Degrees & Programs
Instructional Systems Technology
We improve human learning and performance in diverse contexts. We prepare practitioners and researchers to design and build processes, systems, and services for use in various settings. Individuals and organizations learn and grow through well-designed instruction, and we focus on turning issues into opportunities.
Overview
We believe instructional materials and tools must reflect the way people acquire, process, and share information. Our research crosses disciplines and incorporates theories of instructional design, the use of emerging digital technologies to support learning, and workplace learning and performance improvement. With the support of faculty, students solve instructional and performance issues through analysis, design, development, evaluation, implementation, and management of learning environments and strategies. As a result, our alumni hold key roles in governmental, corporate, educational and military organizations.
We offer both residential and online-only degrees in instructional systems technology and adult education. That includes Indiana University’s first online-only doctorate, the Education Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Information Systems Technology.
Degrees
The IU School of Education offers the following certificates and degrees in Instructional Systems Technology:
Certificate in Instructional Systems Technology (online)
Get an in-depth introduction to analyzing, designing, developing, and evaluating new educational tools. Advance your career or prepare for a master's or doctoral program in Instructional Systems Technology. This 15-hour certificate program introduces you to concepts in instructional technology and design, including:
- Evaluation and analysis of instructional materials
- Effective writing for instructional technology
- Strategies for computer-mediated learning
The Certificate in Instructional Systems Technology is not the equivalent of a state teaching license nor preparation to earn a teaching license. Learn more about our licensing programs
Degree Requirements
Complete course descriptions and detailed program requirements may be found on IUconnectED.
Required Courses (9 cr.)
- Instructional Technology Foundations
- Instructional Design & Development
- Evaluation & Change in the Instructional Design Process
Production Course (3 cr.)
Choose from the following courses:
- Instructional Design & Production Process I
- Computer-Mediated Learning
Elective Course (3 cr.)
Choose from the following courses:
- Effective Writing for Instructional Technology
- Computer-Mediated Learning
- Instructional Strategies and Tactics
M.S.Ed. in Instructional Systems Technology (residential)
Learn to design effective instructional materials that can be delivered through print, video, and computers. You will build and test processes, products, and services that are ready to use in education and/or training settings. The 36-minimum-credit-hour program includes coursework, an internship, and a year-long studio project conducted under faculty membership. Upon graduation, you will be prepared to become a practitioner in the field of instructional technology.
Degree Requirements
Complete course descriptions and detailed degree requirements may be found in the IU Bloomington School of Education Graduate Bulletin.
Core Courses (12 cr.)
- R511 Instructional Technology Foundations and Colloquium (3 cr.)
- R521 Instructional Design and Development I (3 cr.)
- R541 Instructional Development and Production Process 1 (3 cr.)
- R561 Evaluation and Change in the Instructional Development Process (3 cr.)
Major (15 - 18 cr.)
Choose from at least two of three following emphasis areas:
- Emphasis 1: Instructional Analysis,Design and Development
- Emphasis 2: Instructional Development and Production
- Emphasis 3: Implementation and Management
Electives (9 cr.)
A minimum of nine (9) credit hours must be taken by residential students from programs other than Instructional Systems Technology (which can include adult education courses). The nature and mix of the courses must be structured to support the overall thrust of the student's program of studies.
Typical options include business, computer science, curriculum and instruction, educational inquiry methodology, educational psychology, elementary education, library and information science, secondary education, telecommunications, etc.
The School of Education allows up to six hours at the 300- or 400-level for the master's degree.
Portfolio Requirement
The portfolio will include:
- Products developed by the student.
- These products may but not necessarily be products developed in the Instructional Project.
- Additional products developed by the student in other research or development courses, via practica and internships, in conjunction with a graduate assistantship, or elsewhere may also be included in the portfolio.
- A completed program of studies form
- A statement of your career goals
- A professional resume
- A listing of professional references
M.S.Ed. in Instructional Systems Technology (online)
Earn a master's degree any time of day or night and from anywhere. Through IUconnectED, you will learn to design effective instructional materials that can be delivered through print, video, and computers. You will build and test processes, products, and services that are ready to use in education and/or training settings. The 36-minimum-credit-hour, three-year program includes a portfolio workshop in which you will get hands-on experience in developing instructional technologies. Upon graduation, you will be prepared to become practitioners in the field of instructional technology.
Degree Requirements
Complete course descriptions and detailed degree requirements may be found on IUconnectED.
IST Core (12 cr.)
- Instructional Technology Foundations
- Instructional Design & Development
- Instructional Design & Production Process I
- Evaluation & Change in the Instructional Design Process
IST Electives (9 cr.)
