Learning, Design, and Technology (LDT) is a concentration under the Applied Education Studies (AES) degree in the College of Education. AES:LDT was designed for undergraduate students who are interested in working in the Education sector not as traditional teachers but as instructional designers and developers for varied employers (higher education, government/military agencies, business/industry) or as independent entrepreneurs of education services and products. While training in instructional design is typically found in graduate school, scholars in the field of LDT have highlighted undergraduate preparation as a future direction for the expanding field to help meet demand (An, 2024). We are excited to provide this opportunity for undergraduates at NC State, and given the large number of courses taken by undergraduates, expect AES:LDT graduates to be well prepared to meet employer demands.

As a field, LDT draws on interdisciplinary foundations across education, psychology, communications, and design to apply what is empirically understood about how people learn to effectively design, develop, implement, and evaluate instructional resources to improve learning and performance in varied settings. Graduates will develop knowledge of underlying learning theory, applicable instructional design skills such as instructional analysis and instructional strategy planning, design and development skills with varied technologies (e-learning, apps, games, video, AR/VR), and entrepreneurship and project management skills to plan and iterate original educational innovations.

Program Description

The AES:LDT concentration features the following:

• required four-course core for undergraduates taught by LDT faculty on campus featuring courses on foundations of LDT, instructional design, artificial intelligence in education, and educational innovation and entrepreneurship in education
• customizable curriculum plan featuring multiple elective slots and General Education Program (GEP) courses that LDT faculty have aligned with IBSTPI instructional design competencies to ensure graduates are well prepared for careers in the field
• opportunity for undergraduates interested in entrepreneurial educational solutions to get involved in university entrepreneurial communities such as Campfire, the Entrepreneurship Garage, and the Entrepreneurs Village
• formally approved Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s (ABM) option allowing well-qualified undergraduates with a 3.5 GPA to receive both their B.S. and M.Ed. degrees in LDT in as little as five years with a 12-hour reduction in master’s credit hours by taking four 500-level graduate courses in the senior year
• presently the only undergraduate concentration in the College of Education that does not lead to teacher licensure (no student teaching, edTPA portfolio, or Praxis exam) with graduates instead working as instructional designers, developers, or entrepreneurs

Additional Information

A frequently asked questions (FAQs) page is maintained by LDT faculty to provide expanded information on the AES:LDT program, its curriculum, student opportunities on campus and in employment, the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s (ABM) option, and further references. For additional information, students can reach out to the AES:LDT undergraduate program coordinator, Dr. Kevin Oliver (kmoliver@ncsu.edu).

Plan Requirements

Advanced Writing

History

Teaching Field Electives

This is a sample.

For those pursuing the Accelerated Bachelor's Master's Program:

Career Opportunities

Graduates are expected to work as instructional designers and content developers for different employers such as K-12 and private school systems, higher education institutions, government/military agencies, or business/industry. Some graduates may also be interested in entrepreneurial work, creating non-profits or startup companies to offer technical educational services, training, or new products.

Career Titles

• Content Developer
• Entrepreneur
• Instructional Designer
• Non-Profit Director
• Technical Director
• Training Specialist

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