If you’ve ever been interested in how people learn—and how to make that process more intuitive, effective, and engaging—the MS in Instructional Design and Technology (MSIDT) gives prospective instructional design professionals the necessary tools to learn how. The newest program from SJSU’s School of Information, the program responds to the need for instructional designers, a quickly growing career with a projected 8% growth from 2021 to 2031 according to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

The program is centered on designing learning experiences that work seamlessly for a wide range of audiences, from students to professionals to online users. While it’s a new program, MSIDT offers a compelling option for students and professionals to expand their technical skills and embark on a new career journey in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Focuses of the Program

With most of the School of Information programs, the structure of the program is designed with flexibility in mind. It consists of 34 units spread across 11 courses and is offered fully online, with most coursework completed asynchronously. This format makes it especially accessible for working adults or anyone balancing multiple commitments. Throughout the program, students develop a blend of creative and analytical skills that are increasingly in demand. They learn how to design courses, trainings, and full learning systems while also understanding how to measure whether those systems are actually effective. These are explored in the program learning outcomes, which outline the foundational elements of the program.

Core skills you’ll develop

• Designing courses, trainings, and learning systems
• Using learning analytics to measure effectiveness
• Creating multimedia and digital learning content
• Evaluating and improving programs over time

Program Highlights

One of the defining features of the MSIDT program is its strong connection to technology and data, which is capitalized on with SJSU’s proximity to Silicon Valley. While some programs in education remain more traditional in their approach, this one leans into areas like learning analytics, user experience design, and digital platforms. Students are trained to think beyond the classroom and consider how learning happens across different environments, including corporate and online spaces. These are explored in the program’s required courses, which give a taste of what the coursework will actually look like. In many ways, the program prepares students to work at the intersection of education, technology, and organizational strategy, a space that continues to grow as digital learning becomes more central to how organizations operate.

Career Paths with MSIDT

SJSU’s MSIST has a strong focus on practical skill-building and career readiness for their students. Students are encouraged to complement their coursework with their own individual research projects, informed by the topics that matter most to them. All of this culminates into a final ePortfolio Capstone, which provides alumni with tangible work to show employers.

Common roles

• Instructional Designer
• Learning Experience (LX) Designer
• E-learning Developer
• Corporate Trainer / L&D Specialist
• Educational Technology Specialist

More niche or adjacent paths

• UX Designer (focused on learning platforms)
• Human performance consultant
• Program or curriculum manager
• Government or nonprofit training roles

Many graduates find positions in tech companies, corporate training teams, startups, and the growing field of educational technology. Demand for these roles continues to rise, driven by the increasing need for digital learning solutions and ongoing workforce development.

A Voice from the Program: Dr. Laura Otero, Program Coordinator

Lastly, I was able to ask Dr. Laura Otero, the MSIDT Program Coordinator a couple of questions about the program.

Why is this a good time to enter the field of instructional design and learning technology?

Laura: Right now is an especially exciting time to enter the field of instructional design and learning technology! There are major shifts happening in education and training with emerging technology like generative AI. The roles of instructional designer, training facilitator, technology leader, and more are all being impacted in real time, and those with expertise in how human cognition and learning works are in high demand. As leaders in the teaching and learning space, we are shaping that human-centered future, and teaching others how to meaningfully work with this technology in ethical, innovative ways is our responsibility as instructional design professionals. Gaining that deep expertise right now is gold!

What makes the MS in Instructional Design and Technology at SJSU distinct from similar programs?

Laura: There are several factors that make our MSIDT program distinct: our cutting edge curriculum, professor and research expertise, and real-world project focus. In addition to the classic learning theory and instructional design model core curriculum, we have electives like Human-AI collaboration, Multimedia Design and Immersive Extended Realities (XR), Digital Learning Operations and Strategic Leadership, and more, all designed to prepare you for the current realities of the field. We also have a team of faculty who have deep experience working as instructional design professionals in various sectors, including the corporate world, education, and government. Our applied research is also directly informing our curriculum decisions: we are currently completing a job study of instructional design professionals in the state of California to identify emerging competencies, and the results have already impacted our curriculum! Lastly, our entire program is designed to support our students in building real-world projects that are demonstrated in a final e-portfolio Capstone. By the time they graduate, our students can both “talk the talk” in a job interview with their knowledge of learning theory and ID frameworks, and they can show potential employers what they are capable of building with their portfolios.

What kinds of roles do you see graduates moving into, and what skills help them get there?

Laura: I keep referring to “instructional design professionals” rather than just “instructional designers” because the roles are so varied in the field. I have also mentioned that there are a variety of sectors that instructional design professionals can go into. That is what is so cool about this field: there is so much room for growth and specialization. Let’s look at the corporate world first. There are instructional designers, learning experience designers, training and development specialists, eLearning developers, and learning strategists, all working to support employee learning and organizational performance. Many of these roles are expanding into more strategic and leadership-focused positions, where ID professionals are helping guide decisions about digital learning systems and AI integration. In higher education or K-12, you might see roles like instructional designer, faculty developer, curriculum specialist, educational tech or academic technologist, working closely with faculty to provide professional development training or to design and improve courses. In government, healthcare, and nonprofit spaces, similar roles exist, and they are often tied to large-scale training initiatives, compliance, or public-facing education. To move into these roles, students need a strong foundation in how people learn, paired with the ability to apply that knowledge in real-world contexts. That means being able to design aligned learning experiences, and work with modern tools and technologies. ID professionals also need to have well-rounded communication and collaboration skills, because the reality is that this is a highly relational field where you are constantly working with subject matter experts, stakeholders, and teams. The goal is not just to “build content,” but to create meaningful learning experiences that actually improve performance and outcomes.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the MS in Instructional Design and Technology occupies a compelling middle ground. It offers the flexibility needed for working adults, the technical skills required to move beyond traditional education roles, and the structure necessary to build transferable, real-world expertise. For those interested in shaping how people learn in modern, digital contexts—especially individuals coming from backgrounds in education, libraries, archives, or nonprofits—it presents a strong and practical pathway forward. I encourage prospective students to read through the MSIDT FAQ page, which provides helpful information on the program’s learning outcome and expected workload.