Choose three of the following courses:
- Effective Writing for Instructional Technology
- Computer-Mediated Learning
- Instructional Strategies and Tactics
- Educational Systems Design
Other Required IST Courses (6 cr.)
- Portfolio Workshop in IST
- Designing Instructional Systems
Outside Courses (9 cr.)
- Required (3 cr.):
- Learning and Cognition in Education
- Outside Electives (6 cr.):
- The nature and mix of courses taken outside of IST must be structured to support the overall purpose of your program of study. Please consult your academic advisory to identify appropriate courses. Typical options include courses in business, computer science, curriculum and instruction, educational psychology, education, library and information science, and telecommunications.
M.S.Ed. in Instructional Systems Technology with Specializations (online)
Choose from the following specialization areas:
Specialization 1: Workplace Learning and Performance Improvement (WLPI). The WLPI specialization area is for students seeking graduate-level education in the principles and practices of workplace learning and performance improvement. You will learn to develop and deliver effective system-oriented interventions that improve individual and organizational performance and are aligned with an organization's mission and goals. Your abilities to work cross-functionally and in interdisciplinary teams in domestic and international organizations worldwide will be enhanced. Graduates often work in business and industry, military, government, education, and non-profit organizations.
WLPI Degree Requirements
- IST Core Courses (15 cr.)
- WLPI Specialization Core Courses (9 cr.)
- Theory/Inquiry Requirement (6 cr.)
- Certification-Based Portfolio
- A presentation and synopsis of projects you complete during your matriculation in the WLPI specialization area that showcase your knowledge and skills.
Specialization 2: Instructional Systems Design Practice (ISDP). The ISDP specialization area is for students seeking graduate-level education regarding the principles and practices of instructional systems design. You will learn to develop and deliver effective interventions to improve learning and performance. Your abilities to work cross-functionally and in interdisciplinary teams focused on the design of instruction will be enhanced. Graduates often work in business and industry, military, government, education and nonprofit organizations.
ISDP Degree Requirements:
- IST Core Courses (15 cr.)
- ISDP Specialization Core Courses (6 cr.)
- ISDP Specialization Elective Courses (3 cr.)
- Courses outside the Major (9 cr.)
- Professional Portfolio
- A collection of projects that showcase your knowledge and skills. If you choose, you can include work from your course work as well as other professional experiences that aligns with your professional goals.
Specialization 3: Learning Technologies (LT). The LT specialization area is for students seeking graduate-level education regarding the principles and practices of instructional systems design. You will learn to develop and deliver effective interventions to improve learning and performance. Your abilities to work cross-functionally and in interdisciplinary teams focused on the design of instruction will be enhanced. Graduates often work in business and industry, military, government, education and non-profit organizations.
LT Degree Requirements
- IST Core Courses (15 cr.)
- LT Specialization Core Courses (6 cr.)
- LT Specialization Elective Courses (3 cr.)
- Courses outside the Major (9 cr.)
- Certification-Based Portfolio
- A presentation and synopsis of projects you complete during your matriculation in the LT specialization area that showcase your knowledge and skills.
Ed.D. in Instructional Systems Technology (online)
If you're an instruction design or human performance improvement professional, the Ed.D. in Instructional Systems Technology offers the opportunity to bridge the gap between research and practice.
You'll apply research findings to build and test processes, products, and services with the goal of producing instructional materials for education, training, or performance improvement environments. You'll also learn research skills you can use to conduct needs analyses of target audiences and measure the effectiveness of instructional products and solutions in these areas:
- Instructional technology
- Educational technology
- Instructional design
- Performance technology
- Workplace learning and performance improvement
This 60-hour degree prepares you to take on management or leadership roles in organizations where instructional and performance technology is a key part of their mission.
Applicants must have a master's degree from an accredited institution. While course work is delivered primarily online, students will be required to attend at least one IST Colloquium or IST conference on campus.
Degree Requirements
Course descriptions and complete degree requirements can be found at IUconnectED.
IST Major (30 cr.)
- IST Inquiry Linkage (6 cr.)
- IST Electives (24 cr.)
Non-IST (21 cr.)
Inquiry (9 cr.)
Learning Theories (3 cr.)
Minor (9 - 16 cr.)
Dissertation (9 cr.)
- Dissertation Proposal Preparation (3 cr.)
- Dissertation (6 cr.)
Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology (residential)
The Instructional Systems Technology Doctor of Philosophy in Education degree program is designed for individuals seeking to be researchers in the field of instructional technology. The IST program prepares Ph.D. students to discover new knowledge through basic research and answer specific questions about practical problems through applied research. Ph.D. program graduates typically conduct research and teach in university settings or work as researchers within private or public research and development centers involved in instructional technology.
