Learning Design
Graduate Certificate
Online
Course Delivery
9
Total Credits
$893
Credit Hour
8 Months
Minimum Duration
Program Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Learning Design is a fully online, 3-course graduate certificate program offered by our Master of Arts in Learning Experience Design (MALXD) program. Students in this graduate certificate will develop effective, engaging, and inclusive online curriculum and instruction. Upon completion, you will know how to critically evaluate technologies, thoughtfully design assessments, and creatively design learning experiences with an understanding of learner needs with awareness and attention to social justice, accessibility, and equity. This graduate certificate can be earned as a stand-alone certificate or as a part of the MALXD degree.
This program is designed for individuals who want to supplement their academic and/or professional knowledge in key areas related to learning design. It has been intentionally designed with full-time working professionals in mind and courses are context-rich so that learners have supported experience applying theory to their professional practice.
Program Outcomes
Graduate Certificate in Learning Design alumni will be able to:
- Develop and implement effective, engaging, and inclusive online curriculum and instruction.
- Use educational technology to meet the needs of learners from diverse backgrounds.
- Analyze the social concerns and ethical issues when creating learning experiences and assessments.
- Thoughtfully create and implement digital assessments for learning, as learning, and of learning.
- Design ways of creating and providing feedback to students in digital contexts through a critical lens.
- Develop formative assessments based on theoretical and design principles in online learning spaces.
- Design learning experiences and technological interactions for people with disabilities with an understanding of ability, cultural, social, and political factors that define disability.
- Understand inclusive design principles that will support the design, development, and evaluation of inclusive technologies for people with various human abilities.
Career Outlook
Graduate Certificate in Learning Design alumni will meet the growing industry demand in a wide range of professional settings. This certificate is ideal for individuals who are looking to specifically advance their knowledge in learning design, in their current or future professional contexts Relevant fields include:
- Instructional design
- Educational and e-learning content development
- Professional and continuing education
- Corporate training development
- IT and computer training
- Learning services
- Project management
A Top-Ranked Education
- #1 in Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #2 in Online Master's in Education Administration — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #6 in Online Master's in Education/Instructional Media — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #7 in Online Master's in Special Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
Dr. Liz Owens Boltz
Program Director and Assistant Professor
As Director, Liz is dedicated to supporting students and the diverse goals, needs, and backgrounds they bring to MALXD and MAET programs. Liz is a graduate of Michigan State University’s Educational Psychology & Educational Technology program, where she studied videogames for learning. She has been an instructor for the Master of Arts in Educational Technology program since 2013, and has taught in the online, hybrid, and overseas formats. Liz writes and plays music, and also enjoys drawing and playing video games.
Course Information
Students must complete 9 credits:
UX 835: Accessibility & Design (3 Credits)
CEP 813: Electronic Assessment for Teaching & Learning (3 Credits)
CEP 820: Teaching & Learning Online (3 Credits)
Note: UX 835 is offered to graduate certificate learners through a partnership with the College of Communication Arts and Sciences’ Master of Science (MS) in User Experience (UX) program.
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- Undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
- 3 letters of recommendation from previous or current colleagues, mentors, or supervisors. Provide contact information for your recommenders and the MSU application system will provide instructions to them.
- Official transcripts from all previous undergraduate institution(s)
To apply to this program:
- Complete a university graduate application and pay the application fee.
- Submit all required materials to the application portal.
- Send official university transcripts to Michigan State University.
If you are a current MSU graduate learner, you may be eligible to add this graduate certificate to your course plan. Please contact us to learn more.
This graduate certificate program can be completed in 2 semesters: Spring and Summer. Learners are able to start every Spring semester, with an annual application due date of December 1. The program admits learners on a rolling basis until December 1. This means applications can be submitted at any time before the due date so that learners can prepare for their graduate certificate journey. Applications are evaluated as they come in and applicants will be notified of an admission decision within 1-2 weeks of submitting their application.
Key Dates
Spring Semester
December 1, 2024
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$893
$1,137
Cost of Attendance
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found here.
Program Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Learning Design is a fully online, 3-course graduate certificate program offered by our Master of Arts in Learning Experience Design (MALXD) program. Students in this graduate certificate will develop effective, engaging, and inclusive online curriculum and instruction. Upon completion, you will know how to critically evaluate technologies, thoughtfully design assessments, and creatively design learning experiences with an understanding of learner needs with awareness and attention to social justice, accessibility, and equity. This graduate certificate can be earned as a stand-alone certificate or as a part of the MALXD degree.
