Master of Science in Instructional Technology Online
Gain experience in learning design, training solutions and project management while building ed tech leadership skills for the future of learning in this online instructional technology master’s program.
Program Overview
Advance your career with UNCW’s online M.S. in Instructional Technology
The STEM-designated online Master of Science in Instructional Technology program from University of North Carolina Wilmington blends design thinking, curriculum studies and emerging tech innovation to prepare you for an array of dynamic roles in teaching and training. Whether you want to upskill in your current position or transition to a new career, this instructional technology online program will empower you to pursue opportunities in K-12 and higher education as well as business, nonprofit or government settings.
Work hands-on with learning management systems and industry-standard tools such as Articulate 360 and Adobe Captivate as you develop leadership skills to oversee teams creating digital learning environments for a range of populations and age groups. Convenient M.S. in Instructional Technology courses are available online 24/7, so you can study on your schedule as you continue to work full time.
This transformative program is offered through the Watson College of Education and is comprised of coursework aligned with Association for Talent Development (ATD) standards, ensuring relevance to industry expectations.
In this online M.S. in Instructional Technology program, you will:
- Learn to communicate effectively to convey information and facilitate meaningful dialogue with stakeholders and subject matter experts in various instructional design contexts
- Develop advanced collaboration and leadership skills to effectively build and manage professional relationships, teams and work groups within various instructional design environments
- Utilize project management skills to plan, execute and manage instructional design projects, ensuring timely and successful completion while adapting to changing conditions
- Develop mastery in instructional design models, processes and techniques and enhance your ability to apply these to design, develop and align instructional content with desired learning outcomes
- Apply learning sciences to create experiences that optimize learning and performance outcomes
- Analyze organizational performance gaps, design effective solutions and implement performance improvement strategies
- Examine the impact of change, assess risks and resistance, and design effective organizational change management strategies
- Collect, analyze, interpret and visualize data to enable evidence-based decision-making in instructional design
- Apply advanced techniques and tools to create effective learning solutions
- Learn to communicate effectively to convey information and facilitate meaningful dialogue with stakeholders and subject matter experts in various instructional design contexts
- Develop advanced collaboration and leadership skills to effectively build and manage professional relationships, teams and work groups within various instructional design environments
- Utilize project management skills to plan, execute and manage instructional design projects, ensuring timely and successful completion while adapting to changing conditions
- Develop mastery in instructional design models, processes and techniques and enhance your ability to apply these to design, develop and align instructional content with desired learning outcomes
- Apply learning sciences to create experiences that optimize learning and performance outcomes
- Analyze organizational performance gaps, design effective solutions and implement performance improvement strategies
- Examine the impact of change, assess risks and resistance, and design effective organizational change management strategies
- Collect, analyze, interpret and visualize data to enable evidence-based decision-making in instructional design
- Apply advanced techniques and tools to create effective learning solutions
Career opportunities for instructional technology online program graduates include:
- Instructional Designer, Technologist or Coach
- E-Learning Developer or Specialist
- Learning Experience Designer
- Educational Technology Specialist
- Technology Integration Coach
- Training and Development Manager
- LMS Administrator
- Multimedia Developer
- Instructional Designer, Technologist or Coach
- E-Learning Developer or Specialist
- Learning Experience Designer
- Educational Technology Specialist
- Technology Integration Coach
- Training and Development Manager
- LMS Administrator
- Multimedia Developer
Graduates of UNCW's online M.S. in Instructional Technology pursue instructional design, e-learning development, and ed tech leadership roles across K-12 and higher education, as well as corporate, nonprofit, and government training teams.
The STEM-designated program is delivered through UNCW's Watson College of Education and built around Association for Talent Development (ATD) standards, with coursework in instructional design models, multimedia development, project management, performance analytics, and organizational change management. Students work hands-on with tools such as Articulate 360 and Adobe Captivate and complete an applied internship plus a capstone research project before graduating.
Career titles named on the program page include instructional designer, e-learning developer, learning experience designer, educational technology specialist, technology integration coach, training and development manager, LMS administrator, and multimedia developer.
Because the curriculum is built to ATD standards rather than a generic education degree, coursework maps directly onto the skills employers in corporate and ed-tech training are hiring for, not only K-12 classroom roles. Review the full course list on the program page, then compare the career outcomes list against the roles you're targeting before applying.
