Graduate Studies

Instructional Design and Technology
2024-2025

Admission | Courses | Program | Requirements | Integrated | Certificate | Profile

Director:  Rafael Obregon
Program Coordinator: Hoyet Hemphill
K-12 Coordinator: Leaunda Hemphill
Office:  Knoblauch Hall 135
Telephone: (309) 298-1091 Fax: (309) 298-1061
E-mail: idt@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/idt
Location of Program Offering: Macomb, Quad Cities, Online

Graduate Faculty

Professors

  • Hoyet H. Hemphill, Ph.D., Utah State University
  • Leaunda S. Hemphill, Ph.D., Utah State University

Assistant Professor

  • Yu-Ping Hsu, Ph.D., University of Kansas

Learning Outcomes

For student learning outcomes, please see wiu.edu/provost/learningoutcomes.

 Program Description

The School of Engineering and Technology offers a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology and Post Baccalaureate Certificates in Instructional Design and Technology. Certified teachers who 1) complete the IDT Master’s program with a Technology Specialist emphasis OR complete the Technology Specialist Post Baccalaureate Certificate, and 2) pass the required state tests can also apply for an Illinois State Board of Education Technology Specialist endorsement.

The M.S. degree is designed to prepare graphic designers; educational technologists; trainers in higher education, industry, and business; technology specialists; and K-12 and higher education classroom teachers to develop, produce, and evaluate instructional and training materials. Courses are offered in various formats including online, two-way compressed video, and hands-on experience. With careful planning through the department graduate advisor, the Master’s program may be completed entirely online. The program provides students with knowledge and skills in the following areas:

  1. Distance learning applications in training and education
  2. Multimedia applications in training and education
  3. Course work and training program development
  4. Systematic instructional design and evaluation of instruction and training
  5. Instructional software development and utilization
  6. Technology integration in the K-12 classroom and at the K-12 building level

Graduates of the program will enter or continue careers in interactive multimedia, computer-based graphics, distance learning, and training. Graduates may also use their skills to integrate technology in their classrooms or school and for professional development of educators. The program also serves students interested in pursuing advanced graduate studies in instructional design and related areas.

The Instructional Design and Technology program is dedicated to a high level of academic scholarship in its professional program and to excellence in the preparation of technology specialists. Faculty associated with the department includes distinguished scholars, researchers, and authors of national and international reputation. Most faculty have either taught or served in public schools, higher education, or have worked in professional training and instructional product development settings. All have shown commitment to the continued improvement of education through the process of professional study, the development of new approaches to teaching, and the design and publication of innovative and scholarly courses of study.

 Integrated Baccalaureate and Master’s Degree Program

Please refer to the integrated program section for details and program offerings.

 Admission Requirements

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 OR 3.0 or higher GPA for the last two years (60 s.h.) of undergraduate work
  • A 1000-word structured IDT essay that describes interests and career goals as they apply to the field of instructional design and technology. (Structured essay questions are available or in the department.)
  • Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant’s academic potential at the graduate level
  • International students whose native language is not English must satisfy one of the following criteria:
    • Meet the minimum TOEFL admission score required by the School of Graduate Studies
    • Hold a bachelor’s degree (with four years in residence) from an accredited college/university within the USA and within two years of matriculation at WIU

In addition, applicants planning to apply for an Illinois State Board of Education Technology Specialist endorsement must have completed a state-approved teacher education program and hold a teaching certificate/license.

  • Completion of the Technology Specialist Emphasis does not automatically lead to an Illinois State Board of Education Technology Specialist endorsement. Questions concerning this licensure should be directed to the IDT Graduate Advisor.

If undergraduate requirements are not met, the departmental admissions committee will consider for admission applicants who have completed at least 12 semester hours of graduate coursework with a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.2 or higher from a regionally accredited university. All others will be denied admission. No more than nine semester hours completed before being admitted to the program can be used to meet degree requirements, unless the hours were earned while in an IDT Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program.

Course Revalidation Requirements

Per the School of Graduate Studies policy, the work required for a master’s degree must be completed within six consecutive calendar years, including transfer courses. Students may petition the Graduate Council for an extension of time for outdated courses. Evidence must show that such courses have been revalidated by examination or some other means as determined by the IDT program. The IDT program will not revalidate all outdated courses older than ten years. Core courses will have to be retaken and only some courses can be revalidated. For the Graduate School’s complete policy, please see “Time to Complete Degree/Revalidation of Courses” in the current graduate catalog.

 Degree Requirements

Students pursuing the Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology will check one of the following emphases: 1) General Instructional Design and Technology Emphasis, 2) Technology Specialist Emphasis, or 3) Technical Training and Design Emphasis.