The IST Ph.D. program is a 90-credit-hour (minimum) graduate program. In order to begin the Ph.D. program, an individual must have completed a bachelor's degree program from an accredited institution. Work completed towards a master's degree may apply toward meeting the 90-credit-hour requirement. Post-master's degree work may also apply. Decisions regarding the transfer of courses taken as part of master's and post- master's work depends upon the applicability and age of each course. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
Doctoral applicants are expected to have a master's degree in our field, but can be admitted without one. Students admitted without a master's degree in IST are required to complete the IST masters core (R511, R521, R541, R561) early in their program of studies. All doctoral students are expected to study full time and to be active members of the academic community.
Degree Requirements
Complete course descriptions and detailed degree requirements may be found in the IU Bloomington School of Education Graduate Bulletin.
Prerequisites: Computer Competencies
Macintosh or Windows word processing, graphics, operating systems, general understanding of how computers work, email, file transfer, information retrieval, scanning, and Web publishing.
Course Work (90 cr.)
If you have a master's degree in the field:
- IST (42 cr., with a limit of 18 transferred credit hours)
- Doctoral Core (18 cr.)
- R711 IST Doctoral Readings (3 cr.)
- R690 IST Early Research Experience (3 cr.)
- R695 IST Doctoral Seminar (taken four times, for a total of 12 cr.)
- Non-IST Course Work (27 cr.)
- Inquiry (9 cr.)
- Education Foundations (6 cr.)
- Minor (12 cr.)
- IST or Non-IST Electives (6 cr.)
- IST Dissertation (15 cr.)
- R795 Dissertation Proposal Preparation (3 cr.)
- R799 Dissertation (12 cr.)
- Doctoral Core (18 cr.)
If you do NOT have a master's degree in the field:
- IST (42 cr., with a limit of 18 transferred credit hours)
- IST Core Courses and Colloquia (12 cr.)
- Doctoral Core (18 cr.)
- R711 IST Doctoral Readings (3 cr.)
- R690 IST Early Research Experience (3 cr.)
- R695 IST Doctoral Seminar (taken four times, for a total of 12 cr.)
- Non-IST Course Work (27 cr.)
- Inquiry (9 cr.)
- Education Foundations (6 cr.)
- Minor (12 cr.)
- IST or Non-IST Electives (6 cr.)
- IST Dissertation (15 cr.)
- R795 Dissertation Proposal Preparation (3 cr.)
- R799 Dissertation (12 cr.)
Faculty
IST faculty are instrumental in developing and sharing best practices for creating effective learning environments. As scholars, their research has been instrumental in defining the field. As educators, they have helped hundreds of instructors improve learning for students of all ages and across all segments of society. As mentors, they have prepared graduates who teach and lead in premiere higher education programs around the world.
- Robert Appelman, Clinical Professor
- Barbara Bichelmeyer, Professor
- Elizabeth Boling, Professor of Education; Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
- Curtis Bonk, Professor of Education
- Thomas Brush, Barbara B. Jacobs Chair in Education and Technology
- Daniel Callison, Emeritus Professor
- Yonjoo Cho, Assistant Professor Tenured/Tenure-Track
- Ivor Davies, Emeritus Faculty, Professor of Education
- Frank Di Silvestro, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for Adult Education
- Thomas Duffy, Professor Emeritus
- Theodore Frick, Professor
- Krista Glazewski, Associate Professor
- Karen Hallett-Rupp, Director, Office of Instructional Consulting
- Ray Haynes, Assistant Professor Tenured/Tenure-Track
- Henry Merrill, Emeritus Professor
- Michael Molenda, Emeritus associate professor
- Anne Ottenbreit-Leftwich, Assistant Professor
- James Pershing, Professor of Education
- Charles Reigeluth, Professor
- Martin Siegel, Professor of Informatics, IST, and Cognitive Science; Chair, Dept. of Informatics
- Dr. Marjorie Treff, Lecturer
- Jeani Young, Lecturer
Careers
A degree in instructional systems technology has applications not just in educational settings, but in corporations, government, military, and nonprofit organizations. As a graduate, you’ll be prepared to solve instructional problems and to tackle human performance issues, from training factory workers to use new equipment to developing a change management plan for introducing new management practices in a global company.
Some career options include:
- E-learning developer
- Instructional designer
- Corporate trainer
- Researcher
- Professor
- Education content developer
- School or university administrator
The Department of Instructional Systems Technology maintains a pre-screened job board for students and alumni. See current IST openings »
Contact
For detailed program information, please contact:
Tom Brush, Chairperson
Department of Instructional Systems Technology
W. W. Wright Education Building, Room 2276
Bloomington, Indiana 47405
Phone:(812) 856-8450
Email: istdept@indiana.edu
