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The Master of Science in Instructional Technology (MSIT) degree is designed for educators or industry professionals who have interest in the effective use of instructional technology in educational and corporate settings. Choosing from three concentrations – instructional design, distance education or multimedia – you will develop up to date knowledge and hands on experience of instructional materials for teaching and training.

Program highlights:

  • This program is 100% online
  • 33 hours are required to complete the program
  • You will develop a professional portfolio.
  • You will work with award-winning faculty.
What are some potential careers?

Potential careers include instructional designer; curriculum developer; trainer/training specialist; e-learning specialist; distance education coordinator, director or manager; multimedia designer and web designer.

Who should pursue this degree?

P-12 teachers who are interested in integrating technology into instruction and sharing your technology expertise at your school would enjoy this degree program. It is also a program for industry professionals and highly motivated undergraduate students who are interested in the effective use of technology in educational and corporate settings.

Program Structure

Instructional Technology Curriculum
A student must acquire a minimum of 33 hours in order to graduate in both the thesis and non-thesis options.

Course Number Course Title Hours
TECH 8693 Multiple Perspectives on Instructional Technology 3
TECH 8703 Trends & Issues in Instructional Systems & Tech 3
TECH 8713 Research in Instructional Systems & WD 3
TECH 8793 Directed Project and Portfolio Development 3
TECH 8843 Foundations of Instructional Systems & Tech 3
Total Hours: 15

Concentration Areas (Choose One)

Instructional Design
Course Number Course Title Hours
TECH 8523 Project Management in Instructional Design 3
TECH 8533 Evaluation and Assessment in Instructional Systems & Technology 3
TECH 8623 Instructional Design I 3
TECH 8723 Instructional Design II 3
Total Hours: 12
Distance Education
Course Number Course Title Hours
TECH 8533 Evaluation and Assessment in Instructional Systems & Technology 3
TECH 8813 Foundations of Distance Education 3
TECH 8823 Design, Delivery, and Management of Distance Education 3
TECH 8853 Learning Technologies in Distance Education 3
Total Hours: 12
Multimedia
Course Number Course Title Hours
TECH 8443 Theories of Multimedia Learning 3
TECH 8543 Multimedia Design I 3
TECH 8643 Multimedia Design II 3
TECH 8743 Interactive Media 3
Total Hours: 12

Non-Thesis Option Electives (6 hours)

Thesis Option Electives (6 hours)

  • TECH 8000 Thesis hours

The courses selected for the individual program emphasis are determined jointly by the student, major professor, and graduate committee based on individual student goals.

The time limit on credits earned that can be accepted toward fulfilling requirements for the MSIT degree is eight years. The time limit begins when the first course on the program is taken. One-half (or more) of the hours on the graduate program exclusive of thesis credit must be 8000 level or above.

Not more than six semester hours of graduate credit earned in Directed Individual Studies (7000) courses or six semester hours of Special Topics (6990, 8990) courses may be included on the student's approved degree program. Not more than nine semester hours of a combination of Directed Individual Studies and Special Topic courses may be included on the student's approved degree program.

Disclaimer

Each student is responsible for knowing and completing all requirements established for his or her degree by the University, college, and department. A student′s advisor does not assume that responsibility. Any substitution, waiver, or exemption from any established departmental or college requirement or academic standard is accomplished only with the approval of the student′s academic college dean. Exceptions to University requirements, including the general education (core) requirements, are authorized only with the approval of the student′s dean and the dean of the Graduate School.

Admissions Process

A student applying for admission into the Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development must submit the complete application packet to the Office of the Graduate School no later than:

  • April 1 for Summer
  • July 1 for Fall
  • November 1 for Spring

ISWD Admission Requirements

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

  1. Submit online application. You will choose Online Education as your campus.
  2. Statement of Purpose
  3. Three letters of recommendation
    • You will be asked to submit three names and three email addresses of individuals you are using as references. Once you click submit, these individuals will be sent an email from MSU, which will provide a link to an online form for completing their recommendations.
  4. TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students.
  5. One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
  6. One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
    • Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
    • Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
      Mississippi State University
      The Office of the Graduate School
      P.O. Box G
      Mississippi State, MS 39762
    • Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
      Mississippi State University
      The Office of the Graduate School
      175 President Circle
      116 Allen Hall
      Mississippi State, MS 39762
  7. Payment of $60 non-refundable application processing fee for domestic students.
    Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.
  8. Once you are admitted, you will receive an email with complete instructions on registering for classes and contacting your advisor.

Required Courses (15 hours)

TECH 8693 Multiple Perspectives on Instructional Technology
Three hours lecture. This course surveys major theoretical perspectives of instructional design, and examines related research and applications in a variety of instructional design settings.

TECH 8703 Trends and Issues in Instructional Systems and Technology
Three hours lecture. Focuses on the trends, issues, theories, and applications of instructional systems. It introduces the areas of instructional design, multimedia, distance education, and human performance technologies.