You'll learn to design, develop, and evaluate instructional content and multimedia learning products, then apply project management and change management skills to lead those projects inside an organization.
Core courses cover the foundations of instructional design, instructional systems analysis, multimedia design and development, project management for instructional design, and evaluation methods; focus-area electives go deeper into advanced multimedia authoring and performance and learning analytics. Courses run in seven-week terms, and the 30-credit-hour program includes a required internship and capstone.
The combination of design theory, hands-on multimedia tools, and a required internship means you graduate with a portfolio of applied work rather than coursework alone, which matters when you're applying for instructional design roles that ask for work samples.
Expand the course list on the program page to see all 10 courses in sequence.
For educators or trainers looking to move from delivering instruction to designing it - or professionals looking to move into ed-tech or corporate training - UNCW's M.S. in Instructional Technology is generally worth the investment because of its STEM designation and ATD-aligned, portfolio-building curriculum.
The program is built for people who want to upskill in a current teaching or training role or pivot into a new instructional design career, and it applies across K-12, higher ed, business, nonprofit, and government settings, not only classroom teaching.
At 30 credit hours and as few as 10 months, the time commitment is shorter than many traditional two-year master's programs, and the required internship and capstone give you applied work to show employers rather than a transcript alone.
Because the curriculum aligns with ATD industry standards rather than a generic instructional-design overview, it's built to map onto what ed-tech and corporate training employers are actually hiring for. If you're still deciding between this program and other options, compare the career outcomes list and course sequence against the specific job titles you're targeting, and reach out to an enrollment advisor with questions before you commit.
Also available:
UNCW also offers additional education degree and certificate programs online.
Accreditation:
All educator preparation programs at the University of North Carolina Wilmington are approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
Tuition
Learn about the instructional technology master’s tuition
UNCW offers convenient, pay-by-the-course tuition for our online programs. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Tuition and fees are subject to change each academic year pending legislative approval. View more information on your cost of attendance.
UNCW bills pay-by-the-course rather than charging the full amount up front. These figures are estimates for the full program based on current rates; they don't include textbooks and are subject to change with future tuition and fee increases.
Because tuition is billed per course, you pay in smaller increments as you move through the 10-course sequence rather than in a lump sum at enrollment.
Pay-by-the-course billing makes it easier to adjust your pace or budget mid-program if your financial situation changes. Review the current cost-of-attendance detail linked from UNCW's tuition page, and confirm your residency classification before you enroll, since it changes your rate over the program.
Yes. Financial aid is available for students who qualify, and because tuition bills by the course, aid can be applied one term at a time.
UNCW's online programs are pay-by-the-course across the catalog, which is the same billing structure used for this program.
At 30 credit hours and as few as 10 months, the total time commitment is shorter than many two-year master's programs, which affects how many terms of aid you'll need to plan for.
Matching aid disbursements to individual course terms, rather than a full academic year, can make it easier to budget around a shorter, accelerated program like this one. Contact UNCW's financial aid office or call 855-306-4734 to confirm your eligibility before choosing a start term.
| Program | Total Tuition & Fees* |
|---|---|
| M.S. in Instructional Technology(in-state residents) | $10,645.50 |
| M.S. in Instructional Technology (out-of-state residents) | $39,915.60 |
*All amounts shown are estimates for full program tuition and fees. Tuition and fee rates are based on 2026-2027 figures, are subject to change, and do not include textbook costs and future tuition and/or fee increases. You can review the estimated costs of attendance for information about the full cost of attendance.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Plan your schedule with these start dates and deadlines
The instructional technology master’s program is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring rolling admissions and six start dates each year. Choose the date that best suits your goals.
Yes. UNCW's M.S. in Instructional Technology is delivered 100% online, with coursework available 24/7 so you can study around a full-time job.
The program uses seven-week courses rather than traditional 15-week semesters and offers six start dates a year (Fall 1, Fall 2, Spring 1, Spring 2, Summer 1, and Summer 2) with rolling admissions. Because UNCW bills pay-by-the-course, most students take one seven-week course at a time while working, rather than a traditional full course load each semester.
The condensed course format combined with six annual start dates means a scheduling conflict this term rarely means waiting a full year; there's usually another start date within two to three months.
