Instructional design

Graduate microcredential
Online
delivery
Advanced
level
3
courses

Teaching adult learners means you’ll need to create content that adapts to varied learning styles, holds learner attention and doesn’t compromise on quality. Whether you’ve been teaching for decades or are just beginning your career in education, Oregon State University’s Microcredential in Instructional Design online will lay the foundation for you to teach adults through innovative techniques and effective experimentation.

Earning this graduate-level instructional design microcredential online gives you opportunities to immerse yourself in course development, accessible learning and adult education, leveraging both theoretical and practical pedagogical approaches. This three-course offering will help you gain the skills you need to lead learners through instructional design.

Coursework (12 credits)

This is an advanced-level microcredential that is designed for those with previous experience in a subject. These offerings provide in-depth training so you can build specialized skills that will help you excel in your field. Often, advanced microcredentials require some prerequisite college courses.

Two people collaborating in a modern office; one is standing beside a desk while the other is seated and pointing at a computer monitor.

Skills you’ll gain

The in-demand skills you'll develop as a student in this microcredential will give you what you need to stand out and level up in your career.

  • Adult education
  • Principles of adult learning
  • Equity and social justice

Additional details

Oregon State microcredentials consist of at least three courses and 8 credits that follow OSU’s quarterly term calendar. All microcredentials are delivered online and some microcredentials may be offered on campus. All course credits used to complete a microcredential must be completed at Oregon State and transfer credit and placement tests may not be used toward microcredential course credits. Read other important microcredential details » 

Microcredentials allow you to gain specialized skills in focused subject areas in less time than it takes to complete a full degree or certificate program. Typically, you can complete a microcredential in nine to 12 months. All microcredential courses follow the same term schedule as on-campus courses and are not self-paced. Learn more about course delivery methods »

Once you complete all classes in this microcredential, you'll receive a digital badge from Oregon State University. You can add the digital badge to your résumé and on LinkedIn, GitHub or other social media profiles. It provides employers with proof of the skills and discipline-specific knowledge you gained from the microcredential. Oregon State's digital badges are issued by Credly, the world's largest digital credential network.

Completing a microcredential is dependent on course availability, term offerings, course sequencing and any required prerequisites. Connect with the OSU Ecampus enrollment services team to better understand when courses in this microcredential are delivered to help you create a timeline for application and enrollment. You can also explore the schedule of classes to preview course availability.

  • Apply to earn a microcredential as a current student: If you’re a current OSU student interested in pursuing a microcredential online, please submit this form. Note: You must complete at least one of the microcredential courses after having been accepted into the microcredential.

You can find detailed tuition information for microcredential offerings on the tuition rates webpage. Please note: If you are pursuing a standalone microcredential as a nondegree student, you will not qualify for federal financial aid.

If you are pursuing a microcredential as a current student in an OSU degree or certificate program, you will be charged your program's tuition rate (if differential tuition is applicable). 

Earning a microcredential is a great way to develop a skill set that current and future employers are looking for. If your employer offers a tuition benefit program, you may be able to enroll online with Oregon State and receive a tuition scholarship that makes your student experience more affordable. You can also learn about the organizations OSU collaborates with to offer direct tuition benefit programs for online learners.

If you are interested in this microcredential, you may want to learn more about Oregon State’s online Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design and/or Oregon State's online Master's in Adult and Higher Education.

To stack a graduate microcredential(s) into a graduate program, please review policies governing all graduate programs. Specifically, up to 22 graduate credits may be transferred toward a 45-credit master's degree. Up to 9 graduate credits may be transferred toward an 18-credit graduate certificate.

If you plan to apply these credits toward either program, we encourage you to first contact the program to learn about the requirements. Please note that acceptance into a microcredential does not guarantee acceptance into a graduate certificate or degree program.