COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Education (MEd) in Learning and Instructional Design at Wichita State University is a 30-credit-hour fully online graduate program designed for educators and training professionals who want to advance their expertise in instructional design, curriculum development, and learning innovation. The program begins with a structured core of 15 credit hours that builds foundational knowledge in change management, creativity and innovation (CI 795), learning theory and curriculum design (CI 880), and applied inquiry through instructional practice courses (CI 884 and CI 885), along with instructional leadership and collaboration through CI 893. These core courses are designed to develop a strong theoretical and practical understanding of how learning systems are created, evaluated, and improved in both educational and organizational environments. In addition to the core, students complete 12 credit hours of electives chosen in consultation with an academic advisor, allowing customization based on professional interests such as educational technology, STEM education, literacy, or ESOL. The program offers multiple specialization pathways, including Educational Technology, Interdisciplinary STEM, Literacy, ESOL, and a student-designed option, each allowing students to focus on targeted skill development aligned with their career goals in schools, universities, or corporate training environments. Students must also complete a 3-credit-hour culminating requirement, which can be either a thesis option (CI 875 and CI 876) for those pursuing research-oriented roles or a nonthesis capstone option (CI 862 and CI 863) focused on applied instructional problem-solving and evidence-based inquiry. A key program requirement is completion of a background check prior to enrollment, ensuring readiness for field-based or applied learning contexts. Overall, the program is structured to balance theory, applied research, and professional practice, making it especially suitable for working educators and trainers seeking leadership roles, instructional design expertise, or advancement into curriculum development and educational technology positions while maintaining the flexibility of an online format that supports continued employment throughout the degree.