Georgetown’s Online Certificate in Instructional Design introduces you to the fundamentals of creating online learning experiences that integrate social impact concepts to inform and activate students, employees, and clients to serve as agents of social change in work and the world. As a student, you will focus on designing, developing, and evaluating online learning experiences through the social impact design lens and creating courses that engage learners in projects related to addressing social challenges.
Led by a faculty of academics and professionals within the instructional design community, our program incorporates the real-world practice of leading the design, development, and review of an online course, while achieving a deeper understanding of instructional design. By the time you complete the online program, you’ll have the well-rounded skills and expertise to help mission-driven organizations throughout the world create quality online learning experiences.
Ideal for: Entry and mid-level professionals
Ideal for
Entry and mid-level professionals
Duration: 4 months
Duration
4 months
Tuition: $4,990
Tuition
$4,990
Format: Online
Format
Online
Schedule: At Your Own Pace
Schedule
At Your Own Pace
Semester of Entry: Fall, spring, summer
Semester of Entry
Fall, spring, summer
Upon successful completion of the online certificate, you‘ll be able to apply the following outcomes in your career:
Integrate social impact frameworks into the design and development of online courses
Align course elements with course- and module-level learning objectives
Articulate ethical considerations related to design and technology
Evaluate the quality of courses designed using synchronous and asynchronous technologies
Use project management techniques to oversee online course development
Collaborate with multimedia experts to design video, audio, and graphical elements
Testimonials from current students and alumni.
At Georgetown, we believe in the transformative power of education that goes beyond knowledge transfer—education that inspires action and change. With our Certificate in Instructional Design, you will equip yourself with tools to lead the next generation of purpose-driven education.
Jeffrey Warner
Executive Director of Professional Education
You must successfully complete the eight required courses for a total 11.7 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), which is equivalent to 117.0 contact hours. All eight courses must be taken sequentially and completed within a two-year period.
Online Learning Design and Social Impact Framework (Required; 0.9 CEUs)
Content Outline: Integrating Social Impact Concepts into Learning Objectives (Required; 1.8 CEUs)
Integrating Relevant Technology in Online Instructional Design (Required; 1.8 CEUs)
Master Design Document and Syllabus (Required; 1.8 CEUs)
Multimedia Strategy and Social Impact Lens (Required; 0.9 CEUs)
Course Build Plan and Implementation (Required; 1.8 CEUs)
LMS Build and Quality Review (Required; 1.8 CEUs)
Capstone: Presentation to Stakeholders (Required; 0.9 CEUs)
What Is Live Online Learning?
Live online instruction is enhanced by incorporating various instructional practices and technology tools. Features such as Zoom video conferencing, breakout rooms, and chat allow for real-time interaction and collaboration among learners. Tools like Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Canvas Groups facilitate teamwork and information sharing within the learning community. Polling, surveys, and threaded discussion boards promote active engagement and the expression of opinions. It is important to foster social respect, privacy, and incorporate Jesuit values to create a supportive and inclusive online environment. By utilizing these practices and tools effectively, live online instruction can be engaging, interactive, and conducive to meaningful learning experiences.
What Is Asynchronous Online Learning?
Course materials for this self-guided course can be accessed at your convenience within the specified time frame. These materials are uploaded to Canvas, an online learning management platform, and include a variety of resources such as text-based lecture notes, interactive learning modules, and pre-recorded lectures and podcasts. You are responsible for completing assignments based on your understanding of the course material while meeting specified deadlines for each assignment. The self-paced nature of the course allows you to review information, take notes, and practice retention without worrying about the speed of a lecture or the pace of your classmates. This flexibility enables you to shape your learning experience according to your individual needs and preferences, ensuring a personalized and effective educational journey.
Jason Skinner is an Instructional Designer and Technology Specialist at Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. He has worked on online courses in the Applied Intelligence, Cyber Risk Management, Human ... Read more
Rong Zhu
Rong Zhu is an Instructional Design and Technology Specialist at Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. She started working as an instructional designer in higher education in 2006. Since then, ... Read more
How to Register
Please review the refund policies in our Student Handbook before completing your registration.
Degree Requirement
You must hold a bachelor's degree or the equivalent in order to enroll in our certificate programs.
Registration
This certificate is an open-enrollment program. No application is required. Click the "Register Now" button, select your courses, and then click "Add to Cart". Course registration is complete when your payment is processed. You will receive a confirmation email when your payment is received. Please retain the payment confirmation message for your records.
You can combine on-campus and online courses (if available) to complete your certificate. Depending on the certificate program, we may suggest taking courses in a specific order, but this is not a requirement.
