Master of Arts in Instructional Design - Curriculum

The following courses have been created and sequenced to form an integrated program of study. Later courses build on earlier ones to provide a powerful, cumulative learning experience.

Course List (9 courses, 30 units)

• EDUC 604: Assessing Instructional Media through DEI & Accessibility
• EPC 602ID: Research Methods and Interpretation for Instructional Designers
• EPC 610: Educational Psychology: The Science of Learning
• EPC 613ID: Assessment and Evaluation of Learning
• EPC 615: Systematic Instructional Design
• EPC 616: Trends and Issues: An Overview of the Instructional Design Field
• EPC 617: Working with Instructional Technologies for E-learning
• EPC 691: Project Management for Instructional Designers
• EPC 698D: Graduate Culminating Project

Course Highlights

course	name	units	description
EDUC 604	Assessing Instructional Media through DEI & Accessibility	3 units	Assessing instructional media with the Universal Design for Learning Framework, with an emphasis on accessibility, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, and multiple means for instruction.    Watch EDUC 604 overview
EPC 602ID	Research Methods and Interpretation for Instructional Designers	3 units	This course provides an introduction to understanding research that promotes the interpretation of empirical evidence supporting design choices. This includes addressing basic principles advancing student ability to develop assessments and evaluations of instructional solutions.
EPC 610	Educational Psychology: The Science of Learning	3 units	In this course students learn about theories and research regarding educational psychology, and their applications to issues in educational psychology and students’ professional interests. This course explores and synthesizes theory and research in educational psychology and their implications for successful instruction, professional development, and training. Topics include development, learning, information processing, effective instruction, effective learning environments, motivation, higher level cognition, metacognition, learner characteristics, individual/group differences, and current issues in assessment and intervention of diverse learners.
EPC 613ID	Assessment and Evaluation of Learning	3 units	This course explores the significance of learning in contrast with instruction and explores various assessment methods for evaluating learners of all ages in academic courses, programs, training sessions, and other learning settings. Topics include: understanding the relationship between assessment and evaluation; the development of measurable educational goals, objectives, and learning outcomes; direct and indirect assessment measure applications; summative, formative, and authentic assessment development and application; educational evaluation strategies for diverse populations and settings; and effective evaluation of assessment results including the development of data-informed recommendations.
EPC 615	Systematic Instructional Design	3 units	This course studies the principles of the systematic instructional design process as applied to the successful creation of effective learning solutions for diverse populations. The focus is applying an instructional design model to systematically create a design document and project mockup. Topics studied include needs assessment, audience analysis, task analysis, instructional objectives, sequencing, instructional strategies, development of materials, and assessment/evaluation plans.
EPC 616	Trends and Issues: An Overview of the Instructional Design Field	3 units	This course covers the fundamentals of the field of instructional design. Topics include definition and history of the field; the purpose of instructional design theories and strategies; applications of the field in various industries and practice settings; plus current trends, issues and misconceptions in the field, as well as working on diverse teams.
EPC 617	Working with Instructional Technologies for E-learning	3 units	In this hands-on, competency-based course, students will apply authoring tools to develop learning content in the “Development” stage of instructional design. Students will use common instructional design tools to provide multiple means of representation in instruction. Topics and tools include accessibility, Learning Management Systems, remote team collaboration, e-Learning templates, e-Learning modalities, operability, podcasts, PowerPoint for Instructional Designers, video production, interactive authoring tools, learning modules, and ePortfolios. The focus is on practical application of instructional tools and design for the public and private sectors.    Watch EPC 617 overview
EPC 691	Project Management for Instructional Designers	3 units	This course will prepare students to manage instructional design projects. Emphasis is placed on the instructional design process within the project management cycle, training students how to lead all aspects of learning solution projects.
EPC 698D	Graduate Culminating Project	3-3 units	This course is on the practical application of what students have learned throughout the program. The graduate project will be the production of an instructional design solution that evidences originality and independent thinking. The instructional design solution will address an identified learning/training-based need in a business, organization, educational, or community setting. The graduate project will include a comprehensive instructional design document (including developed materials and tools) that outlines an instructional problem or need, the rationale for the selected instructional design solution or solutions, a thorough explanation of the need or needs being addressed, and a plan for implementing, assessing, and evaluating an instruction-based solution. Completion and defense of the culminating experience project will include an oral defense of the project to the Graduate Project Committee, which will be comprised of three members, one of whom will serve as the committee chair. (EPC 698D is taken twice).