Instructional Design for Learning
College of Education
Dr. Nicole Ennis, Interim Dean
Program Advisor: Dr. Richard Whitehead, Program Director richard.whitehead@westliberty.edu
West Liberty University offers a 30 credit-hour course of study leading to a Master of Arts in Education degree (M.A.Ed.). The M.A.Ed. program is open to graduate-level students and is designed to provide masters-level work in an accelerated format for individuals who wish to advance their professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the areas of Reading Specialist, Multi-Categorical Special Education, Innovative Instruction, Leadership in Disability Services, Leadership Studies, Community Education Research and Leadership, Sports Leadership and Coaching (online), Leadership in Educational Administration (online), Visual Arts Education (online) and Instructional Design for Learning (online).
Coursework to prepare licensed teachers for endorsements through the West Virginia Department of Education are also offered in the areas of Autism and Gifted.
Coursework includes 12 credit-hours of required Education Common Core courses and 18 credit hours concentration emphasis courses. Courses are scheduled in two eight-week terms during the fall and spring semesters, and two six-week terms during the summer. Courses are either in an online format or at the WLU Highlands Campus once a week typically at 5:00 p.m. However, students at a distance can join the Highlands courses via WebEx (Zoom), which is a video conferencing system accessible by personal computer. During the last semester of coursework, all M.A.Ed. students will complete a semester-long capstone experience of an approved topic, which incorporates the Education Core courses and relates to the selected area of emphasis.
Accreditation
The teacher education programs at West Liberty are nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) merged into CAEP and as of 2016 CAEP has replaced NCATE as the national accrediting body for teacher education. In 2019, continuing full accreditation was awarded by CAEP. West Liberty was one of the first institutions accredited by NCATE in 1954 and celebrated 66 years of continuous national accreditation in 2020. In addition, all teacher education programs at WLU have been approved by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and by the West Virginia Board of Education.
Admissions Requirements
For admission to WLU’s Master of Arts in Education Program, the following requirements must be met:
- Completed admissions application.
- Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework to verify a bachelor’s degree, in any field, from a regionally accredited institution. For Community Education, Sport Leadership and Coaching, and Instructional Design for Learning applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.50 G.P.A. from a regionally accredited institution. For all other areas of emphasis, applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.00 G.P.A. from a regionally accredited institution or earn a score in at least the 50th percentile on the Miller Analogy Test (MAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
International Student Requirements
In addition to the requirements listed above, please submit:
- Proof of English Proficiency: Please submit one of the following test results that has been completed within the past three years: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Minimum acceptable scores 595 (paper test), 195 (computer based test) or 70 (internet test) for graduate study or Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) – The minimum acceptable score is 82% for graduate study or a minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for graduate study.
- Credit Certification: Have all your coursework and credits from institutions outside of the United States evaluated by a credential evaluation service provider [e.g., World Education Services (WES), Global Credential Evaluators (GCE), Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE), American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), etc.]
- Proof of Financial Support: Submit adequate documentation of financial support for one academic year (nine months). [e.g., official bank statement, sponsorship award letters, scholarship awards, Affidavit of Support (DHS Form I-134), etc.]
- Copy of your ID page in your passport
- Immunization shot records
Graduation Requirements:
The 30-credit hour Master of Arts in Education requires:
- 12 credit hours in the Education core
- 18 credit hours in a concentration area
- Complete coursework with at least a B in each course
Required Education Core Courses (12 hours):
Instructional Design for Learning
| IDL 501 | Foundations of Instructional Design | 3 |
| IDL 502 | Instructional Design Across Industry | 3 |
| IDL 510 | Instructional Design for Learner Engagement | 3 |
| IDL 511 | Authoring Tools and Teaching Technology | 3 |
| IDL 520 | Assessment and Evaluation | 3 |
| IDL 521 | Instructional Design Project Management | 3 |