Instructional Design and Technology, MS

Mission

The Master of Science (MS) in Instructional Design & Technology mission focuses on equipping students with a wide range of curriculum development skills, including when to adjust the learning environment for individual learners and how to use various techniques to assess learning. 

Program Overview

The purpose of the MS in Instructional Design & Technology program design degree is to help students work with a wide variety of learners to use emerging technologies for teaching, learning, training, and curriculum development.  Graduate students develop skills in project management, learning management systems, collaboration, written communication, technology-enabled media literacy, research, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates completing the MS in Instructional Design & Technology program will accomplish the following outcomes:

1. Students will connect instructional design theories to real-world applications for effective online teaching and e-teaching.
2. Students will exhibit the requisite skills needed for online e-technologies and instructional design.
3. Students will demonstrate a working knowledge of digital devices and media design.
4. Students will participate in, promote, and model lifelong learning relative to e-learning and instructional design.
5. Students will ensure ethical practices in all instructional design and development capacities by promoting digital citizenship, modeling the safe and effective use of e-technologies, and promoting design for a culturally responsive society.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Instructional Design & Technology program, the prospective student must meet individually, either in person or via electronic method, with an admissions representative to discuss the program and all requirements.  Applicants must provide a completed South College application for admission and application to the program.  Those selected for admission will provide the following:

Program Admission Requirements

1. Evidence completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a discipline approved by the faculty.
2. Evidence of a cumulative 2.75 undergraduate grade point average for admittance OR Evidence of a cumulative 2.50 undergraduate grade point average for conditional admittance.

Students accepted for conditional admittance are permitted to take two courses in the program.  If they maintain a 3.0 graduate grade point average in the two courses, they are granted admittance.

Academic Standards, Candidate Progress, and Grading

Upon entering the graduate program, candidates are encouraged to confer with their School of Education (SOE) Advisor as needed. Candidates’ academic progress is monitored each quarter to ensure a cumulative GPA of 3.00, or better, with no grade lower than a B in each course. The SOE Advisor oversees each candidate’s academic record for all coursework at the end of each quarter and candidates not eligible for progression to the next quarter will be notified. If a candidate voluntarily withdraws from the program, a formal application for re-entry is required and program requirements in effect at that time must be met.

Candidate deficiencies that may impact academic standing, which may include warning, probation, or dismissal from the program, are monitored by the SOE Advisor.

Categories of Academic Standing for M.S. Candidates are:

• Good Standing: Status of a candidate who has met academic requirements in a satisfactory manner.
• Warning: Status of a candidate whose academic performance places him/her in jeopardy of falling below the minimum stated grade of B on any course assessment during the quarter.
• Probation: This status is not an option for candidates in the M.S. program. Should a candidate’s academic performance fall below the minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and/or course grade(s) are lower than a B at the end of the quarter as established by the SOE dismissal from the M.S. program results. A candidate experiencing this situation would need to seek readmission to the program. A candidate is allowed only one readmission to the Ed.S. program.
• Dismissal: Action whereby a candidate will be dismissed from the Ed.S. program due to failure to adhere to academic and program requirements and/or policies or procedures as specified in the South College Catalog, the South College Student Handbook, and the Graduate Program Handbook. The SOE Advisor recommends dismissal and forwards the recommendation to the SOE Dean who after approval forwards the recommendation to the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement and Effectiveness.

The causes of and consequences for receiving a Warning, Probation, or Dismissal are:

Warning

A candidate who receives a grade of less than B on any course assignment during the quarter receives a warning that work has not met minimum performance and that dismissal from program is possible if the cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 or if a course grade lower than a B occurs at the end of the quarter.

Dismissal

Action whereby a candidate will be dismissed from the Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology program due to failure to adhere to academic and program requirements and/or policies or procedures as specified in the Graduate Program Handbook, the South College Student Handbook, and/or the South College Catalog.

• A candidate fails (a grade below B) in any course;
• A candidate has a cumulative GPA of less than 3.00 at the end of any quarter;
• A candidate fails to meet professional standards as reflected in the Graduate Program Handbook, South College Student Handbook, South College Catalog, state or federal law, or for moral turpitude, unprofessional behavior, criminal activity, or other reasons as defined by South College;
• South College reserves the right to dismiss at any time a candidate who, in its judgment, is undesirable and whose continued enrollment is detrimental to him/herself or his/her fellow candidates or whose presence is disruptive to the learning environment, or the orderly operation of the College.

Grading

Course instructors determine the final grade in all courses. Grades are based on the requirements of each course, attendance and participation, and a culminating project that serves as the final examination for all courses. Examples of assignments are written assignments, practitioner inquiry, presentations with use of technology, reading assignments, discussion forums, dispositions and commitments journals, action plan for advocacy growth assignments, professional learning community weekly meetings, personal profiles of performance records, self-assessments, and tasks for each course. The weight or value of assignments is found on the course syllabus.

Letter Grade	Q.P.	Percentage Score Range
A	4.00	90-100%
B	3.00	80-89%

Candidates must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00, or better, with no course grade lower than a B to remain in the M.S. graduate program.

Graduation Requirements

In order for a student to graduate from the Master of Science in Instructional Design & Technology program, the student must be in a good academic and professional standing, have had satisfactory progress in all quarters of the academic program, and satisfactorily complete the following:

1. Successfully complete the required 45 quarter credit hours of academic course work.
2. Evidence a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above for the required coursework.
3. Achieve a letter grade of “B” or better in all academic courses.
4. Complete all required South College and Program documents in preparation for graduation.
5. Honor all professional and financial obligations to South College.

South College reserves the right, and the student, by the act of matriculation, concedes to give South College the right to require withdrawal at any time the college deems it necessary to safeguard the standards of scholarship, conduct, and compliance with regulations or for such other reasons deemed appropriate by South College as set forth in the South College Student Handbook and/or the South College Catalog.

Candidate Grievance Process

If a candidate wishes to make a formal complaint to deviate from established Graduate Education Policies as stated in the South College Catalog, the South College Student Handbook, and/or the Graduate Program Handbook, the candidate is encouraged to discuss his/her concern with the Graduate Program Chair. If satisfaction cannot be attained at this level, and the candidate wants to make his/her concern official, he/she must complete a Candidate Grievance Form. Every effort will be made to resolve the concern at the SOE level. If the grievance cannot be resolved at the SOE level, the candidate would assume responsibility for following the College’s grievance process outlined in the current South College Student Handbook available in the Director of Student Affairs office and on the student portal.

The MS in Instructional Design & Technology degree program is currently offered Online.