Educational Technology at WGU
Are You Looking to Get a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology?
WGU previously offered a master's degree in educational technology, but now that degree is a Master of Science in Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology. A Master of Educational Technology degree can provide you with the expertise and technical skill to design successful educational strategies and engaging learning experiences that help solve academic challenges. Examples of educational technology (edtech) used in the field include online course design and delivery, multimedia authoring tools, and instructional simulations. Instructional technology is another key element of educational technology – instructional technology is the device itself leveraged in the field, while educational technology provides the guidelines on how to use the instructional tools. Degree programs in this field typically offer core courses in project management, consulting strategies, data analysis, budgeting, and software development. With a master's in educational technology, you'll be equipped to develop comprehensive strategies for integrating technology into the classroom or workplace training settings.
Keep reading to learn more about WGU's Master of Science Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology (MSLxDET) degree and the range of careers it can prepare you for.
Educational Technology Career Outlook
With the education landscape constantly changing, educational technology jobs are projected to grow 7% from 2021 to 2031. Professionals with degrees in this field can expect to find jobs as instructional designers, specialists, and curriculum developers. Many edtech majors gain a competitive edge by earning their master's degree online. By learning in a virtual environment, edtech majors are positioned to tap into emerging industries and take advantage of remote work opportunities that may not be accessible to their counterparts in a traditional academic setting. And as edtech becomes more prevalent within educational settings, the need for qualified personnel rises exponentially, resulting in an extremely promising career outlook for graduates in the field.
Master of Science in Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology
As technology continues to evolve the way we live and learn, WGU has combined its learning experience design and educational technology program into one. This new master’s degree prepares you to build innovative educational programs and learning experiences that meet the unique needs of today’s learners.
Unlike a degree that’s strictly focused on learning technology in the classroom, earning your MSLxDET degree doesn’t limit you to jobs on a campus or school. With this online program, you’ll gain the skills you need to create engaging and immersive online learning environments for workforce development, employee training, and more. Your coursework will cover strategies for evaluating learning technologies and their ability to facilitate deep learning to help students achieve their goals. You'll also learn the techniques that experience designers use to implement technology safely, legally, and ethically in a variety of environments.
WGU’s MSLxDET program covers seven themes, which are:
- Design Thinking
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)
- Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Learning Analytics
- Learning Technology
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Accessibility
The MSLxDET also offers two pathways: the K–12 Learning Designer track and the Adult Learning Designer track. You have the option to choose one or both.
The K–12 Learning Designer track prepares you to develop educational programs, methods, and curricula for K–12 students. The Adult Learning Designer track is similar in many ways, but its focus is on higher education students and workforce development. Either track will teach you the skills needed to improve learning experiences and play an integral role in evolving the future of education.
$121,000
is the national average salary for a learning architect, according to ZipRecruiter.
Career Options with an Educational Technology-Focused Degree
Educational technology jobs have increased in recent years and offer many opportunities with organizations across various academic levels. With an educational technology master's online program, graduates are prepared to work with educational institutions, start-up edtech companies, staffing agencies, educational video production studios, educational nonprofits, and edtech consulting firms. The public and private sectors greatly benefit from edtech professionals who provide tools, such as interactive whiteboards, or projects, such as distance learning initiatives, that support furthering access to education for individuals everywhere.
What is an educational technologist?
Educational technologists work with a school’s staff and students to explore their teaching and technology needs and identify if there are instructional gaps.
What is a learning experience designer?
A learning experience designer develops curricula and learning experiences to empower learners to gain the necessary knowledge or achieve the desired learning outcome in a human-centered, goal-oriented way.
What is a learning architect?
A learning architect creates experiences and training to solve knowledge, skill, and attitude gaps. They help people grow personally and professionally.
What is an online course designer?
An online course designer builds dynamic courses, learning programs, and curricula to help online students engage with lessons and content.
What is a chief learning officer?
A CLO is a senior-level executive who’s in charge of all learning and employee development programs within a company.
What is a training and development specialist?
Training and development specialists assess a company’s training needs, then plan and administer programs that improve the skills and knowledge of employees.
7%
career growth is expected from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.
Why Choose WGU?
There are several reasons why WGU’s online education degree programs are a great fit for students:
Affordability.
Our tuition is charged per six-month term—not per credit hour—which means you can complete more courses in one term without paying more money. Plus, we offer scholarships and financial aid to help with our already-affordable tuition.
Self-paced programs.
Competency-based education means you can use your knowledge to your advantage. Move through courses at your own pace to accelerate your program and graduate faster.
Career-focused courses.
At WGU, we want to make sure that what you learn will translate directly to your work post-graduation. Our degree programs are designed with your future employment and success in mind
Prepared for Success
on the Job
*From a 2022 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU graduates.
97% of employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.*
95% of employers said that they would hire another WGU grad.*
99% of employers said WGU graduates met or exceeded expectations.*
Which Degree Should You Choose?
A masters degree in learning experience design and educational technology degree at WGU can prepare you for a future career in education. Choosing this degree is great for educators and can make sure you have training that will help you succeed.
Education
Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology– M.S.
The M.S. in Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology from WGU...
The M.S. in Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology from WGU is for instructional designers tasked with creating engaging and immersive virtual learning experiences that can substitute for on-ground instruction.
No teaching license required.
- Time: 73% of grads finish similar programs in 18 months
- Tuition: $3,665 per 6-month term
- Courses: 12 total courses in this program.
This program includes two tracks for students to choose from:
- The K-12 Learning Designer pathway
- The Adult Learning Designer pathway
Careers you will be prepared for after earning this degree include:
- Instructional coordinator
- Instructional designer
- Curriculum developer
- Instructional technologist
- Learning engineer
- Learning architect
- Instructional design coordinator
- Academic technologist
- Learning experience designer
- Distance education administrator
- Director of instructional design
- Online course designer
- Online course developer
- Corporate training
Develop training and instruction expertise to help you in the classroom, in educational settings, or in corporate world.
