M.S. Instructional Design & Technology
Department of Learning Sciences, Georgia State University — serving 200+ graduate students with industry-embedded, practice-centered education.
Designed for Real-World Impact
The M.S. in Instructional Design & Technology at Georgia State University is a rigorous, practice-oriented graduate program that prepares students to design, develop, and evaluate effective learning solutions across corporate, government, healthcare, and educational contexts.
Under Dr. Law's coordination since 2015, the program has built deep industry integration — connecting curriculum directly to the competencies most sought after by leading organizations. Students develop expertise using industry-standard tools including Articulate 360 (funded through funded research in technology grants), Figma, Adobe XD, Smartsheet, and enterprise LMS platforms.
Reflecting the evolving demands of the instructional design profession, the program integrates cutting-edge AI and multimedia development tools directly into the eLearning Design curriculum. Students gain hands-on experience with Claude LLM and Claude Code for AI-assisted instructional design and development; Figma for LX Design (Learning Experience Design) and visual design of learning interfaces; Napkin.ai for rapid visual content creation and concept mapping; Synthesia for AI-powered video and avatar-based learning content; Gemini VIDS for AI-driven video production; and Descript for audio and video editing and transcription. Alongside these flagship tools, students engage with additional emerging multimedia technologies that reflect current industry practice — ensuring graduates enter the workforce not only as skilled instructional designers, but as fluent practitioners of the digital and AI-enhanced tools reshaping the field.
The program serves 200+ graduate students across multiple pathways: M.S. Instructional Design & Technology, Certificate in Instructional Design & Technology, Certificate in Online Learning & Technology, and the Corporate Learning Professional Certificate.
A signature innovation under Dr. Law's leadership is the micro-credentialing and digital badging curriculum, developed in partnership with Delta Air Lines and successfully completed at a 100% rate across two consecutive cohorts.
What Graduates Can Do
Courses Taught by Dr. Law
Core graduate courses reflecting the intersection of theory, technology, and professional practice.
Foundational instructional design models, systems thinking, and performance-based design. The gateway course for M.S. students.
Principles and practice of learning assessment and program evaluation, including Kirkpatrick and Phillips ROI methodologies.
PMI-aligned project management practices applied to L&D projects; using Smartsheet for planning, tracking, and stakeholder communication.
Hands-on development using Articulate 360 Studio; SCORM, xAPI, LMS publishing, and UX principles for digital learning environments.
Advanced eLearning design using multimedia principles, Articulate 360, and Learning Experience Design (LXD) with Figma and Adobe XD.
Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations theory applied to educational technology adoption in organizational and educational contexts.
Performance consulting skills, stakeholder engagement, client project management, and communicating design decisions to business leaders.
Data-driven evaluation of learning programs; LMS analytics, dashboards, and demonstrating the business impact of L&D investments.
End-to-end design project with a real organizational client — from needs analysis through evaluation planning and professional portfolio presentation.
Supervised professional internship placements with leading Atlanta and national organizations; portfolio development and professional reflection.
Planning Projects, Leading Projects, and Consulting Skills — micro-credential courses developed for corporate cohorts (Delta Air Lines). 100% completion rate.
Independent study for advanced graduate students pursuing specialized research or professional development topics.
Student Internship Partners
Dr. Law has established and maintains strategic internship partnerships with top learning organizations in Atlanta and nationwide. Students gain real-world experience and many are hired directly from their internships.
Additional partners include Mercedes-Benz USA, Verizon, Walmart, Kimberly-Clark, and various healthcare, government, and nonprofit organizations.
Technology Tools Students Master
Industry-standard eLearning authoring — funded by funded research in Student Technology Fee grants (FY2019–2025), benefiting 150+ students.
Professional interface design and LXD prototyping — free professional accounts negotiated for all students and faculty.
Enterprise-grade project management and collaboration — free professional accounts secured for the program.
Hands-on LMS experience including content publishing, course structure management, learner tracking, and learning analytics reporting.
Learning Leaders Advisory Board
Established by Dr. Law in 2017, the Learning Leaders Advisory Board connects the M.S. IDT program directly to the organizations that hire our graduates. Board members provide curriculum guidance, practicum opportunities, guest instruction, and real-world project engagement — ensuring the program remains tightly aligned with industry needs.
Board Member Benefits
Early access to top graduating students for recruiting and hiring, including internship-to-hire pathways.
Shape program competencies and tool selection to match your organization's evolving L&D needs.
Partner on capstone projects, applied research, and micro-credentialing initiatives that address real business challenges.