Why Should I Choose UND? 

Delivered Online

Why Should I Earn My Degree/Certificate in IDT from UND?

You can earn your Master's or Graduate Certificate in IDT online from the University of North Dakota. The program is a collaborative effort between the College of Education & Human Development, the College of Arts & Sciences and the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. As a graduate of either program, you will benefit from the expertise of a diverse faculty, the various resources of the different organizational units and a cooperative decision-making structure among the three units. With the combined resources of these three leading programs, you will receive an education experience unequalled anywhere.

Flexibility & Convenience:

• Receive your Master's or Graduate Certificate in IDT online from UND without leaving your job or family.
• Get the flexibility of online learning with the personal contact and connection of "live" instruction.
• Complete online semester-based classes from anywhere in the world; there is no on-campus requirement to complete your IDT program.
• Work toward your degree or certificate one course at a time. Or take courses full-time to complete your program in as little as two years.....it's up to you!

Exceptional Curriculum:

• Follow curriculum that is competitive with the best ID programs in the country. The design reflects the philosophy of traditional instructional design as espoused by Robert Gagne (widely considered the founder of the ID field), Leslie Briggs, and Walt Wager while incorporating the latest technologies such as pedagogical agents, intelligent tutoring systems, and instructional simulations and games.
• Take courses in human-performance technology and instructional design consulting, so that as a graduate you can solve the full range of human performance problems in the workplace.
• Know the difference between technology use and technology integration. While some programs offer courses in technology education, you will learn the best practices for blending the latest thinking in teaching and learning with the latest technologies for problem solving.
• Graduate from a nationally recognized, fully accredited university with a master's degree or graduate certificate aligned with the most widely recognized standards established by professional organizations, including the:
• Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT) - sets standards for Educational Communications & Instructional Technology (ECIT) developed with the National Council for Accreditation of Teachers of Education (NCATE). AECT has been the first and foremost organization for instructional design and technology, having started the field in the 1923 with the establishment of the Division of Visual Instruction by the National Education Association.
• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) - sets standards for those who focus on becoming technology facilitators in the schools.

Real World Projects:

• Experience project-based learning. This means you will spend your time applying instructional design theories rather than being tested on them.
• Work with faculty who were IDers in the real world so the projects you will create are based on the projects professional instructional designers create on the job.
• Be involved in research and development projects early on in the process. This means you will have publication, presentation, design and development credits on your resume before you leave UND's IDT program.
• Participate in practicums and internships where you will put what you have learned to work by developing training for people in North Dakota and around the world.
• Make a real difference in the world with the projects you develop. Whether you are developing web-based training for aviation security or distance learning programs for other countries, know that people will use the work you do.

Technology & Resources:

• Possess the skills you need to begin working as a professional IDer immediately upon graduation because you will have training and development opportunities with the latest software, including Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, Authorware, Project, and Cleaner.
• Access our internal Web server for your own Web space that you can use for courses and the development of a portfolio of your work.
• Join in live classroom discussions (held at set times in conjunction with on-campus students) through web-conferencing.
• Watch pre-recorded classroom lectures at your own convenience through streamed video you can download from the Internet. UND also participates in iTunes U so you will be able to download course videos directly to your iPod.

Personalized Experiences:

• Receive a more personalized educational experience with smaller classes sizes (maximum of 15 students) compared to other IDT programs.
• Gain teaching experience, co-author research with faculty, and develop a program of study and class projects that reflect your professional goals and interests.
• Connect with the IDT community of students, faculty, and alumni through projects, research, Web-based program meetings, advising and the IDT listserv.