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Online PhD in Instructional Design

Instructional design is the process of researching, analyzing, developing, evaluating, and improving instruction delivery methods and materials so that they maximize learner advancement and understanding. Online doctorate degrees in instructional design prepare graduates for leadership roles in the field. The best PhD programs in instructional design follow principles and competencies established by the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction (IBSTPI). This non-profit organization sets the standards for military, government, academia, and private industry’s training and development programs.

Online PhD in Instructional Design Requirements

Online instructional design doctoral students must be familiar with basic technology and multi-media, as well as passionate about the field. The successful instructional design PhD student will recognize well-known learning theories and have fundamental knowledge in educational psychology. 

A Masters degree is required before entering an online PhD program in instructional design. Many students have a Masters degree in one of the following areas.

• Education
• Human Resource Development
• Leadership in Education
• Psychology
• Human Performance
• Training and Development

Many people who pursue on online doctoral degree in instructional design have previously worked as educators, school administrators, or training and development practitioners.

Online PhD in Instructional Design Education

Online PhD programs in instructional design usually take between 3 – 4 years to complete, dependent upon transferred courses from an accredited Masters degree program and the students other commitments, such as work and family obligations. Instructional design doctoral students are expected to communicate clearly, apply critical thinking, problem-solving skills to real-world situations, identify, analyze, and evaluate instructional, and learner needs, and exemplify leadership. In addition, online PhD programs require a dissertation, which generally takes between 18 months to 2 years for completion.

Information on Instructional Design Courses

Doctoral level instructional design courses are research-based and focus on theory, process development, application, and evaluation. Top online PhD instructional design schools offer courses based on competencies from the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction.

The following is a list of courses commonly found in accredited online instructional design programs.

• Foundations of Instructional Design
The foundations course studies theories and principles of instructional design. It explores its’ history and development in educational and corporate settings.
• Process and Development of Instructional Design
Students gain hands-on experience in process and development courses and begin applying theories and principles to the actual design process.
• Instructional Management
Management courses focus on the budgetary, regulatory, and social trends in different instructional design settings.
• Learning Theories and Instruction Design
This course explores how different learning theories may influence the instructional design process. Recent developments in instructional psychology, cognition, and common learning theories are also included.
• Research Methods and Design
Research courses cover qualitative and quantitative methods, data collection, statistical analysis, and significance of results.

Specializations and Concentrations

There are a variety of specializations and concentrations in online PhD instructional design programs. The chosen area of specialization should be one that the student is particularly interested in and wishes to help advance through research and development. The following is a list of common areas of concentration in online doctoral programs.

• Online learning
• Teaching and learning
• Educational technology
• Web hosting
• Gaming

Careers in Instructional Design

Graduates of top, accredited online instructional design doctoral programs work in a variety of settings, including both private and public sector. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for an instructional designer is $61,270 per year. Potential employment settings and job titles of a PhD instructional designer include the following.

• Director of curriculum and instruction
The director of curriculum and instruction works for elementary and secondary school districts and designs programs of study, core curriculum, and learning standards. Curriculum and instruction directors make approximately $67,600 per year, depending on geographic location.
• Director of electronic learning (e-learning)
Train and evaluate teachers, trainers, or instructors on the e-learning process. Many directors of e-learning travel to various locations and implement an entire e-learning program. Directors who work in business or industry can expect an average annual salary of $70,000 – $87,600.
• College or university instructor
A college or university instructor teaches instructional design content material to students. A person with an earned online PhD in instructional design may teach undergraduate or graduate level students. Four-year university professors typically earn more, around $80,000 a year, compared to junior or community college instructors, who earn from $50,000 – $60,000 each year.
• Educational consulting firms
A graduate of an online doctoral program in instructional design who works as a consultant advises both private and public schools on student learning, professional development for teachers, curriculum development, and work force readiness. Private consultants generally make around $75,000 each year.
• Director of corporate learning
An emerging concept in continuing education is “corporate university,” which is private business and industry’s version of higher education for employees. Corporate university usually consists of learning modules specific to employees’ job functions. As a director of corporate learning, the PhD instructional designer may expect to determine appropriate curriculum, delivery method, and evaluation of on the job learning modules. Directors make from $80,000 – $100,000 per year, depending on organizational size, type, and location.

Projections from the National Employment Matrix suggest that the number of jobs in instructional design will grow 23% over the next ten years. Graduates from the best online PhD instructional design programs will have the advantage over other potential job candidates.