# 2026-2027 Course Catalog

**Source**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/education/epol/instructional-system-design-management-leadership-cert/
**Parent**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/certificates/

*for the Graduate Certificate in Instructional System Design Management and Leadership*

---

Instructional System Design Management and Leadership (ISDML) Graduate Certificate requires 16 credit hours to complete. The ISDML CERT is designed to train individuals to aspire to design and develop technology-enriched and -enabled learning systems for broadly defined learning and performance goals in workplace contexts. The ISDML CERT equips students in foundational knowledge and competencies in instructional system design and learning technology integration for practical application purposes in workplace settings. In addition, the coursework will help learners develop skills in various topical areas (e.g., project management, program evaluation, consulting with organizations). We anticipate the proposed CERT to produce capable instructional designers who can lead efforts to meet many increasing needs of workplaces and workforce development to expand learning and development modalities from face-to-face to virtual settings, in response to changing organizational needs as well as major systemic changes. Upon completing the CERT, students will be able to:

- Modify existing learning systems and solutions for remote and online delivery.
- Design scalable learning systems and solutions for developing working professionals’ capabilities in the workplace.
- Develop learning systems and solutions for broadly defined learning and performance outcomes in the workplace across industries.
- Facilitate adoptions of innovations in broadly defined learning and performance contexts in the workplace.
- Evaluate the impact of learning systems and solutions in the workplace.
- Manage the processes and resources involved in instructional system design.

---

The Graduate Certificate programs in the Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership are designed to meet the academic and professional interests of individuals preparing for careers as academic professionals, adult educators, college professors, corporate trainers, educational policy analysts, governmental administrators, instructional designers/technologists, non-profit representatives, organizational development specialists, and university administration leaders.

## **Admission**

The Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership carefully considers all applicants for graduate study. Interested applicants should start at the [College of Education Graduate Programs website](http://education.illinois.edu/programs/grad). In addition to the application, the applicant is required to submit the following information: a statement of purpose, updated resume, official transcripts from all colleges attended, and three letters of recommendation. A scholarly writing sample in English (e.g., a master's thesis, article, or academic paper) is required for application to a doctoral program.

International applicants must demonstrate English Language Proficiency for admission. Please see the [English Proficiency Requirement for Admission](https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/instructions/04c) for additional information on this requirement.

## **Facilities and Resources**

To learn more about our faculty’s research areas, current grants, and recent publications, please visit our [department homepage](https://education.illinois.edu/epol) and/or visit the [Faculty Finder](https://education.illinois.edu/about/directory?displaytype=Profile+View&jobtypes=Faculty). Our faculty pursue a wide range of research interests, offering graduate students many opportunities to collaborate and participate in meaningful research projects. ​

## **Financial Aid**

Financial aid in the form of assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and tuition waivers can be found throughout the [college](https://education.illinois.edu/current-students/graduate/financial-aid) and campus. Please note: Graduate students employed as staff by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are not eligible for a College of Education Fellowship. Campus opportunities can be found at the [Graduate College](http://www.grad.illinois.edu/financial-aid) and the [Office of Student Financial Aid](http://www.osfa.illinois.edu/).

*for the Graduate Certificate in Instructional System Design Management and Leadership*

---

Instructional System Design Management and Leadership (ISDML) Graduate Certificate requires 16 credit hours (four courses) to complete upon admission. Students should follow the program of study below to meet the certificate coursework requirement. Students do not need to follow a specific sequence when completing the courses below.

**Graduation Requirements**

**Minimum Cumulative GPA:** 3.0

**Minimum hours required for certificate completion:** 16 hours

Students who have successfully completed this 16-credit hour certificate may use the certificate to satisfy the following degree requirements, provided they apply and are admitted to the degree program:

- 4 hours of 500-level course required in Education for the EdM degree program at EPOL, and
- 12 hours of Concentration Courses or 400/500-level Courses approved by Advisor for the EdM degree program at EPOL

or

- 4 hours of 500-level course required in Education for the MA degree program at EPOL, and
- 12 hours of 400/500-level Courses approved by Advisor for the MA degree program at EPOL

or

- Up to 12 hours of Major Subject coursework (includes concentration courses) required in Education for the EdD degree program at EPOL, and
- Up to 12 hours of Elective Hours or 400/500-level courses approved by Advisor for the EdD degree program at EPOL

or

- Up to 16 hours of Major Subject coursework (includes concentration courses) required in Education approved by the Advisor for the PhD degree program at EPOL

or

- Up to 16 hours of 400/500-level Courses in Education approved by the Advisor for the CAS program at EPOL

Course List

     | Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [EPOL 472](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=EPOL%20472 "EPOL 472") | Instructional and Training System Design | 4 |
| [EPOL 476](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=EPOL%20476 "EPOL 476") | Project Management Principles and Applications | 4 |
| or [EPOL 485](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=EPOL%20485 "EPOL 485") | Introduction to eLearning | |
| [EPOL 483](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=EPOL%20483 "EPOL 483") | Learning Technologies | 4 |
| Choose 1 from: | | 4 |
| [EPOL 570](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=EPOL%20570 "EPOL 570") | Organization Development |  |
| [ERAM 556](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=ERAM%20556 "ERAM 556") | Program Evaluation |  |
| Total Hours | | 16 |

*for the Graduate Certificate in Instructional System Design Management and Leadership*

---

Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Instructional System Design Management and Leadership, students will be able to:

1. Modify existing learning systems and solutions for remote and online delivery.
2. Design scalable learning systems and solutions for developing working professionals’ capabilities in the workplace.
3. Develop learning systems and solutions for broadly defined learning and performance outcomes in the workplace across industries.
4. Facilitate adoptions of innovations in broadly defined learning and performance contexts in the workplace.
5. Evaluate the impact of learning systems and solutions in the workplace.
6. Manage the processes and resources involved in instructional system design.

*for the Graduate Certificate in Instructional System Design Management and Leadership*

---

## [Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership](https://education.illinois.edu/epol)

Head of the Department: Lorenzo Baber\
Director of Graduate Studies: Linda Herrera\
Graduate Admissions Information: Linda Stimson (on campus) and Jena Pfoff (online/off-campus)\
[Education Policy, Organization & Leadership faculty](https://education.illinois.edu/faculty-finder/epol)\
142 Education Building, 1310 South Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820\
(217) 244-3542\
[gradservices@education.illinois.edu](mailto:gradservices@education.illinois.edu)

## [College of Education](http://education.illinois.edu/)

[College of Education programs](https://education.illinois.edu/faceted-search/programs/)

## **Admissions**

[College of Education Admissions & Requirements](https://education.illinois.edu/programs/grad/how-to-apply?url=/programs/grad)\
[Graduate College Admissions & Requirements](https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply)