Learning Experience Design

Learning experience design is the new frontier in instructional design. Between 2015 and 2018 alone, job postings for learning experience designers have increased by nearly 450 percent.* Learning experience designers take a holistic and learner-centered approach to designing educational experiences, one that considers learning outcomes, motivation and learning environment efficacy. The part-time, fully online MS in Learning Experience Design will provide you with hands-on experience utilizing the User-Experience (UX), User Interface (UI) and Instructional Design (ID) principles and techniques needed to advance in the field. As you explore learner analysis and persona development, design thinking, data-informed content curation, user interface design and educational technologies, you’ll be able to tailor your studies to your own professional context and aspirations, whether your future is in education (K-12 or higher ed), corporate training and development, or EdTech. Upon degree completion, you’ll be equipped to: Design and curate learning resources that enhance learner retention and application while aligning to principles of universal design for learning and accessibility standards. Create and deliver high-quality programs and interactive learning experiences in a variety of industry and educational settings. Use data analytics, learner and contextual analysis and interface design assessment to evaluate learning experience and resolve educational challenges. Attend an online information session to learn more.

This 30-credit program has seven required courses and three electives.
*Source: Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights Jobs

The 30-credit Learning Experience Design program has seven required courses and three electives. Required courses provide students with a focused education surrounding fundamental topics in the field, while electives build upon specific professional skillsets and allow students to enrich and round out their studies.

Sample curriculum 

Please note that available courses are subject to change.

Required courses

• Principles of Learning Experience Design
• Foundations of Instructional Technology for E-Learning
• Advanced Learning Experience Design and Assessment Strategies
• Learning Analytics
• User Experience Design
• Cognitive and Social Psychology of User-Centered Design
• Learning Experience Design Practicum

Sample electives

• Managing Learning Experience Design Projects
• Interactive Multimedia Courseware Design
• Adaptive and Game-Based E-Learning Design
• Learning Management Systems for Course Development
• Business Requirements Analysis

View a complete list of program requirements.

View tuition and financing options.

“Learning Experience Design delivers experiences developed to enable learners to grow and master knowledge and skills in flexible ways to solve real-world challenges. LX designers are in high demand but short supply as there is a growing need to include human-centered design practices, applied learning sciences, and learning analytics in the practice of developing effective learning experiences.”
—Jason Gorman, Founder and Managing Partner at Jackrabbit LX

LX professionals often hold job titles such as:

• K-12 teacher/educator
• Corporate trainer
• Instructional coordinator
• Instructional designer
• Multimedia producer
• Curriculum developer
• Instructional technologist
• Instructional developer
• Educational technologist
• Learning designer
• Director of instructional design
• Director of eLearning
• Online course designer
• Online course developer
• eLearning Designer/Developer
• Learning architect
• Instructional design coordinator
• Training and development specialist
• Distance education administrator
• Instructional technology specialist
• Academic technologist

The program is 40% male and 60% female.

11 students have graduated from this program since it launched in 2014.

9 students are currently working toward their Learning Experience Design degree.

Our Learning Experience and Design faculty understand the challenges of modern industry. Whether they’re creating sophisticated educational technologies or designing user interfaces, they structure their GPS curriculum to draw on real-world expertise and connections that ultimately help our students advance their career goals. Here is a sampling of Learning Experience and Design faculty:

Dr. Kim Round currently serves as Director of Instructional Technology at Saint Anselm College. Previously, she has held technology leadership roles at Kaplan Higher Education, Merrimack College and Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering. She was selected for the prestigious 2014 Breakthrough Models Academy, sponsored by Educause and Next Generation Learning Challenges. Kim’s research interests include cloud computing’s impact on organizational leadership, as well as next generation learning management systems. Dr. Round earned her Ph.D in Computing Technology in Education from Nova Southeastern University, and her M.A. in Educational Technology Leadership from The George Washington University. 

Jing Qi, Ed.D, is earning Analytic Lead and LMS Specialist at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where she works with the Research ITC team, and applies technologies employed in advanced scientific research and web application development to support the core effort of 'Learning Data Research.' Combining her solid knowledge in computer science, extensive experience in data mining, and strong passion in data visualization, she integrates the core elements of data analysis and visualization in the exploration of Learning Analytics.

Carol Damm, MEd, is Director of Programs and Assessments for Graduate Professional Studies (GPS) at Brandeis University where she oversees the review and assessment of 12 programs offered by GPS as well as product development with a focus on innovating to meet the needs of industry partners. Carol has 12 years experience in the fields of instructional design and communications in both for-profit, K-12, and Higher Education. She consults and presents on Learning Experience Design informed by her experience in website management, strategic planning, and instructional design expertise. Carol's research interests focus on adult learners' motivation and drive in order to effectively develop courses and programs that will contribute to their success in professional and personal advancement. 

Visit the Rabb School faculty directory for a full list of Brandeis GPS faculty.