About

Are you ready to create really great instruction? Are you interested in developing your skills in creating engaging educational media and learning events for people of all ages?

East Carolina University's master of science in instructional technology program prepares people to design, produce, and evaluate instruction for a variety of settings including business, higher education, K-12 schools, and the government. Our graduates work with content experts to design engaging and effective learning experiences that range from traditional classroom-based instruction to cutting-edge e-learning. Courses in the program focus on digital media production, instructional design, visual design principles, understanding educational research, and distance learning.

The program is offered entirely online and taught by award-winning experts in distance education, instructional design, and educational media production. Course enrollment for each class is kept low so that you get to know your fellow students and develop your network of professional colleagues. There is a blend of theoretical, research-based principles that undergird the program along with a very practical application of knowledge and skills used to solve problems in design and training. The culminating degree experience is a capstone project done in one's own workplace setting.

ECU Advantage

East Carolina University's instructional technology programs are nationally recognized, and graduates of the programs are respected professionals in the instructional design community throughout the region. Media projects developed and produced by students in the program have received national awards, and students have seen their work published in internationally renowned journals. The program is well respected in the region and employers actively seek our graduates. Master of science in instructional technology graduates work in higher education, corporate training, and military settings.

The totally online nature of the program allows it to be taken by students almost anywhere, and students are nearly always part-time graduate students who are fully employed. A final benefit of the online program is transportation costs and on-campus student fees are eliminated, providing the student a much more economical degree program.

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Maureen Ellis  (331 Flanagan Building; 252-328-1480; ellism@ecu.edu)

The Instructional Technology, MS is designed for students seeking employment in institutions of higher education, governmental agencies, businesses, and industry as developers of computer-based instructional materials and other types of instructional materials. The MS program provides a thorough foundation in the design of instruction and the development of instructional materials. The program also helps students develop advanced skills in media production and distance education.

The degree requires a minimum of 36 s.h. as follows:

1. Common core - 12 s.h.
  • EDTC 6020 - Principles of Instructional Design
  • EDTC 6025 - Analysis and Evaluation in Instructional Technology
  • EDTC 6030 - Authoring Systems for Instructional Product Development
  • EDTC 7030 - Web Teaching: Design and Development
2. Required courses - 12 s.h.
  • EDTC 6010 - Introduction to Instructional Technology OR
  • ADED 6462 - Seminar in Training and Development

  • EDTC 6040 - Multimedia Instructional Product Development OR
  • ADED 6495 - Educational Program Evaluation

  • EDTC 6135 - Instructional Graphics for Educational Media OR
  • ADED 6989 - Internship in Adult Education

  • EDTC 7040 - Instructional Strategies for Distance Learning OR
  • ADED 6487 - Instructional Strategies in Adult Education
    • Note:

    Students planning to take the optional ADED courses should first obtain consent of the program coordinator.

    3. Research skills - 3 s.h.

    (Choose one of the following courses.)

    • EDUC 6480 - Introduction to Research
    • EDUC 6482 - Trends and Issues in Educational Research for Practitioners
    • SCIE 6500 - Understanding and Engaging in Educational Research
    4. Options - 3 s.h.

    (Choose one of the following options.)

      a. Capstone option
      •  
        b. Internship option
        •  
        5. Electives - 6 s.h.

        (Choose two of the following courses.)

        • EDTC 6125 - Performance Technology: Principles and Strategies
        • EDTC 7125 - Training Systems Engineering
        • ADED 6453 - The Adult Learner
        • ADED 6461 - Introduction to Training and Development
        • ADED 6989 - Internship in Adult Education
        • Any program coordinator approved EDTC or ADED course(s)
        • Any program coordinator approved EDTC or ADED course(s)
        For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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