Online Education

University of Missouri
Master of Science in Learning Technologies and Design
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Master of Science

Learning online has become a mainstay in today's education environment. From K-12 and college education to corporate training, learning online is increasingly commonplace. The Master of Science in Learning Technologies and Design with an emphasis in Online Education is meant to help educators meet the increased demand for this style of learning. The online master's program is tailored for current educators looking to deepen their understanding and utilization of online learning tools and best practices.

Throughout the program, you'll expand your skills through projects and research to fortify your pedagogical knowledge when it comes to online learning. You'll learn how to craft engaging online lessons and foster a sense of community within a digital space.

This program does not simply teach you how to port your current, in-person lessons into an online format. Instead, you will learn how to hone your craft to best use the tools available for online education, keeping your content as informative and engaging as it can be for a shift from in-person teaching to the virtual classroom, whether your classes are synchronous or not.

This fully online master's degree is offered through the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies (SISLT), a proud member of iSchools, an international coalition of leading information schools.

About the Online Education Program

This 30-credit-hour online master's program is designed for current educators who hold a master's degree. The curriculum is applicable to several educational contexts, including K-12 education, corporate instruction, and government, military and health training programs. You'll learn how to develop engaging lessons that take full advantage of the the features online learning makes available to you.

Top-ranked programs

Mizzou's online master's in education programs ranked among the nation's finest in U.S. News & World Report 2025.

Quick facts

Official name

Master of Science in Learning Technologies and Design with an emphasis in Online Education

Campus

University of Missouri

Program type

Master's degree

Academic home

College of Education & Human Development | School of Information Science and Learning Technologies

Delivery mode

100% online

Accreditation

Higher Learning Commission

Credit hours

30

Estimated cost

$17,697.00

*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.

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Career prospects

Graduates of this online master's program can utilize their education to pursue roles as

  • Online instructors
  • Adaptive technology specialist
  • Training designers
  • School technology coordinators
  • Online learning coordinators
  • Curriculum developers
  • Instructional designers
  • E-Learning program managers
  • Corporate trainer/developers
Burning Glass Technologies. 2021. Salary numbers and employment growth numbers are based on models that consider advertised job posting salary, Bureau of Labor Statistics data and other proprietary and public sources of information for multiple occupations.
7.58%
Employment growth
Burning Glass Technologies. 2021. Salary numbers and employment growth numbers are based on models that consider advertised job posting salary, Bureau of Labor Statistics data and other proprietary and public sources of information for multiple occupations.
$95,000
median salary

What can you do with a master’s in online education?

On average, the workforce needs 7% more positions for individuals prepared to shake up the online learning experience. Those with these skills see salary gains as high as 25% percent. Through 2029, the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates 9% growth for training and development specialists and a 6% increase for instructional coordinators.

Ideal for those currently working in education, instructional design, training and development or digital media, this master’s in online education supplies you with the skills to pursue a role as a:

  • Software designer or developer;
  • Learning strategy manager;
  • Adaptive technology specialist;
  • Training designer;
  • School technology coordinator; or
  • Online instructor.

Program structure

The online master's in online education consists of 30 credit hours. Depending on your enrollment, you'll complete your degree in eight- or 16-week increments. Full-time students take one or two classes per semester to complete the program in about two years. No campus visits are required.

Coursework is comprised of 20 hours of core classes and 10 hours of electives. You'll also complete a capstone project to display the culmination of your knowledge. For this project, you'll develop an online course which you submit for evaluation, then discuss and reflect upon the results.

When you begin the online master's program, you'll be paired with a faculty advisor to assist you in creating a plan of study. Your advisor will help you solidify your goals and how to apply this degree to your career.

Coursework includes

For a thorough perspective of what goes into developing an online education experience, you’ll:

  • Media production
  • Online community building
  • Curriculum building and assessment design
  • Digital tools overview

Review the degree’s structure, course descriptions and expectations.

Delivery

100% online

Calendar system

Semester-based

Typical program length

2 years (full-time students)

Typical course load

1 or 2 classes per semester

Accreditation

The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.

Learn more about this program

This program is administered by the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies