The newly revised (Fall, 2002) Instructional Design & Technology program is a comprehensive yet flexible course of study that will prepare you to practice in a variety of venues, from PreK-12 to business and military. The program is comprised of three areas of study: (a) skills courses, (b) core courses, and (c) electives. Our courses are largely problem-based which allows you to develop and solve problems related to your career (or career aspirations).

Skills courses. The courses in this area are designed to meet different needs: . ECI 475/575 (Web Development for Educators) and ECI 648 (Digital Media for Educators) is essentially message design and multimedia software development. Off-campus students that need to gain the skills taught in lab-only courses can do so through any appropriate method, including self-study, community or technical college courses or by commuting to ODU's main campus (courses may be offered at Northern Virginia by adjunct instructors but no plans have been made as of summer 2002). Check the website for a list of technical competencies for the skills courses (ECI 575 & 648) needed to begin core and elective courses immediately.

Core Courses. The four courses in this area provide the historical, theoretical, and practical background that will enable you to recognize, evaluate, and utilize the substantial work that has been done in the area of Instructional Design & Technology including historical perspectives, the basis of ID&T in cognitive theory/education psychology, plus traditional and contemporary instructional design theories and models.

Elective Courses. The courses in this area allow you to select an emphasis in the Instructional Design & Technology field that will most benefit you in your particular (or desired) situation. You may decide to focus more heavily on instructional design or distributed education, or a combination. We also offer flexibility in that approved courses outside the ID&T program that may be relevant to your career might be substituted upon approval. A custom program was designed for Navy Chaplains who are involved in Instructional Design and Hardware/software support.

Research Courses. The two research courses (635 & 636) enable you to identify and research an Instructional problem and then propose, design, and evaluate a solution. Students are strongly encouraged to use their current employment environment to design, implement, and evaluate real-world instructional solutions.

This Master of Science degree in Secondary or Primary Education, with a major in Instructional Design & Technology is available in distributed format at the higher education centers--Northern Virginia Center, Peninsula Center, Virginia Beach Center, Tri-Cities Center as well as on the University’s Norfolk campus. The only exceptions is ECI (Digital Media for Educators) which are lab-based courses taught only on campus. (648 may eventually move into distributed format.) The variety of available electives permit you—working with an advisor—to design the most meaningful course of study.

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