Certificate
Part-Time Only
Fall I
Online
About the Foundations of Instructional Design Certificate at Loyola
With the growth of online learning and online training within both educational institutions and the corporate world, demand has soared for instructional designers. If you are an instructional design professional seeking to enhance your knowledge, the Foundations of Instructional Design (FIND) Certificate at Loyola University Chicago can help you add to your skill set, advance in your current position, and achieve your career goals.
Delivered through the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at Loyola, this hands-on foundational instructional design certificate teaches you the skills to design effective and innovative learning experiences and to produce instructional materials using a variety of technologies and tools. You will learn from both scholars in instructional design as well as working practitioners who understand what you need to succeed in today's instructional design field.
Program Structure
Courses for the instructional design certificate are offered in 8-week sessions and can be completed fully online with evening synchronous meetings. You have the option of finishing this certificate in just 9 months. Once completed, you can build upon the certificate if you decide to pursue the Professional Certificate in Instructional Design or the Master in Instructional Design (MPS) at Loyola.
Why Choose Loyola for Your Foundations of Instructional Design Certificate?
The instructional design certificate is ideal for instructional designers who design, develop, and assess learning programs for students in academic settings or create training programs for corporate employees.
- Created for working adults
- Taught by industry experts
- Small class sizes
- Real-world focused curriculum
- Manage a project lifecycle
- Engage diverse communities
The instructional design certificate is fully online, accelerated, and available in the evenings for working professionals. Courses are offered in 8-week sessions.
Loyola’s experienced faculty will instruct, guide, and support you and help you develop real-world skills, such as problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking.
With classes capped at 25 students and most classes averaging 10 students, our small class sizes give you more opportunities to engage with your instructors and classmates.
Whether you are a K-12 teacher, higher ed faculty member, or an organizational trainer, you will benefit from a relevant curriculum created for today’s instructional designers who work in a variety of fields and professional settings.
You will learn how to repeatedly manage the lifecycle of instructional design projects, from conception to implementation to revision.
You will learn how to apply culturally responsive and ethical practices that engage diverse communities and promote social justice.
Meet the Faculty
Loyola is proud to have talented and nationally-recognized scholar-teachers as part of our diverse community of exceptional faculty, students and staff. Loyola faculty are known for their commitment to teaching, the dissemination of knowledge through innovative and interdisciplinary scholarly research, and a commitment to social justice and cura personalis, or care for the whole person. Visit the School of Continuing and Professional Studies faculty and staff directory to learn more about the teachers and mentors involved with the Foundations of Instructional Design Certificate program.
Faculty and StaffInstructional Design: Career Connections
The instructional design certificate provides supplemental training for tech-savvy, creative professionals who want to enhance their current position in educational or corporate training. Our graduates work in K-12 or higher education institutions and on performance improvement through corporate training in HR departments.
Specific job options include:
- Course content developer
- Curriculum developer
- Educational consultant
- eLearning instructional designer
- Instructional designer
- Learning experience designer
- Multimedia instructional content creator
- Trainer and development specialist
- Manager of learning & development
- Performance consultant
Because Loyola is a member of the Jesuit network of 27 colleges and universities nationwide, our graduates can access career advising services, resume and interviewing assistance, career fairs and events, and employment listings in our Career Services center, as well as at career centers at other U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good place to start exploring the job outlook and pay potential for jobs and careers in the field of Instructional Design.
Curriculum and Program Outcomes
While courses for the Foundations of Instructional Design Certificate program may vary from semester to semester, Loyola’s extensive Academic Catalog will always house the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies, degree requirements, and specialization or concentration options.
Additionally, this resource will provide Foundations of Instructional Design Certificate learning outcomes, showcasing the commitment to specific skills and growth graduates can expect to achieve following completion of the program.
2024-2025 Catalog
Browse Academic CatalogResults and Skills
After completing this certificate, you will be able to...
- Use instructional design processes and appropriate theoretical approaches to design effective and innovative learning experiences, including online learning and online training
- Employ a variety of technologies and multimedia authoring tools to produce instructional materials
- Adapt instructional design processes to a professional setting (K-12 schools, corporate organizations, higher education institutions)
- Manage the iterative lifecycle of instructional design projects progressing from conception to implementation to revision
- Apply culturally responsive and ethical practices that engage diverse communities and promote social justice
Costs, Scholarships, and Aid
Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your return to school a reality. Our Cost & Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education.
If you are a current Loyola undergraduate or alum, you may be eligible for a Returning Rambler discount. Learn more and see if you qualify on our Returning Rambler Scholarship page.
Tuition and Costs
The estimated tuition and fees for the Foundations of Instructional Design Certificate totals $9900.00, or 12 credit hours at a cost of $825.00 per credit hour. Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.
For more detailed information about tuition and fees, and a breakdown of how these costs are calculated on a yearly basis, please visit Tuition and Fees from the Office of the Bursar.
Foundations of Instructional Design Certificate Scholarships
For detailed information about tuition, costs, and aid, please visit the SCPS Tuition & Financial Aid page.
Appointments and Events
Whether you’re just beginning your search, in the midst of the application process, or eager to explore our graduate and professional programs, our admissions staff is here to assist you every step of the way.
Schedule an AppointmentThe School of Continuing and Professional Studies offers open houses, information sessions, individual appointments, open Zoom and text sessions, and a multitude of other ways to get to know us better.
View all EventsUpcoming Events
Visit and Connect With Us
With our visit opportunities, you can tour our beautiful Chicago campuses and learn more about Loyola's ties to one of the most prestigious cities in the world.
Application Process
Application Deadlines
The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the Foundations of Instructional Design Certificate are listed below. Please keep in mind that both the application and the required materials must be submitted by the specified deadline.
Fall I: August 5
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the Foundations of Instructional Design Certificate include:
Official transcripts from all institutions attended
2.5 Minimum GPA
Statement of Purpose
Statement of Purpose Details
Please write a brief statement describing your academic and research interests as well as your professional goals.
Official Documents
Applicants must submit official transcripts from all institutions attended. Official transcripts are those that are sent directly by the college/university to Loyola University Chicago. Transcripts (with U.S. educational credentials) sent by the student to Loyola are considered unofficial documents, and while they may be utilized for initial review of your application, official transcripts are still required. Official documents should be sent by the institution to gradapp@luc.edu.
International Applicant Requirements
An official English language proficiency exam is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. If you have non-U.S. educational credentials, you are required to submit an official transcript evaluation. The transcript evaluation cannot be waived, and unofficial transcripts will not be accepted for international applicants.
Please visit our International Applicant Requirements page for specific information regarding the application process for international students.
Start Your Application
Applying online to the Foundations of Instructional Design Certificate program is a swift, uncomplicated, and cost-free process. After submission, you can proceed to send and upload any additional requirements.
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