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    • Instructional Design

    Instructional Design Courses

    Instructional design courses can help you learn how to create effective learning experiences using educational theory, technology, and learner-centered strategies.

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    Find the Best Instructional Design Course for Your Goals

    • G

      Google

      Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate

      Skills you'll gain: User Experience Design, User Story, Ideation, Usability, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, User Research, Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, Competitive Analysis, User Flows, Persona Development

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      16K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Alberta

      Object-Oriented Design

      Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Design, Unified Modeling Language, Software Design, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Java, Maintainability, Software Architecture, Android Development, Technical Design, Conceptual Design

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.4K reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • C

      Copenhagen Business School

      Sustainable Fashion

      Skills you'll gain: Corporate Sustainability, Environmental Regulations, Business Transformation, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Innovation, Business Strategies, Sustainability Reporting, Consumer Behaviour, Business Modeling, Strategic Partnership, Material Handling, Waste Minimization, Product Lifecycle Management

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      765 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      Graphic Design Elements for Non-Designers

      Skills you'll gain: Logo Design, Color Theory, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Design, Typography, Visual Design, Color Matching, User Experience Design, Digital Design, Graphic and Visual Design, Graphics Software, Adobe InDesign, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design Software, Photo Editing, Content Creation, Design Research, Information Architecture, Adobe Photoshop

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.6K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: New
      New
      V

      Vanderbilt University

      Generative AI SQL Database Specialist with ChatGPT

      Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, Database Design, Productivity, Data Migration, Generative AI, Software Documentation, SQL, Dashboard, Artificial Intelligence, Database Management, Data Visualization, Large Language Modeling, Gap Analysis, Database Architecture and Administration, Technical Design, Data Storytelling, Data Analysis, Debugging, Data-Driven Decision-Making

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      5.8K reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      Y

      Yale University

      Roman Architecture

      Skills you'll gain: Ancient History, Art History, Architectural Design, Architecture and Construction, Construction, Civil Engineering, European History, Culture, World History, Cultural Diversity, Research and Design, Design Elements And Principles

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      686 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Virginia

      Design Thinking for the Greater Good: Innovation in the Social Sector

      Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Stakeholder Engagement, Innovation, Prototyping, Brainstorming, Storytelling, Human Centered Design, Ideation, Service Design, User Experience, Experimentation, Qualitative Research, Data Visualization

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      414 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Introduction to Typography

      Skills you'll gain: Typography, Graphic Design, Creative Design, Adobe InDesign, Design, Visual Design, Art History, Design Elements And Principles, Peer Review

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      5.7K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Character Design for Video Games

      Skills you'll gain: Animation and Game Design, Animations, Game Design, Video Game Development, Design, Technical Design, Conceptual Design, Design Elements And Principles, Creative Design, Storytelling, Creativity

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      994 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • A

      Arizona State University

      Teach English Now! Lesson Design and Assessment

      Skills you'll gain: Oral Expression, Design Elements And Principles, Design Strategies, English Language, Language Learning

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.9K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      C

      Coursera Project Network

      Use Canva to Create Desktop and Mobile-friendly Web Pages.

      Skills you'll gain: Canva (Software), Web Design and Development, Web Applications, Web Content, Digital Publishing, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Visual Design, User Accounts

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.4K reviews

      Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

    • G

      Google Cloud

      Preparing for Google Cloud Certification: Cloud Architect

      Skills you'll gain: Cloud Infrastructure, Kubernetes, Google Cloud Platform, Identity and Access Management, Prompt Engineering, Application Deployment, Cloud Storage, Containerization, Infrastructure As A Service (IaaS), Cloud Computing, CI/CD, Cloud Computing Architecture, Cloud Security, Cloud Management, Cloud Services, Load Balancing, Service Level Agreement, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Virtual Machines, Process Analysis

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      59K reviews

      Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    Searches related to instructional design

    instructional design foundations and applications
    instructional and curriculum design
    1…91011…384

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular instructional design courses

    • Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate: Google
    • Object-Oriented Design: University of Alberta
    • Sustainable Fashion: Copenhagen Business School
    • Graphic Design Elements for Non-Designers: University of Colorado Boulder
    • Generative AI SQL Database Specialist with ChatGPT: Vanderbilt University
    • Roman Architecture: Yale University
    • Design Thinking for the Greater Good: Innovation in the Social Sector: University of Virginia
    • Introduction to Typography: California Institute of the Arts
    • Character Design for Video Games: California Institute of the Arts
    • Teach English Now! Lesson Design and Assessment: Arizona State University

    Why Learn Instructional Design?

    Instructional design focuses on developing educational content and experiences that help people learn effectively—whether in classrooms, online platforms, or workplace training. It blends learning science, curriculum development, and digital tools to support meaningful outcomes. Learning instructional design can prepare you to create engaging learning solutions across education, business, and nonprofit sectors.

    Skills you can learn in Business Essentials

    Analytics (37)
    Presentation (33)
    Modeling (29)
    Business Analytics (27)
    Language (26)
    Microsoft Excel (26)
    Writing (26)
    Speech (18)
    Plan (17)
    Business Communication (16)
    Decision-making (16)
    Leadership (15)

    Frequently Asked Questions about Instructional Design

    Top courses include Instructional Design Foundations and Applications from the University of Illinois and An Introduction to Learning Experience Design (LXD) from the University of Michigan as well. These programs cover learning theory, course planning, digital pedagogy, and technology tools for designing engaging learning experiences.‎

    Yes. Many instructional design courses offer a free audit option. You can access video lectures and readings at no cost. If you want to complete assessments or earn a certificate, you’ll need to upgrade or apply for financial aid.‎

    You’ll learn how to design learning objectives, structure courses, select appropriate media and tools, and evaluate learning outcomes. Many courses also include frameworks like ADDIE, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).‎

    Not necessarily. While experience in education or training can be helpful, many courses are beginner-friendly and provide a strong foundation for anyone interested in creating effective learning experiences.‎

    Yes. Instructional design is a growing field across education, corporate training, government, and nonprofits. Coursera courses can help you build job-ready skills, create a portfolio of work, and earn certificates that demonstrate your ability to design engaging and effective learning materials.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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