Students seeking the Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology will choose the portfolio, applied project, or thesis exit option.

Each prospective Master of Instructional Design and Technology candidate is required to have an approved program of study. The program must be submitted for approval after the completion of nine semester hours and before completion of 15 semester hours.

I. Core Courses: 9 s.h.

IDT 500 Introduction to the Instructional Design and Technology Field (3)
IDT 505 Foundations of Instructional Technology (3)
IDT 510 Principles of Instructional Design (3)

II. Directed Electives (select one emphasis): 15 s.h.

A. General Instructional Design and Technology Emphasis

IDT 503 Microcomputer Applications in Instructional Technology (3)
IDT 504 Technology Applications for the Classroom Teacher (3)
IDT 515 E-Learning Design and Development (3)
IDT 516 Internet Resources for Education and Training (3)
IDT 517 Technology Tools and Strategies for Digital Learning Environments (3)
IDT 525 Grant Writing Basics (3)
IDT 529 Integration of Learning Technologies for Education and Training (3)
IDT 530 Graphics Applications in Education and Training (3)
IDT 532 Fundamentals of Performance Technology for Instructional Designers and Technologists (3)
IDT 534 Technology Issues and Professional Development in Education and Training (3)
IDT 535 Photographic Applications in Education and Training (3)
IDT 536 Video Production for Multimedia (3)
IDT 537 Applying AI to Instructional Design (3)
IDT 538 Developing Graphics for Instruction and Training (3)
IDT 539 Leading Learning Technology Use in Digital Age Environments (3)
IDT 540 Interactive Multimedia Development (3)
IDT 541 Instructional Usability Evaluation (3)
IDT 545 Instructional Web Development (3)
IDT 550 Advanced Instructional Design (3)
IDT 560 Visual Instructional Design Approaches and Practices (3)
IDT 561 Instructional Simulations and Gaming (3)
IDT 565 Management of Instructional Technology (3)
IDT 591 Independent Study (1–4, repeatable to 6 with change in topic)
IDT 595 Technology Planning and Research (3)
IDT 601 Seminar in Instructional Design and Technology (3)
IDT 620 Instructional Design and Technology Internship (4)

B. Technology Specialist Emphasis

IDT 517 Technology Tools and Strategies for Digital Learning Environments (3)
IDT 529 Integration of Learning Technologies for Education and Training (3)
IDT 534 Technology Issues and Professional Development in Education and Training (3)
IDT 539 Leading Learning Technology Use in Digital Age Environments (3)
IDT 595 Technology Planning and Research (3)

C. Technical Training and Design Emphasis

ET 525 Management of Engineering Technology (3)
ET 535 Engineering Technology Leadership (3)

Select two courses from the following (6)
IDT 433G or IDT 561, IDT 512, IDT 515, IDT 516, IDT 520, IDT 530, IDT 532, IDT 536, IDT 537, IDT 538, IDT 540 or IDT 545, IDT 541, IDT 550, IDT 560, IDT 565

III. Exit Options (select one of the following options)

For elective courses, students will choose from courses in the IDT graduate program to enhance their program objectives and employment opportunities. Portfolio plan students may select up to nine credits of graduate coursework from other programs, while applied project plan or research plan students may select up to six credits from other programs. Courses outside the department must be preapproved by the IDT Graduate Advisor. If required for their research focus, thesis students may be required to take a statistical methods course as an elective.

A. Portfolio Plan: 6 s.h.

IDT 603 Graduate Portfolio (3)
Electives (3)

TOTAL PROGRAM: 30 s.h.

B. Applied Project Plan*: 6 s.h.

General Instructional Design and Technology Emphasis:
IDT 595 Technology Planning and Research (3)
IDT 600 Applied Project (3)

Technology Specialist Emphasis:
IDT 600 Applied Project (3)
Electives (3)

Technical Training and Design Emphasis:
IDT 595 Technology Planning and Research (3)
or
ET 590 Research Techniques in Technical Areas (3)

IDT 600 Applied Project (3)

TOTAL PROGRAM: 30 s.h.

C. Thesis Plan*: 6 s.h.

General Instructional Design and Technology Emphasis:
IDT 595 Technology Planning and Research (3)
IDT 605 Thesis (3)

Technology Specialist Emphasis:
IDT 605 Thesis (3)
Electives (3)

Technical Training and Design Emphasis:
IDT 595 Technology Planning and Research (3)
or
ET 590 Research Techniques in Technical Areas (3)

IDT 605 Thesis (3)

TOTAL PROGRAM: 30 s.h.

*Prior to enrolling for IDT 600 or IDT 605, a written proposal for the selected option must be submitted to and approved by the exit option committee.

Application of the School of Graduate Studies policies with respect to transfer credits will be implemented on an individual basis.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Programs

The department offers post-baccalaureate certificates in Online and Distance Learning Development, Educational Technology Specialist, Instructional Media Development, Technology Integration in Education, and Workplace Learning and Performance. For program details, please go to the post-baccalaureate certificate page.

 Course Descriptions

Engineering Technology (ET)

525 Management of Engineering Technology. (3) A comprehensive study of the fundamentals used to manage and lead the integration process for emerging and developing technologies for successful development and production of products, goods, and services in a global society.

535 Engineering Technology Leadership. (3) Teachings and practice of leadership skills, principles and theory related to modern day leadership for the engineering technology arena. Theoretical leadership styles applied to industry-related practices will allow students to define their leadership style. Case studies and guest lecturers. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

548 Planning Techniques for Leaders. (3) Leadership practices used in implementing change within production. Topics include process assessment, corrective action, planning techniques, rapid continuous improvement, visual management and daily accountability.

590 Research Techniques in Technical Areas. (3) Application of various research techniques in technical subjects. Practice in selection, and reporting of industrial research.

Instructional Design and Technology (IDT)

433G Instructional 3D Modeling and Animation. (3) Instructional uses of three-dimensional modeling and animation are explored including basic modeling tools, virtual camera controls, materials, video production, and lighting. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor.

500 Introduction to the Instructional Design and Technology Field. (3) (On-line course only) Introduction to the field of instructional design and technology, how to review research in the IDT field, and an overview to the IDT master’s degree program. The focus is on the academic strategies and skills needed for successfully completing the degree.

503 Microcomputer Applications in Instructional Technology. (3) (On-line course only) Introductory survey of applications of microcomputers in education and training including Computer Assisted Instruction, communication and presentation graphics, multimedia and hypermedia authoring on the Internet, word processing databases, and spreadsheets.

504 Technological Applications for the Classroom Teacher. (3) (On-line course only) Build on basic computing skills, focusing on the effective use of technology-enhanced instruction practices to meet the state and national technology standards for teachers. Intended for students who have completed their educational methodology courses or who are practicing teachers. Prerequisite: Working knowledge of computers and the Internet.

505 Foundations of Instructional Technology. (3) (On-line course only) Introductory survey of the field of Instructional Technology. Upon completion students will be able to: (1) communicate about the field’s terminology, history, accomplishments and issues; (2) describe the advantages, disadvantages, characteristics, and critical attributes of various instructional media; and (3) critically evaluate the foundations in instructional technology.

510 Principles of Instructional Design. (3) (On-line course only) Develop knowledge and skills in systematic analysis of the teaching‑learning process using an instructional design approach. Study and application of instructional design theories and models.

512 Instructional Development for Business and Training. (3) This course focuses on the development of highly interactive training programs for business and industry. The emphasis is on screencasting, software simulations, and video presentations for training and instruction.

515 E-Learning Design and Development. (3) (On-line course only) Focuses on the application of e-learning design principles and research-supported practices for designing and developing instruction for educational and training purposes. Students will create e-learning curriculum or training modules.

516 Internet Resources for Education and Training. (3) (On-line course only) Focuses on developing skills in finding, evaluating, and using internet resources for education and training. Collaboration tools, social media, and mobile applications are explored. Emphasis is placed on the appropriate use of these materials, including copyright compliance.

517 Technology Tools and Strategies for Digital Learning Environments. (3) (On-line course only) Focus on the study and application of technology-enhanced tools and strategies in digital/interactive learning environments for educational and training purposes.

520 Learning Experience Design. (3) Focuses on application of Learner Experience Design principles and techniques in the instructional design process to develop instruction for educational and training purposes. Students will create modules that maximize the instructional value of the courses and improve the learner performance.

525 Grant Writing Basics. (3) (On-line course only) To identify and select appropriate grants, learn strategies for effective proposal writing, and develop skills for utilizing a team approach to generate ideas, coordinate writing, maximize organizational involvement, and strengthen successful grant implementation.

529 Integration of Learning Technologies for Education and Training. (3) (On-line course only) Focus on the integration of learning technologies and instructional design principles into curriculum material design, development, implementation, and evaluation for educational and training purposes.

530 Graphics Applications in Education and Training. (3) Survey of imaging-related applications such as image editing, 3D modeling, movie editing and special effects software. Course materials cost required.

532 Fundamentals of Performance Technology for Instructional Designers and Technologists. (3) (On-line course only) This course surveys performance technology approaches and tools to improve the performance of individuals, work groups, and work processes. Students will collaboratively identify instructional and non-instructional performance problems, suggest interventions based upon data-driven needs analyses, and implement and evaluate programmatic solutions in cooperation with the clients.

534 Technology Issues and Professional Development in Education and Training. (3) (On-line course only) Focuses on exploring issues and professional development related to instructional technology.

535 Photographic Applications in Education and Training. (3) Production techniques such as still camera handling, basic darkroom skills, and color slide presentations, and the use of photographic images in microcomputer-based multimedia will be explored. Course materials cost required.

536 Video Production for Multimedia. (3) (On-line course on rotating basis) Introduction to the production cycle for instructional design video. Students will develop instructional videos using digital video production techniques such as video camera handling, special effects, and desktop editing.

537 Applying AI to Instructional Design. (3) This course introduces graduate students to the use of current AI tools for needs analysis, design, content development, implementation and management, and evaluation of instructional content. The function and application of these tools will be explored for efficient instruction design. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

538 Developing Graphics for Instruction and Training. (3) (On-line course on rotating basis) Introduction to methods for using digital technology to create and modify images for use in instructional materials. Students will follow a visual design process to create graphics for educational purposes, such as e-learning and computer-based instruction. Course materials cost required.

539 Leading Learning Technology Use in Digital Age Environments. (3) (On-line course only) Plan for, implement, manage, and evaluate digital tools and resources to support data-informed decision-making, shared vision for technology use, instruction, and learning in technology-rich educational settings.

540 Interactive Multimedia Development. (3) Basic principles of design and development of interactive instructional computer applications. Students will complete several modules utilizing a representative multimedia authoring tool and will create prototype instructional software. Course materials cost required.

541 Instructional Usability Evaluation. (3) Implementation and evaluation for the development of instructional media and the application of analysis methods to deliver effective digital instruction through usability testing. Students will conduct a variety of evaluations for multimedia instructional products. Course materials cost required.

545 Instructional Web Development. (3) (On-line course on rotating basis) Development of web-based instruction and the application of current commercial products for web-based course delivery. Deals with HTML authoring and adapting graphics and movies for web-based delivery. Course materials cost required.

550 Advanced Instructional Design. (3) Design, develop, and evaluate an instructional system. Using the knowledge of instruction design, students will develop a mini-instructional system.

560 Visual Instructional Design Approaches and Practices. (3) (On-line course only) Review research on the application of visual design, visual media, and visual learning principles into the design and development of instructional material. Students will integrate visuals into instructional design projects across multiple learning environments.

561 Instructional Simulations and Gaming. (3) Focuses on the use of simulations and games for instruction and training. Provides opportunities to develop instructional simulations utilizing appropriate development software. Also focuses on the effective and efficient development of game-based instruction. Course materials cost required.

565 Management of Instructional Technology. (3) (On-line course only) Emphasis is given to project management, assessment of instructional needs, coordinating instructional design and production of instructional materials and projects, and identifying resource needs and allocation.

573 Professional Development. (1–3, repeatable to 9) Studies leading to applications of Instructional Technology and Telecommunications which emphasize competency development in a specialized area, such as: distance learning, electronic classrooms, curriculum integration, presentation systems, and multimedia techniques. Course includes the completion of a project. Does not apply to degree program.

591 Independent Study. (1–4, repeatable to 6 with change in topic) An investigation of issues related to the student’s major area, not specifically covered in other courses. A substantial written report, as well as an informal oral report will be required. Prerequisites: 9 hours of IDT classes and/or permission of the program coordinator.

595 Technology, Planning and Research. (3) (On-line course only) Emphasis on the planning, leadership, and evaluation of technology integration in educational and training environments. Provides students with the opportunity to apply theories, techniques, and research principles used in the instructional design and technology field. Prerequisites: IDT 500.

600 Applied Project. (3) Advanced level fieldwork in a setting appropriate to the student’s professional goals. The result of the applied project will be presented to the student’s Graduate Committee. Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Permission of the program coordinator.

601 Seminar in Instructional Design and Technology. (3, repeatable up to 6 with change in topic) In-depth, guided studies of critical issues and topics in instructional design and technology.

603 Graduate Portfolio. (3) Development of portfolio projects that demonstrate mastery of the range of IDT skills and knowledge acquired during the program. Report and oral presentation demonstrate ability to describe and reflect on the processes followed developing the projects. Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Permission of the program coordinator.

605 Thesis. (3) Thesis direction under the guidance of a major advisor to meet the need of the student. A written thesis will be presented to the student’s Graduate Committee. Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Permission of the program coordinator.

620 Instructional Design and Technology Internship. (4) Integrated instructional technology theories and practical skills with application in a real-life environment. Students are exposed to a variety of positions in that environment during the semester. They will demonstrate their ability to integrate, organize and manage a project. Graded S/U. Prerequisites: Completion of 9 hours of approved IDT course work and permission of the program coordinator.