can make a difference. Community colleges may have less strict requirements; my dad used to teach at a community college, and he never finished his masters.
Lots of us in the ID world would rather stay behind the scenes than be in front of the classroom though, so I expect this isn’t a real consideration for many people.
Hello, all,
I am about to complete an M.A. in Technical Communication from the University of Central Florida. Since starting this program, I’ve gained an interest in Instructional Design and definitely feel this is the direction I want to go in professionally.
I’ve been on a very protracted path academically and would like to look at an online, university-affiliated ID certificate as my /last/ stop after my M.A. is done, as far as long-term university training goes.
I have been looking at the ID certificate offered by UMass Boston. Does anyone have any insight into this?
Also, what technical skills are in demand for ID? I have some basic experience with Adobe products, but that’s all. I am not afraid to pick up programming and technical tools, though.
Last, the question I’m almost afraid to ask: will a background in technical communication (mainly in terms of theory, but with several practical projects accomplished inside and outside the classroom) help me in ID?
Thanks!
David
David,
I have been a technical writer for about 20 years and am now pursuing an online M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology degree from Walden University. As a technical writer, I have frequently created training courses and found that I enjoyed those projects. However, when I tried applying to ID jobs specifically, no one was interested because I lacked formal training in instructional methodologies and software tools. I believe that many of the skills I have acquired as a technical writer are transferrable to ID, so you should not discount what you have already learned. I would recommend that you look for a technical communication position that may allow you to do some course development in addition to the normal duties. This will give you valuable work experience while you pursue either a certificate or degree in ID. Think of yourself as a communications professional who can effectively transfer knowledge to readers/learners through multiple delivery methods. I believe (hope!) that technical communication plus ID will be a marketable combination of skills.
The Walden program offers both a degree and a certificate, which I found appealing. They do not require a GRE and have a flexible schedule with classes starting every two months. For someone like myself who is focused on ID in the business world, their program was a good match. Walden requires students to purchase Adobe software to complete their course projects, so I know I will be getting hands-on experience with the tools used in the trade. Some of the other schools I considered did not require any software, making me think their programs would lack practical application. Walden also requires students to compile an online portfolio, which is something I would do anyway. So, those are some things you might consider when evaluating different programs.
Good luck!
With David, I have also been researching the ID certificate from UMass Boston, and would love to know if anyone has any experience with or perspective on this program~
JJ
I’m not familiar with the Boston program. Check out the new Learning Solutions article on online education for instructional designers. It doesn’t mention that program specifically, but it has some insight on choosing programs.
For technical skills, I suggest visiting a job metasearch site like Indeed.com and looking at what’s in demand in your area. Captivate seems very popular, so if I had to pick one program to recommend, that would be the one. If you’re up to learning Flash, that certainly opens other doors.
David, I think you should be able to leverage your technical communications experience, especially since you have some practical projects behind you. You just have to figure out how to connect those dots for potential employers.
I’m interested in ISD too, but I’m having a hard time finding a certificate program offered by an accredited institution. I’m not interested in something from Joe Shmo’s ISD School, and I don’t really think I have the money to go to graduate school right now. Does anyone know of a certificate offered by an accredited institution? Thanks.
Connie Malamed has collected a great list of instructional design programs, including graduate certificate programs. Those programs vary widely in price, so you may be able to find something within your budget.
This is fantastic! Thank you so much for the link!
Lots of great information here. I am seriously considering a cert of master program at either LaSalle University or Bloomsburg University. Both are in PA and are near me (although both offer online programs). I already have a master’s degree in educational psychology. My work experience has been in behavioral/clinical psychology. I also have teaching experience as an adjunct. I would like to transition into instruction design (corporate training or at a university) and would also like to continue teaching as an adjunct. My question to you is do you think I should do a cert of get the second masters? Also, as a working mother & wife with two small kids, can you give me some insight into the day to day life in ID? Is it long hours of work per week? Do many people work remotely? Will I still have time for my family? What is the income potential really like? Just wanted to explore things before I take the plunge….
Thanks!
My guess is that the masters in ed psych will count for most corporate instructional design jobs, and a second masters won’t give you much advantage over a certificate in that respect. It’s really a matter of what experience you’ll gain in the additional classes and how that will complement your current skills.
As far as adjunct teaching, a certificate probably won’t open any doors for additional teaching the way a second masters would. If you’re hoping to expand your teaching opportunities beyond the teaching you’re already doing, then the masters makes more sense.
The day to day depends a lot on whether you’re working corporate, university, salaried, contract, freelance, etc. My first instructional design job at a for-profit university was 45-60+ hours a week, in the office in a cubicle farm every day. The corporate contracts I’ve done (W-2 contracts, not freelance) have both allowed some working from home and a little more flexibility. One of those jobs had me regularly working 5-10 hours of unpaid overtime a week (5-6 months later I finally was able to comp all my overtime). Performance Learning Systems (for-profit graduate courses) was a great opportunity to work 100% from home with a lot of flexibility. Now that I’m starting to do freelance full time, I will have more variability. Last week was really slow, but I know other weeks I’ll work 70 hours. In all of those environments, I worked with other IDs with kids and families who made it work. You can choose jobs and work environments that give you more flexibility or a better work/life balance, but you have to do your research. If health insurance isn’t an issue for you and you’re comfortable with variability in income, you may prefer to do freelance so you can control how much work you accept and still have time for your family.
As for salary, I recommend joining the eLearning Guild at least as an Associate Member. The free membership gives you access to their salary survey. You can also use this salary calculator to get an idea what you might make.
Thanks for the interesting discussion! I have a follow up question. I’m finishing up a master’s in Educational Technology at San Diego State (SDSU) and am considering getting certified by the ASTD. Do people think that would be worthwhile or redundant when it comes to getting a job?
I should mention that in my case, I am in the process of changing careers and so most of my experience has come through SDSU.
To be honest, I’m not sure the ASTD certification would add that much. More credentials without experience probably won’t make that much difference, especially since you’re in a well-respected program already.
You’re better off focusing on your portfolio. The time you’d spend getting the ASTD certification could be spent doing a volunteer project for a non-profit that would give you some experience and a portfolio example.
I’m surprised I didn’t see more posts related to the work/life balance and more disucssion about the rewards versus the costs …especially in the corportate world. I have 20 years experience as a corportate trainer (B.A. in Communication from Ohio State) plus certificates with the Adobe eLearning Suite. Grad certificate = good. Master’s = better. However the cost of a Grad Cert is much lower in time and money. Are you looking in the corporate world or educational world? How much is that Master’s going to cost you? Will you need a loan? Will you be reimbursed by your employer? Partially or fully? How much time do you have to attend school outside of work and family? For how long? Bottom line: Is it worth it? I’d love to get a Master’s, however I’m working on the Grad Cert right now (courses do apply to the Master’s) and my company will pay $3000/year and the Grad Cert is almost as good as the Master’s when it comes to a salary increase for my current company. More importantly, the time spent attending class/studying takes away from my family. There may be a Master’s degree in my future, but for right now I’ll take the Grad Cert.
Great topic and I enjoyed most of the posts. Best of luck to everyone!
Three years into this discussion, and you’re the first person to bring up work-life balance and the time commitment. This is why I leave comments open even on my old posts–the conversations continue to be valuable!
One of the big reasons I still haven’t done a graduate program myself is the time required. When I was looking at it more seriously (I was close enough to starting that I actually filled out an application), I did plan to do a certificate program initially. I figured I could do the masters later if I wanted, but there was very little downside to starting with a certificate.
California State University, Fullerton has a great 100% online program.
http://msidt.fullerton.edu/
No GRE required
I agree, Great program. But the out-of-state tuition is killer for anyone but a California resident. The recent buget issues in California pretty much ensure no waivers …although you would think for an online program they would get more participants if they waived the out-of-state fees. There are some excellent programs out there that charge far less per credit hour.
Hello all! Wondering what the difference is between Master of Science in Educational Technology and the Masters in Educationak Technology?
Honestly, without looking at the specific programs, I couldn’t tell you. One is probably out of an education department and the other is out of somewhere else–IT, engineering, psychology… I’d guess that the Masters of Science might have a bit heavier technology program, potentially including more programming, especially if it’s out of an IT or engineering department.
In terms of practical difference for getting a job, no employer will care unless they happened to go to the same university (and even then I’m not sure). Which set of courses appeals to you more?
Wow, so glad I stumbled upon this blog.
so much valuable information, thanks!
A bit about me, I’ve recently become interested in branching into ID.
and have been searching around for certificate programs online to see what might help me break into the field.
Thing is, I have a background in graphic design (15+ years) and a masters in multimedia. Additionally I have been teaching as an adjunct instructor for a private university for the last 10 years and have a lot of experience putting together curriculum. With my background, I feel I may already be well positioned to break into ID, but feel like I am lacking the theoretical knowledge required.
Also, job listings all seem to want prior experience as an ID, and I am not sure how to break into the field without the certificate. Any thoughts?
PS, has anyone heard anything about full Sail’s Education Media Design & Technology or heard of similar programs? It is definitely overpriced, but I was attracted to some of the course offerings like “Game Strategies and Motivation”
I agree with you about needing some more of the theoretical background. You probably can do a certificate program rather than a full masters degree, especially if you already have another masters.
I have heard of Full Sail, but I don’t know much about it. It is nationally accredited rather than regionally accredited, which is not a factor in its favor. Traditional universities are regionally accredited; national accreditation is used by vocational schools and religious schools who don’t qualify for regular accreditation. The program may be good, but I don’t think it has the respect of even a program through a regionally accredited university like University of Phoenix. It’s much less respected than an online certificate through a traditional university like Indiana University, San Diego State University, or even UW-Stout. If you’re specifically looking for some game and simulation design courses, check out Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania.
If you don’t want to pursue a certificate, definitely plan to spend a lot of time reading and researching on your own. There’s lots of great resources out there, so I do believe this is a viable option (although others will disagree with me).
As for experience, check out my post on Instructional Design Experience Before Your First Job for some ideas on how to break into the field.
Thanks for the advise, Christy.
The Bloomsburg program does appeal to me, I plan to check out your other recommendations as well.
Best TJ