TECH 8713 Research in Instructional Systems & Workforce Development
Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. This course deals with the research process as related to Instruction Systems and Workforce Development (ISWD) from idea formulation through data analysis and interpretation.

TECH 8793 Directed Project and Portfolio Development
Three hours lecture. The course focuses on the development and presentation of a project and a portfolio based on the student's program area of concentration. Evaluation by jury.

TECH 8843 Foundations of Instructional Systems and Technology
Three hours lecture. An examination of the foundation and philosophical knowledge for instructional systems and design models including evaluation of instructional design processes.

Concentrations Areas (12 hours; Choose One)

Instructional Design

TECH 8523 Project Management in Instructional Design
Three hours lecture. This course reviews multimedia design principles that are based on empirical research studies and the cognitive theory of multimedia learning to foster effective multimedia instruction.

TECH 8533 Evaluation and Assessment in Instructional Systems & Technology
Three hours lecture. Focus on the effective course/program evaluation and assessment methods, theories, and applications in instructional systems and technology.

TECH 8623 Instructional Design I
Three hours lecture. The analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of instruction for organizations.

TECH 8723 Instructional Design II
(Prerequisite: TECH 8623). Three hours lecture. Advanced application of instructional design for organizations

Distance Education

TECH 8533 Evaluation and Assessment in Instructional Systems & Technology
Three hours lecture. Focus on the effective course/program evaluation and assessment methods, theories, and applications in instructional systems and technology.

TECH 8813 Foundations of Distance Education
Three hour lecture. This course investigates foundation of distance education and trends and issues such as administration, design, development, implementation, instructional challenges, and evaluation in distance education.

TECH 8823 Design, Delivery, and Management of Distance Education
Three hour lecture. This course focuses on major theories and practices related to the design, delivery and management of distance education programs.

TECH 8853 Learning Technologies in Distance Education
Three hours lecture. This course investigates theoretical concepts of online learning. With this understanding, students will then experience creating a practical e-learning module using an e-learning authoring system.

Multimedia

TECH 8443 Theories of Multimedia Learning
Three hours lecture. This course reviews multimedia design principles that are based on empirical research studies and the cognitive theory of multimedia learning to foster effective multimedia instruction.

TECH 8543 Multimedia Design I
Three hours lecture. This course focuses on major principles and guidelines for creating instructional graphics and provides hands-on skills in graphic design.

TECH 8643 Multimedia Design II
(Prerequisite: TECH 8543). Three hours lecture. This course focuses on the concepts, issues, and practices for creating effective instructional videos and provides hands-on skills in digital video production.

TECH 8743 Interactive Media
(Prerequisite: TECH 8643). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. This course will provide experiences in investigating, designing, developing and integrating a variety of interactive instructional media

Non-Thesis Option Elective (6 hours)

Thesis Option Electives (6 hours)

See More

Committee Requirements

Committee Composition

  • For a master's degree committee, a minimum of three members are required and they must hold either a Level 1 or Level 2 Graduate Faculty appointment. One member may be a minor professor, if the student has a minor program.
  • The major professor is chair of the committee, must hold Level 1 or Level 2 Graduate Faculty status, and must be from the student's major department/program.
  • A limited number of Non-Graduate Faculty members may serve on a committee. Non-Graduate Faculty members are expected to have a graduate degree or commensurate expertise in the field of study. The decision regarding the qualifications of a Non-Graduate Faculty member to serve on a master's degree committee will be determined by the department/college.
  • In all cases where the committee consists of numbers above the minimum, greater than 50% of the committee members must hold Graduate Faculty status.
  • Non-Graduate Faculty committee members cannot serve as a major professor or committee chair.
  • Non-Graduate Faculty committee members can serve as a co-thesis director of the research along with a Level 1 or Level 2 member of the Graduate Faculty for students in a thesis-option program. If this occurs, it is expected that the Non-Graduate Faculty committee member will have education and research expertise commensurate with Level 1 or Level 2 Graduate Faculty.
  • The Committee Request form is submitted to the Graduate School.

Students in non-thesis programs with no variation in program of study and/or with standardized examinations are not required to have committees.

Committee Changes

When the committee composition changes, the student submits a Change of Committee form to the Graduate School reporting the changes. If, subsequent to the administration of the final or oral/written comprehensive examination, a student's request to remove a member of the graduate committee is not met with the approval (signature) of that member, the student must submit to the Dean of the Graduate School a written request containing suitable justification for removal of the committee member. The Dean will then decide if removal is necessary and accordingly inform the student, the committee member, the major professor, and the Graduate Coordinator.

Student Resources


Contact Information

Photo of Anusha Rijal

Anusha Rijal

Online Education

  • Coordinator
662-325-8876
Photo of Dr. Sang Joon Lee

Dr. Sang Joon Lee

Master of Science in Instructional Technology

  • Graduate Coordinator
662-325-7599