Program Office: IUB, Education 2276, (812) 856-8450.

Instructional Systems Technology (IST) provides a master's degree program at Bloomington with an option for study at a distance. The field of IST involves the application of technological processes, including systems analysis and behavioral and cognitive principles, to the design, management, and improvement of instruction. The master's program prepares students to meet the increasing demand for instructional design and media specialists.

In addition to the standard School of Education admission requirements, the IST Admission Committee will evaluate previous course work and experience in relation to the applicant's goal statement. Since post-master's courses draw heavily on theoretical and research literature in the field, students who plan to continue for an advanced graduate degree should consult with their advisor about master's-level courses that will apply toward specialist and doctoral degree requirements.

Students entering the IST program are expected to exhibit experience with computers in three areas: (1) computer awareness and literacy, (2) basic applications, and (3) educational computing basics. Students deficient in any of these areas will be required to supplement their program with course work in instructional computing.

Students must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours, including the following:

I.   Core Courses  (12 cr.)

• R511 Instructional Technology Foundations I (3 cr.)
• R521 Instructional Design and Development I (3 cr.)
• R541 Instructional Development and Production Process I (3 cr.)
• R561 Evaluation and Change in the Instructional Development Process (3 cr.)

II.  Major Courses 15-18 credit hours from at least two of the following categories:

• Instructional Analysis, Design, and Development (e.g., R620, R621, R625, or R626)
• Instructional Development and Production (e.g., R547, R641, or R741)
• Implementation and Management (e.g., R563, R660,R665 or R667)

II. Outside Electives (9 cr.)

A minimum of 9 credit hours outside of IST are required. These may be taken inside or outside the School of Education. The nature and mix of the courses must be structured to support the overall thrust of the student's program of studies.  Typical options include: Business, Computer Schience, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Inquiry, Telecommunicatioins, etc.

III. Graduation Examination

One month prior to graduation a student is required to submit for review his or her instructional projecrt and a portfolio.  These are reviewed by a faculty commmittee with the student approximately two weeks before graduation.  The purposes of the graduateion examination are to provide a capstoning experience for the stuent and to provide quality career counseling.

IV.  Instructional Project Certificate

An instructional project must be developed. If this is not done in a course for credit (e.g., R547, R641, R625, R586), then it must be submitted to the IST Department for review and approval. The project must address a real-world instructional problem and contain evidence of the student's successful application of at least three of the five components of the instructional systems development (ISD) process: analysis, design, production, evaluation and implementation;management. Each student will choose a project mentor from among the IST faculty.  One other Indiana University faculty member (in or outside of the IST departmetn) may serve as a co-mentor.  The mentor(s) will lead the student through the process.  The instructional project may or may not be included as part of the portfolio, explained below.  This project can be done prior to the studen'ts final semester if desired.  

V.  Portfolio Certificate

A portfolio must be developed and submitted to the IST Department for review and approval.  The portfolio will represent two sets of information in an organized fashion.

The first will be a set of products developed by the student. Included in the portfolio may but not necessarily be the product developed in the Instructional Project.  Additional products developed by the student in other research or development courses, via practica and internships, in conjunction with a graduate assistantship, etc. may also be included in the portfolio.

The second set of information will consist of the following four items: (1) a completed program of studies form, (2) a statement of the student's career goals, (3) a professional resume, and (4) a listing of professional references.  

Portfolios are evaluated only once in the fall and once in the spring semester.