Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Organization, Information & Learning Sciences (OILS) program offers a unique perspective on learning sciences by concentrating on the convergence of organization development, information design and data management, and instructional design and instructional technology.
The Learning Officer concentration offers a path for professionals to quickly develop a competitive edge in this expanding field of employment. The Learning Officer concentration provides broad preparation to both develop and manage training and development programs that address organizational needs and are integrated into organizational change processes. Learning Officers and Chief Learning Officers work in nearly every field to manage and ultimately lead these processes. The OILS Learning Officer concentration is offered only through UNM’s Managed Online Program, with all courses delivered online at a standard per credit hour fee rate, regardless of a student’s residency status.
Special features of the program include:
- All courses offered in an 8-week online format
- Degree program can be started during any 8-week session (five times a year)
- 30 credit hour requirement can be completed in as little as 12 months
- Affordable tuition
- Most bachelor's degrees obtained from an accredited college or university are acceptable for admission to program
Possible Careers
Graduates will be in demand in any learning organization in various industries, such as private sector, non-profit organizations, healthcare, government agencies, and military. Possible job titles include:
- Learning Officer
- Learning and Development Manager
- Training and Development Manager
- Learning Consultant
- Human Resource Development Manager
- Organizational Development and Learning Manager
Learning Goals
The Learning Officer program prepares leaders who facilitate organizational learning, instructional technology, and data management initiatives in real world settings.
Students are prepared for careers as educators, researchers, and developers of next-generation curricula, technology-enriched learning environments, and instructional programs.
Students understand how to investigate how people interact with information and ideas, as well as what interests and motivates them.
Learning Outcomes for MA OILS
The OILS program focuses on the design, development, delivery, and evaluation of training, organization development, knowledge management, distance education, e-learning, and instructional technology systems, methods and strategies with the intent of improving human performance. The program can best be described as one that is both theory-based and practitioner oriented. The learning outcomes for the MA degree are outlined in the Organization, Information & Learning Sciences' Mission and Philosophy statement.
Program Details
Tuition and Fees
Total cost per credit hour is $415.66. 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.
About the Program
This Managed Online Program can be completed in as little as one year in a series of eight week courses. Students apply their learning in real world contexts developing tools and processes to make education more relevant, timely and engaging for organizations.
The courses that comprise the program have been correlated to the recommended competencies and guidelines that have been developed by the Association for Talent Development (ATD), the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI), the Association for Educational Communications Technology (AECT), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), and the National Council on the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) associations.
To obtain an MA in OILS with a Learning Officer concentration, students are required to complete:
- 15 credit hours of OILS Core Courses
- 15 credit hours of Elective Courses for the Learning Officer (LO) Concentration
Special course sections are scheduled for Managed Online Program students and offered on a cyclical basis. Look for the courses in the current schedule of classes with a course comment that reads "Limited to managed online program students only." Some courses in this program may require synchronous meeting times through web conferencing. Information about specific requirements for online courses can be found in the UNM Online schedule and course details.
For more information, contact Christopher Larranaga, (505)277-2137, chrisla1@unm.edu.
Required Core Courses (15 credit hours)
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| OILS 535 | Culture and Global eLearning I | 1 |
| OILS 536 | Culture and Global eLearning II | 2 |
| OILS 541 | The Adult Learner | 3 |
| OILS 544 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
| OILS 546 | Framing Designs of Learning | 2 |
| OILS 547 | Prototyping Designs for Learning | 1 |
| OILS 597* | Capstone | 1X3 |
Students must register for OILS 597 Capstone. The Capstone is offered as a 1 credit hour segment 5 times an academic year (Fall 1st Half, Fall 2nd Half, Spring 1st Half, Spring 2nd Half, and Summer). Students should repeat the course three times to fulfill the requirement for 3 credit hours. Students may take the 1 credit hour segments consecutively, but it is not required. For students who plan to graduate in one year, students should take the Capstone during their second semester. For Students who plan to graduate in two years, students should take the Capstone during their third semester.
Required Courses for the Learning Officer (LO) Concentration (12 credit hours)
Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| OILS 540 | Foundations of HRD and Instructional Technology | 3 |
| OILS 542 | Theory and Practice of Organizational Learning | 3 |
| OILS 551 | Training and Development | 3 |
| OILS 558 | Leading Change | 3 |
Elective Courses for the (LO) Concentration (3 credit hours)
Select one course from the list, in consultation with an advisor.
Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| OILS 500 | Contemporary Instructional Technologies: Survey | 3 |
| OILS 552 | Team Development and Facilitation | 3 |
| OILS 554 | Consulting and Project Management | 3 |
| OILS 557 | Human Performance Improvement | 3 |
Degree Requirements
The MA OILS with a Learning Officer Concentration is offered as a Masters Plan III (course work 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
- Three letters of recommendation that include an assessment on 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: Learning Officer