Check the program calendar for the next application deadline and pick the start date that fits your current workload.
Admission requires a bachelor's degree, an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, three professional recommendations, and a letter of application.
Applicants need a bachelor's degree (or U.S. equivalent) from an accredited institution completed before graduate study begins. Unofficial transcripts are accepted for the initial review; if admitted, you'll need to submit official transcripts. The letter of application should describe your educational and professional experience, your reasons for pursuing the degree, and the contributions you hope to make after graduating.
If your undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, UNCW may still consider you for provisional acceptance; provisionally admitted students must earn a B or better in every course taken while in provisional status.
The provisional path means a GPA under 3.0 doesn't automatically disqualify you; it's a defined route to full admission rather than an outright denial. Start requesting transcripts and lining up your three recommenders now, since those typically take the longest to gather.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | 8/24/26 | 8/1/26 | 8/1/26 | 8/26/26 | 8/27/26 | 10/11/26 |
| Fall 2 | 10/19/26 | 9/26/26 | 9/26/26 | 10/21/26 | 10/22/26 | 12/6/26 |
| Spring 1 | 1/11/27 | 12/12/26 | 12/12/26 | 1/13/27 | 1/14/27 | 2/28/27 |
| Spring 2 | 3/8/27 | 2/13/27 | 2/13/27 | 3/10/27 | 3/11/27 | 4/25/27 |
| Summer 1 | 5/10/27 | 4/17/27 | 4/17/27 | 5/12/27 | 5/13/27 | 6/27/27 |
| Summer 2 | 6/28/27 | 6/5/27 | 6/5/27 | 6/30/27 | 7/1/27 | 8/15/27 |
Students must register for courses by 5 p.m. (EST) on the registration deadline date.
Students must remit tuition payment by 10 a.m. (EST) on the tuition deadline date.
Now enrolling:
Admissions
Review admission guidelines for the instructional technology online program
Learn more about admission guidelines for the M.S. in Instructional Technology program. UNCW reviews applications on a rolling basis, so you are urged to apply promptly for your preferred start date.
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Official transcripts
- 3.0 GPA
Admission requires a bachelor's degree, an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, three professional recommendations, and a letter of application.
Applicants need a bachelor's degree (or U.S. equivalent) from an accredited institution completed before graduate study begins. Unofficial transcripts are accepted for the initial review; if admitted, you'll need to submit official transcripts. The letter of application should describe your educational and professional experience, your reasons for pursuing the degree, and the contributions you hope to make after graduating.
If your undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, UNCW may still consider you for provisional acceptance; provisionally admitted students must earn a B or better in every course taken while in provisional status.
The provisional path means a GPA under 3.0 doesn't automatically disqualify you; it's a defined route to full admission rather than an outright denial. Start requesting transcripts and lining up your three recommenders now, since those typically take the longest to gather.
UNCW reviews M.S. in Instructional Technology applications on a rolling basis across six start dates a year, so you can apply whenever you're ready rather than waiting for a single annual deadline.
Each term has its own application, document, registration, and payment deadlines. You'll submit your application, unofficial transcripts, three professional recommendations, and your letter of application by the deadline for your target term; official transcripts follow after admission. There is an application fee.
Because there's a new start date roughly every two months, missing one term's deadline typically costs you a couple of months rather than a full year.
Check the program calendar for the next upcoming deadline and submit your materials ahead of that date.
Admission requirements include:
- Application for graduate admission
- Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree, or its U.S. equivalent, from a college or university accredited by an approved institutional accreditor completed before graduate study begins.
- Unofficial transcripts may be submitted for the initial application review. If admitted, applicants are required to provide an official transcript showing proof of their bachelor’s degree(s).
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Three recommendations by individuals in relevant professional fields
- Letter of application describing your educational and professional experiences, reasons for pursuing a master’s degree in instructional technology and the contributions you hope to make after completing the degree program
Courses
Explore what you will learn in M.S. in Instructional Technology courses
M.S. in Instructional Technology curriculum is comprised of 10 courses (30 credit hours): 15 hours of core courses, 9 hours of focus area courses, three hours of internship and a minimum of three thesis or portfolio credit hours.
**Students taking a full-time course load throughout the program can complete it in as few as 14 months. Consult with your advisor.
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