Most students register for all courses at the same time and complete their certificate within a few months. However, you may choose to register for courses one by one over time. Once you begin a certificate, you have up to two years from the time you start your first course to complete all required courses.
International Students
International students who enter the U.S. on a valid visa are eligible to enroll in certificate courses. However, Georgetown University cannot sponsor student visas for noncredit professional certificate programs.
A TOEFL examination is not required for non-native English speakers but students are expected to read, write, and comprehend English at the graduate level to fully participate in and gain from the program.
Students from most countries may register for our online certificate programs; however, due to international laws, residents of certain countries are prohibited from registering.
Tuition & Funding
Tuition varies by course. Total program tuition for all eight courses is $4,990. Most course materials are included.
Funding
Noncredit professional certificates do not qualify for federal financial aid, scholarships, grants, or needs-based aid. However, several finance and funding options do exist, as listed below.
Some employers offer funding for employee education or professional development. If an employer guarantees payment for employee education and training, Georgetown will accept an Intent to Pay form. If you are using employer sponsorship or training authorizations, you must submit an Intent to Pay form with your registration.
If your employer will pay for your tuition, select “Third-Party Billing” as your method of payment when you register for courses online. Please submit an Intent to Pay form indicating that your employer or another third party should be billed for tuition. Invoices will not be generated without this form on file.
Eligible Georgetown employees may use their Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) benefits to fund 90% of the certificate program tuition—employees will be invoiced for the remaining 10% of tuition and must pay any other charges associated with their certificate program. Employees using TAP benefits may work directly with the HR Benefits Office to ensure payment prior to the start of any course. This payment option is only valid if registration occurs at least 10–14 business days prior to the start date of the first course. Any fees incurred due to course withdrawal are the student’s responsibility and are not funded by Georgetown University TAP. For questions regarding TAP benefits, please contact the HR/Benefits Office at tapbenefits@georgetown.edu or (202) 687-2500.
SCS is registered with GoArmyEd.com to accept SF-182 training authorization forms. GoArmyEd.com is the virtual gateway for all eligible active duty, National Guard, and Army Reserve soldiers to request Tuition Assistance (TA) online. GoArmyEd.com is also the virtual gateway for Army Civilians to apply for their Civilian education, training, and leadership development events.
The professional certificate programs offer an interest-free payment plan for certificate programs that are more than one month in duration and for which the total tuition is greater than or equal to $4,000. The payment plan is structured in the following manner:
Payment #1: A down payment of 25% of the total tuition balance must be paid online (within 72 hours after you register and select Payment Plan) via the Noncredit Student Portal. Please submit your down payment as soon as possible.
Payments #2, #3, and #4: Your remaining balance will be due in three (3) equal monthly installments beginning 30 calendar days after your down payment is processed. Your monthly payments must be paid via credit card in the Noncredit Student Portal. You will be able to access each invoice and payment due date in your student account.
PLEASE NOTE: Automatic Payment Service is not available. You must make each subsequent payment via the Noncredit Student Portal.
A number of tuition benefits are available through the Department of Veterans Affairs and under various parts of the GI Bill®. Please visit the Resources for Military Students page for additional information and instructions.
While you may choose to complete your certificate program in one semester, many programs (but not all) allow up to two years to complete all requirements. As a result, you may choose to register for required and elective courses over several semesters to spread out the cost of tuition over time. We generally offer every course in a program each semester, so you'll have many opportunities to enroll in required and elective courses within the two-year time frame.
Tuition Discounts
Only one tuition discount may be applied at the time of registration. Tuition discounts cannot be combined. Tuition discounts are not applied retroactively. Please contact pdcprograms@georgetown.edu with any questions.
Georgetown University alumni and SCS certificate completers are eligible to receive a 30% tuition discount for many certificates offered within SCS’s Professional Development & Certificates (PDC) portfolio. When registering for an eligible certificate through the SCS website, you will see the "30% Georgetown Alumni Discount" as an option. The Enrollment Team will then verify your eligibility status as a Georgetown University alumnus or certificate completer.
Georgetown SCS offers a 20% discount for eligible certificates to organizations that register 5 or more employees for the same certificate cohort at the same time. Eligible organizations include government agencies, nonprofit agencies, and for-profit businesses. Please contact pdcprograms@georgetown.edu for steps and procedures to ensure your group has access to the discount.
Employees of companies that belong to the EdAssist education network may receive a 10% tuition discount on select programs and courses. Contact EdAssist directly to find out if you qualify.
Eligible federal employees across the country receive a 10% scholarship applied to the current tuition rate for all SCS degree programs and professional certificate programs each academic semester. Please contact pdcprograms@georgetown.edu for steps to be added to this discount group.
