Fairmont State modifies Master of Education program to fit evolving industry

Fairmont State University has revised its Master of Education in Digital Media, New Literacies, and Learning to a Master of Instructional Design and Technology. The reorganized program is now accepting applications for the fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters.

Instructional designers use research and theory to create learning materials that help people achieve their academic goals. They may work on courses, curricula, or training materials like teaching manuals and student guides. They may also create online courses, video tutorials, learning simulations, and storyboards.

“We changed our program to meet current demands in the marketplace and keep it updated since it is technology-based,” said program coordinator Valerie Morphew, Ed.D.

The program keeps necessary elements from its old curriculum while replacing outdated courses with more relevant ones. All 30 credit hours can be taken fully online, and those who opt to attend full-time can finish the program in 1 year.

“Instructional Designers are everywhere. They’re in education, government, business, healthcare, and technology,” said Morphew. “Whether you come in with a background in banking, education, or science it doesn’t matter. What you bring will be valued and you can use that in your (instructional design) work.”

Morphew also described the current need for instructional designers nationwide. “Instructional designers are in great demand,” Morphew added. “You can go online and search for open positions and find plenty of them, and they pay pretty well too.”

Instructional designers have an average base salary of $71,268 according to Indeed.

Although the program is fully online, work-based learning opportunities are available to those interested through collaborations between Fairmont State and other organizations.

Most recently, the program has collaborated with the Katherine Johnson NASA IV&V Educational Resource Center and the National White Collar Crime Center to provide students with “real world” instructional design experience.

When students graduate from the Master of Instructional Design and Technology program, they will have a portfolio filled with educational mixed media and will be fully prepared to create content that will enhance the learning and training of others.

To learn more about the Master of Instructional Design and Technology, visit the Instructional Design and Technology program homepage.

Questions about the program can be directed to Dr. Valerie Morphew at Valerie.Morphew@fairmontstate.edu or (304) 367-4664.