Master in Instructional Systems & Learning Technologies

About

Students who graduate from FSU’s Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies (ISLT) master’s and doctoral degree programs are in high demand. In today’s world, businesses, government agencies, universities, schools and many other types of organizations are interested in hiring individuals who can create innovative approaches to helping people improve their skills, knowledge, and job performance.

The program emphasizes facilitating learning and improving performance through the analysis, design, development, implementation, evaluation, and management of appropriate processes and tools. The program has a strong focus on:

• Instructional design
• Emerging technologies
• Performance improvement

This program will prepare you to become a practitioner in the Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies field. It requires a minimum of 36 credit hours and can be completed in two years. The ISLT master’s degree is offered both on campus and online. Non-Florida residents (including international students) accepted to the online MS program may be eligible for reduced tuition.

The Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies online master’s program offers Market Rate Tuition. This allows non-Florida residents (including international students) who do not qualify for the Academic Common Market the opportunity to complete the online master’s degree at a reduced tuition rate of $544/per credit hour.

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• A master’s degree from an accredited institution (Ed.D. applicants only)
• An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above (for master’s applicants) or 3.2 or above (for doctoral applicants) in upper-division courses
• GRE test scores – Official test results are required from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Target scores:
  • Verbal: At or above the 50th percentile
  • Quantitative: At or above the 50th percentile (Ph.D. applicants only)
  • Analytical writing: 3.5 or above (for master’s and Ed.D. applicants) or 4.0 or above (for Ph.D. applicants)

The GRE requirement will be waived for outstanding master’s applicants who meet ONE of the following criteria:

• 5 years of professional experience as an instructional designer and a 3.0 (or better) upper-division undergraduate GPA from an accredited institution.
• A completed master’s, J.D., M.D., or Ph.D. degree with a 3.0 (or better) GPA from a North American accredited institution.
• Completion of 9 graduate credit hours of a graduate certificate from the ISLT program with a graduate GPA of 3.2 or higher.

Master’s applicants must submit the GRE Waiver Request Form and provide evidence to satisfy the criteria being applied.

• International applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit language proficiency test scores on the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Target scores:
  • 85 or above for master’s applicants
  • 90 or above for doctoral applicants
• A statement of purpose indicating your career goals and expectations, previous academic and work experience, publications (if any), and other accomplishments
• Three recent letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to make predictive statements regarding your potential for success in graduate studies, personal and work characteristics, intellectual ability and/or scholarly attainments. Preference is for letters from professors who can comment on your work in an academic setting.
• A resume showing your current and previous work experience
• Transcripts – Applicants must submit an official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college and/or university attended to the Office of Admissions:

Florida State University
Office of Admissions
282 Champions Way
P.O. Box 3062400
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2400

Meeting the above requirements does not ensure admission into the program. Faculty members also consider the likelihood of your success in graduate school and for employment upon graduation when making a decision about each applicant.

Application Deadlines

Master and Ph.D. programs:

• Fall: July 1 (For the best chance for funding, apply for Fall by December 15)
• Spring: November 1
• Summer: March 1

Career Opportunities

Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies (ISLT) is a relatively new area of specialization that draws upon the fields of psychology, communications, and management in order to improve human performance. The field of instructional systems is concerned with the improvement of educational and training programs through the application of research and technology.

ISLT graduates can expect an above average increase in employment opportunities over the next decade. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 20 percent increase in job outlook; this growth is the result of many educational institutions increasing their focus on improving teacher effectiveness. The median annual wage for instructional coordinators totaled $58,830 in May 2010.

The principles and techniques taught in the program at Florida State cut across all organization and industry sectors — profits and nonprofits, public and private, products, and services. Some specific occupations suited to this program include:

• Trainers
• Consultants
• K-12 Teachers
• Instructors, especially in the military or at community colleges
• Educational Technology Coordinators
• Faculty
• Instructional Designers
• Human Resource Specialists
• Higher Education Administrators
• Anyone contemplating a career in training and development, curriculum planning and Internet applications