Graduate Certificate – Instructional Design

The Graduate Certificate – Instructional Design at Athabasca University is a nine-credit online credential made up of three courses, with a minimum of six credits required through Athabasca University, and a maximum of two years to complete. The program has three application deadlines each year and requires students to complete at least six credits annually to maintain their program status. Courses are taken alongside students in the Master of Education – Open, Digital, and Distance Education program, and completed credits can be applied toward that degree if the student continues into it. Coursework focuses on applying learning theory to instructional design, applying program evaluation concepts within distance education, and developing instructional materials through project-based work. The certificate suits practitioners who want focused, graduate-level training in instructional design without committing immediately to a full master's program, while preserving the option to ladder into the related MEd credential later. It is a compact way for education and training professionals to build design skills applicable to distance and online learning contexts.