Instructional Design and Technology
MED
Why study Instructional Design and Technology?
Our Master of Instructional Design and Technology can lead to a number of career opportunities, in a rapidly growing field, with an increasing need for highly trained graduates who can design, develop, implement, and evaluate multimedia instructional materials.
This campus-based program offers a combination of in-person, blended, and online classes. Students complete a professional field experience that provides an opportunity to actively apply what they are learning and conduct evaluations and assessments within real-world settings. Our students are also educated on how to design mobile apps, games and simulations, interactive video, and other industry-standard e-Learning applications.
This program includes a Design and Development specialization that prepares students to design learning environments through the use of technology and multimedia. This focus is perfect for those who aspire to learn more about the technological advances of creative learning solutions.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Applications are reviewed three times a year in November, April, and July for any upcoming semester. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications for Fall in April.
Fall enrollment deadlines
- Domestic = July 1
- International = April 1
Spring enrollment deadlines
- Domestic = Nov 1
- International = July 1
Summer enrollment deadlines
- Domestic = April 1
- Note: Students with international student visas may not apply for summer
Application Materials
The application materials will consist of the following:
- Video Essay. The video essay is optional and should be informal. It is a great way to let the committee know a little bit about you and to personalize your application.
- Statement of the applicant's academic and professional goals. For your goal statement, please answer the following questions and upload it as an attached document in the online application. Your response should be no more than one page in length.
- What are your professional goals? How will the program help you meet these goals?
- Describe your technology skills, e.g., skills in computer-based multimedia, web, or productivity tools, video, etc. You may wish to include a link to a sample technology project to demonstrate your proficiency in the use of technologies.
- Writing sample. Discuss your position on an issue in the field of instructional technology and how you hope to address that issue during your studies. Your essays should be between 750 and 1000 words and have at least three references.
- Resume
- Unofficial transcripts
- At least one letter of reference (preferably academic).
Note: The purpose of the reference letters is to give the committee an additional data point to assess your academic and professional background. Hence, it is highly recommended to include both an academic and professional reference as part of your application. Applicants do not upload the recommendation letters. A note is sent directly to the recommenders from the application system. It is advisable to ask more recommenders than required because applications that do not include the required number of reference letters cannot be reviewed by the committee.
- Applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree from a college or university regarded as standard by a regional or general accrediting agency
- Applicant must have at least a B average (3.0/4.0 system or equivalent) in relevant undergraduate coursework or otherwise give evidence of promise that is judged satisfactory by the admitting program and the Graduate School.
Note: Candidates who graduated from a non-accredited college or university or who do not meet the minimum grade point averages requirement for admission will need a waiver from the graduate school. The decision of whether that waiver is accepted is made by the graduate school. In order for the program to request a waiver, the candidate must provide evidence that address mastery of the knowledge prerequisite to the courses required by the program, acceptable writing skills, the ability to engage in critical thinking, and a personal commitment to completing the program. The evidence must convincingly demonstrate the candidate's potential for success in graduate level work.
Candidates who are not accepted for admission into a Master’s Degree program may not apply to the same program for at least one academic year. During that period, such applicants may be encouraged by the program to enroll in appropriate course work to develop the knowledge, skills, and values deemed necessary for admission into the program, or to demonstrate that the applicant already possesses such qualifications. Whether such coursework may apply to the degree program is left to the discretion of the program. Completion of this course work does not guarantee admission into the program.
Admission decisions may not be made on the basis of race, age, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation or handicap.
Transcripts:
Please refer to the policy provided by the Graduate School.
Application Procedures
Prospective students will complete the online application. After logging in and/or creating a user account, select “Instructional Design and Technology, Master of Education” program by the application deadline posted below. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials and support documents are successfully submitted. Incomplete applications will not be processed or reviewed.
Graduates of this program will be prepared for the careers listed below. All opportunities may not be listed.
All incoming Master’s students will be assigned an academic advisor who is a tenure-track faculty member. These advisors will mentor students on their plans of study. Students also receive mentorship throughout their internship experience from both the full-time faculty member coordinating the course as well as from their field supervisor in their placement. Past field supervisors have included leaders in the field of faculty training and development, corporate training, and classroom technology integration and management.
In addition to formal mentorship, students will build community through events such as the annual student showcase, which gives students the opportunity to demonstrate the projects and research that they have completed during the program and network with each other, alumni, professors from outside the IDT program, and others in the community.
The goal of the IDT MEd at the University of Cincinnati is to ready students to compete in a dynamic, growing field that demands talented, well-informed professionals. Our curriculum is especially designed to meet this growing demand. Students learn from award winning faculty in state-of-the art facilities with access to cutting edge technologies, labs, apps, and software.
With the advantage of being one of the few schools situated in a large, metropolitan city, our program is distinguished by its urban location. This location provides our students with advantageous experiential learning opportunities, such as working in urban education, corporate, and healthcare organizations, allowing them to gain firsthand experiences in the challenges of working in these different settings. As Cincinnati is home to many large companies and technology focused startups, a plethora of internship opportunities are also available to the student body. Finally, students get to learn from leaders in the field of instructional design and technology.
Scholarships in the form of Graduate Incentive Scholarship Awards (GIA) are available to incoming and returning students based on merit. If awarded, students can use GIA funding to cover part of their tuition. Application forms for GIA support scholarships will be sent to students after they have been officially accepted into a program. GIA funding is an annual award. A new application must be submitted each year. For more information on GIA scholarships, please see the Graduate School website.
Before a candidate can graduate, he or she must meet the following requirements:
- Be registered for at least one credit in their program in the academic year, after having met minimum degree course requirements to be considered a graduate candidate throughout the academic year.
- Have all NG, N, I, UP, SP and F grades resolved for degree courses.
- Posting of satisfactory grades for the semester of graduation.
- Obtain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA
- Satisfactory completion of all applicable College and program requirements as provided by the major advisor filling out the Checklist for Completion of College/Department requirements for Graduation and sending it to the Graduate School.
- Successful defense of a Master’s project
All transfer credits must adhere to following Graduate School policies and are subject to approval:
The IDT program with the Design and Development specialization meets all requirements for students with F and J visas and is also classified as a STEM program for international students (13.0501). This designation allows international students to apply for up to 3 years of Optional Practical Training work authorization after graduation. Students with F and J visas can apply either to Fall or Spring semester but are encouraged to apply for Fall to be part of a cohort.
International student applicants are required to provide specific information about their transcripts or degree programs to facilitate the applicant review process, including transcript translation and evaluation by a recognized translation/evaluation agency. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or successful completion of ELS Level 112, is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. Expectations for TOEFL scores are a minimum of 550 (paper test), 190 (computer-based test), or 80 (internet-based test); a minimum score on the Test of Written English (TWE) of 4.5; and a minimum score of 50 on the Test of Spoken English. The TOEFL must have been taken within the two-year period preceding admission. The University of Cincinnati maintains an International Student Services Office (ISSO), which serves international students attending the University. For questions regarding international student information, contact the International Student Services Office at (513)556-4278.
Contact Information
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Program Code: 18MAS-IDT-MED