Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation, M.S.

Launch your career designing how the world learns.

Every great training program, onboarding, e-learning course, educational curriculum and assessment was designed by someone. That someone is an instructional designer. Right now, organizations, school systems, and institutions across every sector are looking for more of them.

Instructional design is one of the fastest-growing professions in the knowledge economy, with above-average job growth predicted through 2033. Emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), are reshaping the field, raising the stakes—and demand—for those who understand how to use these thoughtfully and ethically to design, assess, and improve learning at scale. At Syracuse, we prepare graduates to lead that work, not chase it.

Suggested Application Deadline: January 15/June 1 depending on semester start | More admissions information

Why Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation at Syracuse?

Organizations, agencies, universities, and others are competing for professionals who translate complex knowledge into learning experiences that work, and measure whether they do. Syracuse University’s M.S. in Instructional Design, Development, and Evaluation prepares you to meet that demand, with a rigorous, practice-based curriculum, the flexibility to study online or on campus, and a degree you can complete in a single calendar year.

  • One year to a career-defining credential. Full-time students complete the 30-credit M.S. in a single calendar year, moving through fall, spring, and summer semesters in a structured sequence. For students who are working or want a more measured pace, part-time study is available.
  • Your choice, online or on campus. IDDE is available as a fully online degree or as a residential experience (with online components) on the Syracuse campus. Both formats are taught by the same faculty using the same curriculum.
  • A curriculum that blends theory and practice. The program combines foundational knowledge in learning theory, instructional analysis, and evaluation with hands-on competencies in digital media production, project management, emerging technologies – including AI and virtual reality (VR) – and human performance analysis. Students are prepared to design, implement, and assess instructional solutions across corporate, government, health care, and educational settings worldwide, including the use of AI tools as part of a principled, evidence-based design practice.
  • Build a portfolio that opens doors. Every student develops and presents a professional digital portfolio, creating a tangible, employer-ready record of design artifacts, project work, and applied skills.
  • A small cohort and a lasting network. Small student cohorts mean you build genuine relationships with faculty and peers. IDDE’s alumni network spans business and industry, health care, higher education, government, the military, and more, and graduates describe it as one of the most valuable professional assets the program provides.
  • Faculty at the forefront of education research. Syracuse is an R1 research institution, and our faculty have received recognition for teaching excellence and are leaders in national and international professional organizations.
  • Access to applied practice. The program maintains strong working relationships with other Syracuse University units, including the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, where students gain real professional practice experience alongside their coursework.

Lisa Cowboy headshot“At SOE, you will gain both the theory and practical skills to design and improve learning experiences that matter. With supportive faculty, hands-on projects, and lasting mentorship, you will graduate prepared to thrive in an evolving educational landscape.”
—Lisa Cowboy G’20

Who Should Apply?

Syracuse’s instructional design program is built for professionals and recent graduates from virtually any background who want to design the learning experiences of the modern world. You do not need a degree in education. You need curiosity about how people learn, and the drive to make that process smarter, more effective, and more human. You are a strong candidate if you:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree in any field—such as business, communications, computer science, human resources, journalism, marketing, psychology, or STEM fields—and want a credential that supercharges what you already know.
  • Are a K-12 teacher looking to move into curriculum development or educational technology leadership.
  • Are an active duty, veteran, or transitioning military-connected professional preparing for a post-service career in a field with strong federal and private sector demand.
  • Already work in a training, learning, organizational development, or project management role and want the theoretical foundations and practical skills to take that work to the next level.
  • Are a current Syracuse University undergraduate who wants to stay for a fifth year and earn a master’s that transforms your career trajectory.

Program at a Glance

The master’s degree in Instructional Design, Development, and Evaluation is a 30-credit graduate degree that full-time students complete in one calendar year. Part-time study is available for students who are working, with many courses offered in the evening.

  • Online or residential options: The program is available as a fully online degree with no on-campus commitment required, or as a campus-based, residential experience completed in a hybrid format combining face-to-face and online coursework.
  • A structured, sequenced curriculum: The program’s required courses move students through foundational courses in learning theory and instructional design in the fall; evaluation, human performance analysis, and project management in the spring; and an advanced instructional design capstone in the summer. All students present a professional digital portfolio that documents competencies developed across the program.
  • STEM-designated program: IDDE is a STEM-designated program, qualifying international graduates for three years of Optional Practical Training (OPT), one of the most significant advantages available to international students pursuing a degree in the United States.
  • Further credentialing options: Students seeking additional specialization may pursue the Certificate of Advanced Study in Instructional Design Foundations, a 12-credit credential for working professionals in training or instructional roles, available in an online or residential format.

More information on academic requirements available in the Syracuse University Course Catalog.

What Our Graduates Do

Syracuse’s instructional design program—with roots going back to the late 1930s—has a long history of preparing graduates for the sectors where learning and performance matter most, and its alumni are among the most versatile professionals in the field. IDDE graduates have designed training programs for Fortune 500 companies, built learning systems for the US Army, developed curricula for medical institutions, managed evaluation programs for government agencies, and launched independent consulting practices. Roles our graduates hold across business and industry, health care, K-12 and higher education, military and government, insurance and financial services, nonprofit and social services, and media, marketing, and communications include:

  • Instructional designers
  • Learning, training, and development specialist or manager
  • Curriculum/eLearning developers or coordinators
  • Program evaluators
  • Human performance analysts
  • Educational technology coordinators
  • Directors of teaching and learning
  • Independent instructional design consultants
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