Program Overview
The OILS Program offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree that gives students an opportunity to combine aspects of adult learning, learning sciences, organizational learning and development, and instructional technology that includes multimedia design and distance learning, principles of knowledge management and data management, and the design, development, and evaluation of training.
OILS students can expect to develop a diverse skillset that can help them hit the ground running when they enter the workforce. They will be able to design, teach, support, evaluate, lead, and manage programs for diverse audiences.
Coursework includes areas such as foundations of organizational learning, the adult learner, learning design, cross-cultural issues in learning, principles of knowledge management, instructional technology, eLearning, and program evaluation.
Data management courses give students both conceptual and practical hands-on training that can allow them to effectively design, manage, analyze, visualize, and preserve data and information.
Students who are knowledgeable in these areas are at a significant competitive advantage as they pursue further academic and professional efforts. OILS courses require students to apply their learning in real-world contexts.
Not only do OILS graduates have the flexibility to choose where they work, they also enjoy diverse and rewarding employment options that include adult learning, instructional design and technology, organizational development, training and development, distance education, eLearning, online learning, knowledge management, data management, project management, and much more.
Disclosures
All online and distance education is protected by federal regulations and policies. For details on how, refer to the following resources: State Authorization, Disclosures, Accreditation and Complaint Resolution.
Admissions
Tuition and Fees
Total cost per credit hour is $428.12. There is a student technology fee charged each semester. It is $150 in the Fall, $150 in the Spring, and $20 in the Summer. There may be additional costs, depending on the class. Additional costs are often for textbooks, supplemental course materials, and proctoring fees.
The MA OILS with a Design for Online Learning Concentration is offered as a Masters Plan III (coursework only) option.
Admission Prerequisites
- A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- At least a 3.0 GPA in the last sixty (60) hours of undergraduate work
- A letter of intent addressing how the program will meet the applicant's professional goals, a resume, and an academic or professional writing sample
- One letter of recommendation that includes an assessment of the ability of the applicant to be successful in a master's level program
- Goals or objectives that can be reasonably achieved through a degree in this program
- Language Skills for International Students: International students must meet all UNM Graduate Admissions Requirements including tests for English proficiency. For more information regarding international students, please see International Students and Online Education.
See the department's website for more detailed information on admissions including how to apply to the OILS Master's program and relevant deadline dates.
To apply for the program, in the Program of Interest section within the UNM Graduate Admission Application, select the following:
College/School: University Libraries and Learning Sciences
Department: Organization/Information/Learning Sciences
Program/Major: Organization/Information/Learning Sciences
Degree: MA OILS Learning Officer (Online Only)
Interest: Design for Online Learning
Degree Requirements
About the Program
The Design for Online Learning concentration develops knowledge, skills, and attitudes in professionals who design, teach, support, evaluate, lead, and manage programs for diverse audiences via distance technology in educational, corporate, government, military, and non-profit organizations. The program is innovative as it approaches Design for Online Learning from an international and cross-cultural perspective. Developed using the latest Internet-based technologies and facilitated by internationally recognized faculty the program is accessible entirely online. The program emphasizes a learner-centered, community-centered, interactive approach to online learning, where participants engage in hands-on activities and work collaboratively on complex, authentic real-world projects to develop products for immediate, practical use in the work environment. Participants interested in research explore Interaction Analysis and Social Learning Analytics to determine how online interactions and online learning communities can be improved. Careers include eLearning development specialists, faculty eLearning talent developers, and eLearning designers.
Required Core Courses, (Plan III Requirements, 15 credit hours)
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
(OILS 535 | Culture and Global eLearning I | 1 |
OILS 541 | The Adult Learner | 3 |
OILS 544 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
OILS 543 | Instructional Design Framing Designs for Learning Prototyping Designs for Learning | 3 2 1 |
OILS 597 | Capstone | 3 |
Concentration (15 credit hours) | ||
Choose from: Adult Education and Professional Development; Design for Online Learning; Instructional Design and Technology; Learning Officer; Organization Development and Human Resource Development. | 15 | |
Plan III Total | 30 |
Required Courses for the Design for Online Learning (DOL) Concentration (12 credit hours)
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
OILS 517 | Applied Aesthetics for Learning Design | 3 |
OILS 537 | eLearning Course Design I | 1 |
OILS 538 | eLearning Course Design II | 2 |
OILS 560 | Ethics as Design and Reflective Practice I | 2 |
OILS 561 | Ethics as Design and Reflective Practice II | 1 |
OILS 571 | Assessment for Learning and Performance I | 2 |
OILS 572 | Assessment for Learning and Performance II | 1 |
Subtotal | 12 |
Elective Courses for the (DOL) Concentration (3 credit hours)
Electives (choose 1 from)
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
OILS 533 | Leadership of Online Learning Systems | 3 |
OILS 534 | Mobile Learning: Introduction to Mobile Learning and Mobile Learning Design | 3 |
OILS 554 | Consulting and Project Management | 3 |
Subtotal | 3 |
Learning Outcomes
In addition to providing a well-rounded program that focuses on organizational learning, training and consulting, the MA in Instructional Technology & Training will:
- Enhance opportunities for advancement in your chosen career
- Increase your earning potential
- Expand your employment opportunities
- Broaden your consulting prospects
