Instructional Design, Innovation & Leadership: FAQs

Instructional Designers are the experts in how to teach and design a course for a multitude of industries, such as education, corporate training, and healthcare. They are vital to the learning process. They can develop entire courses or curriculums, create training materials such as teaching manuals and student guides, and redesign courses for optimal learning outcomes.

Career opportunities are broad and adaptable. Some of the most common positions our graduates are recruited for are Instructional Designer, Instructional Coordinator, E-learning Designer, Training Specialist, and many others. Since there is such a high demand for Instructional Designers across multiple industries, many graduates work as consultants, assisting various organizations with their instructional design needs allowing them to create their own schedules.

The possibilities of adapting your Instructional Design degree are limitless to your own creativity and desire to expand your horizons. Students with an M.A. in Instructional Design, Innovation & Leadership from from Asbury University are prepared for countless different fields and industries, such as:

• Education - Instructional designers and educational technology leaders are a fast-growing occupation in academic organizations. E-learning is growing at a faster rate than ever before.
• Health Care - Continuing advances in technology and medicine mean that health care workers must be taught to operate new software, hardware, and equipment correctly and safely. Increasingly, this is offered in an e-learning modality.
• Corporate Training - As many organizations seek to improve employee performance and ensure their skills are up to date, training and development become vital areas for investment.
• Military - Training soldiers for combat and operation of advanced machinery and technology, fulfilling the need for effective instructional strategies and materials.

Yes! According to insidehighered.com, “the field of instructional design has exploded over the past few decades. Since 2004, demand has been on the rise – up by more than 20 percent nationwide.” And since Covid-19, the field “has received a boost previously unimaginable.” They are calling it the “hottest job in higher education.” But it is not just limited to higher education; the skills you’ll learn at Asbury are vital to corporate training, teaching, web design, and consulting. The possibilities are immense. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that job growth for Instructional Designers and Coordinators will continue to grow at a faster than average rate over the next 10 years.

Asbury’s fully online courses will contain a hands-on component where you will create projects using the latest tools for instructional designers, providing you with technology skills adaptable to many career choices. Using your creativity through digital technologies online is encouraged and celebrated.

Students can pursue their coursework at different rates; each student will work with their advisor to create a customized schedule that best fits their situation. Most students will complete the program in about two years (some faster and some slower – it’s up to you). Often students pursuing graduate degrees have families and professional obligations so our program is designed to be flexible and accommodating no matter your schedule. Our program can be completed while working full time in two years!

Yes! Our program is designed to be entirely online and done from anywhere in the world!

Anyone with a Bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (based on last 60 hours of undergraduate degree). Candidates not meeting the grade point average criteria may apply for admission on a conditional status.

1. Complete the online application.
2. Submit official transcripts showing:
   1. Conferred Bachelor’s degree(s). Note: Graduate admissions may request additional transcript(s) as necessary to fulfill admissions or state certification requirements
   2. All Master’s coursework or beyond, including any Master’s conferral (independent of intent to transfer)
      Transcripts from undergraduate degree-granting institutions and any graduate work transcript(s) must be sent directly from the credit-granting institution. Hand-carried transcripts, even in a sealed envelope, are not official. Credit can only be transferred from official transcripts mailed by the other institution or sent by official electronic transfer. Credit will not be accepted from faxed, copied, emailed or hand delivered transcripts. International candidates whose transcripts are from a non-US institution must submit transcripts through World Education Services (WES), and request the WES ICAP package with verified transcript and course-by-course description. Candidates not meeting the grade point average criteria may apply for admission on a conditional status.

       

      Mail transcripts to:
      Asbury University
      Graduate Admissions
      One Macklem Drive
      Wilmore, KY 40390

      Electronic official transfer of transcripts can be submitted to gradadmissions@asbury.edu.

3. Submit a current resume (include awards, leadership positions, and industry experience) via your online checklist. (Instructions to log in will be emailed after application is submitted).
4. On the application you will be asked to complete a Personal Vision Essay (maximum 350 words) in which you convey your personal vision (goals and life purpose) for implementing Instructional Design in your career or future prospects. Clearly state in your essay the contributions you expect to make to the field of instructional design and how this program will help you achieve those goals.
5. On the application you will be asked to provide contact information for two references. One from a current or recent employer and the second from a personal reference (not a family member). Asbury will send emails to each reference with a link to submit their reference form.
6. TOEFL for all applicants whose native language is not English: 577 minimum on the paper based test (PBT) or 90 minimum on the Internet based test (iBT).

There is no application fee for this program!

See the Graduate Communications Programs Tuition.

With approval of the Dean of the School of Communication Arts and the Registrar, a student may transfer up to nine semester hours of prior graduate credits toward a Master of Arts degree. These credits must have been completed at a regionally-accredited graduate school. Only courses with a grade of B or better which are equivalent to Asbury University courses may be transferred.

Students entering the MA program can satisfy a maximum of three credits for extensive professional experience through a Credit by Prior Learning (CPL) process. There will be a cost to apply for CPL credit. See more about Credit by Prior Learning.

If you would like to visit the Communications Graduate Office, call (859) 858-5182 or email gradadmissions@asbury.edu