This program is designed for individuals who want to supplement their academic and/or professional knowledge in key areas related to learning design. It has been intentionally designed with full-time working professionals in mind and courses are context-rich so that learners have supported experience applying theory to their professional practice.
Program Outcomes
Graduate Certificate in Learning Design alumni will be able to:
- Develop and implement effective, engaging, and inclusive online curriculum and instruction.
- Use educational technology to meet the needs of learners from diverse backgrounds.
- Analyze the social concerns and ethical issues when creating learning experiences and assessments.
- Thoughtfully create and implement digital assessments for learning, as learning, and of learning.
- Design ways of creating and providing feedback to students in digital contexts through a critical lens.
- Develop formative assessments based on theoretical and design principles in online learning spaces.
- Design learning experiences and technological interactions for people with disabilities with an understanding of ability, cultural, social, and political factors that define disability.
- Understand inclusive design principles that will support the design, development, and evaluation of inclusive technologies for people with various human abilities.
Career Outlook
Graduate Certificate in Learning Design alumni will meet the growing industry demand in a wide range of professional settings. This certificate is ideal for individuals who are looking to specifically advance their knowledge in learning design, in their current or future professional contexts Relevant fields include:
- Instructional design
- Educational and e-learning content development
- Professional and continuing education
- Corporate training development
- IT and computer training
- Learning services
- Project management
A Top-Ranked Education
- #1 in Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #2 in Online Master's in Education Administration — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #6 in Online Master's in Education/Instructional Media — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #7 in Online Master's in Special Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
Dr. Liz Owens Boltz
Program Director and Assistant Professor
As Director, Liz is dedicated to supporting students and the diverse goals, needs, and backgrounds they bring to MALXD and MAET programs. Liz is a graduate of Michigan State University’s Educational Psychology & Educational Technology program, where she studied videogames for learning. She has been an instructor for the Master of Arts in Educational Technology program since 2013, and has taught in the online, hybrid, and overseas formats. Liz writes and plays music, and also enjoys drawing and playing video games.
Course Information
Students must complete 9 credits:
UX 835: Accessibility & Design (3 Credits)
CEP 813: Electronic Assessment for Teaching & Learning (3 Credits)
CEP 820: Teaching & Learning Online (3 Credits)
Note: UX 835 is offered to graduate certificate learners through a partnership with the College of Communication Arts and Sciences’ Master of Science (MS) in User Experience (UX) program.
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- Undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
- 3 letters of recommendation from previous or current colleagues, mentors, or supervisors. Provide contact information for your recommenders and the MSU application system will provide instructions to them.
- Official transcripts from all previous undergraduate institution(s)
To apply to this program:
- Complete a university graduate application and pay the application fee.
- Submit all required materials to the application portal.
- Send official university transcripts to Michigan State University.
If you are a current MSU graduate learner, you may be eligible to add this graduate certificate to your course plan. Please contact us to learn more.
This graduate certificate program can be completed in 2 semesters: Spring and Summer. Learners are able to start every Spring semester, with an annual application due date of December 1. The program admits learners on a rolling basis until December 1. This means applications can be submitted at any time before the due date so that learners can prepare for their graduate certificate journey. Applications are evaluated as they come in and applicants will be notified of an admission decision within 1-2 weeks of submitting their application.
Key Dates
Spring Semester
December 1, 2024
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$893
$1,137
Cost of Attendance
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found here.
The MSU Value Promise
You can be ensured a return on your investment at Michigan State University.
As one of the top research universities in the world, Michigan State University has advanced the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years.
MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community.
MSU has been offering online degree programs for over 20 years. Our maturity is evident in the high quality of the learning experience enjoyed by our online students.
MSU provides programs and initiatives that support and enhance diversity. We will expand our campus and external partnerships to put in place inclusive recruitment and retention practices. We nurture and promote individuals’ varied experiences and perspectives, ensuring structures and processes make possible full participation by all members of our community.
MSU actively collaborates with campus and external partners to innovate across all dimensions of graduate education. We create and support networks that increase collaboration and improve educational opportunities for our online students.
MSU’s nationally recognized online programs foster student growth and well-being throughout their academic career. We will expand inclusive mentoring practices and accelerate improvement across units to implement evidence-based practices to ensure our students complete successfully.
Continuing education can be one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding experiences you undertake in your life. We hope you consider becoming a Spartan, to learn online and reach your career goals. With highly ranked online programs and exceptional professors, we educate students who advance the common good with uncommon will.