1. Department of Learning Innovation, Leadership and Technology
  2. Academic Programs
  3. M.S.Ed. in Instructional Technology

M.S.Ed. in Instructional Technology

Become a trailblazer in the kind of technology that teaches.

Join us to thrive as a competent, creative leader in instructional development in education, business or industrial training, or as a software producer in a variety of settings. Our program, which meets Illinois State Board of Education standards, is one of our online master’s in education programs ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

We offer three degree tracks, two of which allow you to add an endorsement to your professional educator license.


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At a Glance


33 credit hours


In person, online or hybrid


Full or part time


Start in the fall semester

Choose Your Track

Instructional Technology Generalist

Learn about performance technology, instructional software design and development, information access, materials selection and evaluation, media administration, program evaluation and more.

K-12 Technology Specialist

Add the technology specialist endorsement to your professional educator license. You'll enjoy the collaboration and continuity of a cohort, with shared experiences and networking.

5-12 Computer Science

Add this online endorsement to your professional educator license to gain the knowledge and skills to teach and design courses related to computer science in 5-12 settings.

Career Outlook for M.S.Ed. in Instructional Technology

Average mid-career salary for alumni:

Top job titles for alumni:

Top employers for alumni:

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How to Apply

You’ll apply through the Graduate School.

  • Fall application deadline: July 15 (May 1 for international applicants)
  • Spring deadline: Dec. 10 (Oct. 1 for international applicants)
  • Summer deadline: June 1

Costs and Funding

Our competitive tuition and fees helps ensure an excellent return on the investment of your time and resources. Learn about additional funding opportunities for graduate students.

Assistantships

Many NIU graduate students have an assistantship, which provides financial support (typically a tuition waiver and stipend), as well as career preparation.

Curriculum and Requirements

You’ll benefit from our proven program. We're the state's largest public university producer of educational technology graduates.

View Program Requirements

Learning Outcomes

You will harness technology that enriches learning by gaining knowledge and expertise through the ability to:

  • Analyze performance and instructional problems and design solutions.
  • Understand and apply sound design principles.
  • Integrate instructional media and strategies into the development of instructional materials.
  • Develop instructional and performance strategies for school or non-school settings.
  • Manage instructional technology projects and programs.
  • Apply evaluation techniques to measure student learning and the effectiveness of instructional technology-based products and programs.

Course Sequences by Track

Term 1

Generalist
  • ETT 510 Instructional Media and Technology
  • ETT 511 Advanced Media Design (Message Design)
  • ETT 535 Distance Education Design and Delivery
Technology Specialist
  • ETT 510 Instructional Media and Technology
  • ETT 535 Distance Education Design and Delivery
  • ETT 553 Professional Standards in Instructional Technology
Computer Science
  • ETT 510 Instructional Media and Technology
  • ETT 515 Intro to K–12 Computer Science Education
  • CSCI programming course (501, 502, or 503) or ETT 531 Visual Literacy

Term 2

Generalist
  • ETT 531 Visual Literacy
  • ETT 570 Instructional Technology Administration
  • ETR 520 Introduction to Educational Research or ETR 531 Program Evaluation
Technology Specialist
  • ETT 570 Instructional Technology Administration
  • ETT 592 Special Topics elective
Computer Science
  • ETT 520 Proseminar in Computational Thinking and Reasoning
  • CSCI systems course (511, 512, or 513) or ETT 537 Human Computer Interaction Design

Term 3

Generalist
  • ETT 530 Instructional Technology Tools
  • ETT 592 Special Topics elective
Technology Specialist
  • ETT 573 Instructional Technology Facilities
  • ETR 531 Program Evaluation / ETR 537 Learning Analytics
  • ETT 511 Visual Literacy / ETT 557 User Experience Design
Computer Science
  • ETT 518 Visual Programming Tools for Children in Education
  • ETT 516 Data Analysis and Programming in Education

Term 4

Generalist
  • ETT 553 Professional Standards in Instructional Technology
  • ETT 555 Multi-Media Design
Technology Specialist
  • ETT 560 Instructional Design
  • ETT 569 Practicum
  • ETT 587 Comprehensive Exam, ePortfolio
  • ETT 592 Special Topics elective
Computer Science
  • ETT 517 Cybersecurity in Education
  • ETT 538 Developing Educational Software

Term 5

Generalist
  • ETT 586 Internship and/or ETT 569 Practicum
  • ETT 587 Comprehensive Exam, ePortfolio
Technology Specialist

Not required in this sequence.

Computer Science
  • CSCI theory course (601 or 602) or ETR 537 Methods of Learning Analytics
  • ETT 569 Practicum
  • ETT 587 Comprehensive Exam / Portfolio

Certificates of Graduate Study

We also offer certificates of graduate study related to instructional technology. Certificates can be earned on their own, or in combination with another graduate degree.

Faculty

Our faculty bring diverse experiences, backgrounds, scholarship and expertise in instructional technology. They’re committed to facilitating engaging learning experiences in and outside the classroom.

More About Our Faculty

Contact Us

Department of Learning Innovation, Leadership and Technology
Graham 223
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9339
lilt@niu.edu

Connect With Us