Executive Certificate in Instructional Design and Technology Online Foster Positive Learning Environments
21
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the certificate total
Next Start Dates: March 23, 2026 | May 18, 2026 | June 29, 2026
Develop Advanced Learning Systems with Liberty’s Executive Certificate in Instructional Design and Technology Online
If you enjoy studying how people learn, a curriculum design certificate may be the program for you! An instructional design (ID) program can help you build the knowledge and skills for designing lessons, courses, and training programs. When you confer Liberty University’s 100% online Executive Certificate in Instructional Design and Technology, you can explore advanced training in instructional design and gain skills that may be applicable in schools, universities, workplaces, or even military settings.
Many professionals reach a point where they want more profound knowledge but are not yet ready to commit to a full doctoral program. That’s why Liberty University offers Executive Certificates – so you can continue your academic and professional growth beyond the master’s level without taking on the load of a doctoral degree.
A doctoral-level instructional design certificate offers:
- A clear path to help build advanced skills
- An academic credential that fits alongside work and family responsibilities
- Exposure to current research
- Flexible options for advanced learning
Even with a significant amount of experience and graduate studies in instructional design, you might eventually need a PhD in Education. A doctoral degree aims to help you advance your career path in instructional design to the highest level. That is why Liberty University’s Executive Certificate online programs align with our doctoral degree programs. This Executive Certificate aligns with Liberty’s PhD in Education – Instructional Design and Technology, allowing you to potentially transfer in up to 21 credit hours toward your doctorate.
Regardless of whether or not you eventually pursue a full doctoral degree, this Executive Certificate gives you the chance to improve your understanding of learning theory, teaching systems, and educational technology. These studies can help you prepare for future leadership or further study.
Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026
What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Why Choose Liberty University’s Executive Certificate in Instructional Design Online?
An online learning design certificate offers doctoral-level study in a shorter format, fast-tracking your education! You’ll complete 21 credit hours online, with courses that fit into a busy schedule. This flexibility makes the certificate a manageable option for working professionals.
Courses last 8 weeks and do not require specific login times. This format can help you balance your schoolwork with your job, family, and community activities. The curriculum builds on prior graduate education and professional experience.
Throughout the program, you can explore advanced concepts in learning design, instructional systems, and educational technology. This approach allows you to work on strengthening existing skills, all while developing new perspectives on teaching, learning, and training.
In this certificate, you can examine instructional choices through an ethical, values-based lens. This focus can help you think carefully about responsibility and integrity in learning settings. Your courses are guided by our faculty who bring doctoral-level scholarship and professional experience in learning design. This approach can support thoughtful, well-informed work grounded in principled leadership and sound academic insight.
What Will You Study in the Instructional Design Certificate Online?
The Executive Certificate in Instructional Design and Technology focuses on advanced topics that support effective learning design and system development. You’ll study different styles of learning. You can also see how instructional design and technology help meet the unique needs of students and teachers. Additionally, you’ll explore how learning design theories and performance principles work together to support learning outcomes.
An online instructional design and technology certificate can help you survey how learning styles, learning environments, and technology shape learning experiences. Coursework emphasizes thoughtful design, research-informed decision-making, and evaluation of instructional effectiveness. Through the design and technology program, you can develop a better understanding of the following:
- Advanced instructional design theory and models
- Current issues and trends in learning technologies
- Evaluation and improvement of learning systems
- Instructional systems design and analysis
- Principles of human performance technology
These areas of exposure support professionals working in education, training, and organizational development. The program encourages you to apply concepts to real-world learning challenges, which helps to bridge theory and practice.
Potential Educational Design Career Opportunities
Our Executive Certificate in Instructional Design and Technology can help you prepare for several career paths. Depending on your current knowledge, education level, and experience, there are many different positions that could benefit from our accredited certificate:
- Curriculum designer
- Director of e-learning
- Distance learning senior director
- Educational design director
- Educational technology director
- E-learning developer
- Instructional designer
- Military education specialist
- Professor (higher education)
- Remote curriculum creator
- Researcher
- Senior instructional design specialist
- Senior training specialist
The skills you gain in design and technology can help you in your current role at your organization or help prepare you for positions of elevated responsibility. Because some occupations may require that you have a doctorate, Liberty created Executive Certificates that can seamlessly transfer into one of our corresponding postgraduate or doctoral programs. You can transfer all 21 credits from this certificate into our PhD in Education – Instructional Design and Technology. Take the next step toward your personal and professional goals with an Executive Certificate from Liberty University.
Required E-Learning Courses
- EDUC 730 – Issues and Trends in Learning Technologies or EDUC 745 – Organizational Analysis and Problem Solving
- EDUC 731 – Instructional Design Theory
- EDUC 732 – Principles of Human Performance Technology
- EDUC 733 – Instructional Systems Design
- EDUC 734 – Implementation and Assessment of Multimedia Learning Tools
- EDUC 736 – Models for Instructional Design and Technology
- EDUC 737 – Ethics and Social Responsibility in Technology
Certificate Information
- This program falls under the School of Education.
- View the Graduate Education Course Guides (login required).
Certificate Completion Plan
Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.
| Executive Certificate Full Time | $610/Credit |
|---|---|
| Executive Certificate Part Time | $675/Credit |
| Military Executive Certificate | $375/Credit |
These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for the Instructional Design Program
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Transcript Policies
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $375 per credit hour for Executive Certificate courses
- Roll credits into the corresponding doctoral degree
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Learning Design Programs
Is an instructional design certificate worth it?
You can use an online instructional design credential to build skills and explore new roles in education and training. With an Executive Certificate in Instructional Design and Technology, you can study how learning experiences are created, delivered, and reviewed in online and blended settings.
For those interested in leadership or advanced responsibilities, an instructional design program can complement prior experience. If you’re looking to fast-track your education, a certificate program may be the right option for you!
An instructional design certificate focuses on how learning theory, teaching strategies, and technology work together in real-world settings. Coursework focuses on designing engaging learning experiences, using instructional tools, and applying research-based approaches to training and curriculum development. These skills can be useful if you’re transitioning from teaching, training, human resources, or a related field.
Additionally, a learning design certificate can help strengthen your résumé by showing focused study in areas like multimedia design and assessment. Because these skills apply across many industries, an instructional design certificate offers a flexible way to build skills and explore next steps.
How can I become an e-learning developer?
If you’re interested in becoming an e-learning developer, you can start by learning how designers build online courses. Instructional design focuses on how people learn and how technology supports online and digital learning.
Liberty University’s instructional design and technology Executive Certificate offers a fully online way to explore these skills. This approach includes foundational topics, such as instructional design theory. Through research-based and practical coursework, you can study how learning theory and technology work together in e-learning.
Who has the best instructional design certificate program online?
An accredited university can help give your instructional design and technology certificate academic value. Liberty offers programs designed to fit your busy schedule and reflect current approaches to online and blended learning.
For learners who appreciate mission-driven education, Liberty University offers an educational design program that emphasizes a values-based approach to instructional design. You can explore how designers create learning experiences with purpose and ethical care. At Liberty University, you can study instructional design as a creative and strategic skill used to support learning goals.
Also, Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). We’ve created a learning design certificate that seeks to offer you the best in quality, flexibility, and practical training.
Our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026 – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your certificate from a nonprofit university with this recognition can enhance the value of your credentials. It can also help you stand out in your field.
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