New line of learning design and technology certification programs position educators entering new era

Lecturers. Trainers. Teachers. Development specialists. Advisors. Instructional coordinators. While educators have many names, Purdue University’s College of Education is unveiling a series of new online graduate certificates designed to enhance the skills of anyone in the learning design and technology field.  

The newest programs, the Graduate Certificate in Technology Integration for Learning and the Graduate Certificate in Workplace Learning, were created to empower educators and trainers in every professional arena.  

“It’s hard to identify who we are, but we’re the people who can help to make learning experiences efficient, engaging, effective, and meaningful,” said Jennifer Richardson, the 150th Anniversary Professor in Purdue’s College of Education and a professor of learning design and technology in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.  

“We have the oldest online master’s program at Purdue University. We have been doing this for a long time — long before COVID — and are uniquely situated to do it well, as many of our faculty have research and practical expertise in online learning. We are teaching what we do. We know the pitfalls that can accompany online learning courses and programs and have designed ours accordingly.” 

“These programs are for people who teach and help others learn — whether that is on campus, in a corporate setting, in a K-12 classroom, on a factory floor, or on an alpaca farm.”  

The launch of these programs follows the release of the College of Education’s online Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design in 2023. The three new graduate certificates cover the following topics: 

• The Technology Integration for Learning Graduate Certificate introduces educators to cutting edge technology, innovative programs and strategies for how to adapt as new hardware and software are introduced. Participants learn to evaluate, implement and manage technology resources to enhance student engagement, support diverse learners and improve educational outcomes. 
• The Workplace Learning Graduate Certificate is designed for professionals in any industry, offering the skills needed to master the technical and interpersonal skills required to be a thought leader and effective professional trainer with a foundation in human performance technology and strategic assessment.  
• The Instructional Design Graduate Certificate equips students with a foundation in learning theories and systematic design, with the option to choose an elective exploring topics such as multimedia design, integration of artificial intelligence and project management. 

All three programs provide the foundation to get started in the field or advance to the online Master of Science in Education in Learning Design and Technology degree where the certificate credits may be applied. 

Richardson said for years the college has considered ways to offer continuing education to people who may not be ready to tackle their online master’s in education in learning design and technology degree. During that time, the demand for more online programming grew. 

Then they noticed a trend.  

Professionals in similar fields tended to take the same electives as part of the master’s program. Since certificates have grown in popularity and professional acceptance in recent years, Richardson said they realized they could package those courses together to create an attainable certificate.  

“We are listening to our external stakeholders about what is needed not only in terms of topics like AI, which is of interest to everybody right now, but in terms of helping people secure better opportunities,” Richardson said. 

In 2025, the College of Education’s portfolio of online master’s in education programs was ranked No. 20 nationally by U.S. News & World Report. The same year, Purdue was also ranked No. 3 for best online master’s in curriculum and instructional program and No. 12 for best online master’s in education/instructional media design programs.   

But the learning design program struggles with anonymity on campus while attracting the attention of businesses and organizations across the nation, Richardson said. “There’s so many people that don’t know about us,” Richardson said. “We decided while we’re launching some new certificates, it would be a great idea to be able to reach these many audiences to say, ‘Hey, we’re here. We’ve got the online master’s. Not ready for that? Then take one of our certs, effectively ‘dipping your toes into the water’ without the pressure of a full master’s program. These certs can then be used towards the online master’s when you are ready. Come upskill your skill set. Try new things.” 

The Graduate Certificate in Workplace Learning, Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design and Master of Science in Education in Learning Design and Technology are also offered in a residential setting on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus. 

Learn more about the online Technology Integration for Learning, Workplace Learning and Instructional Design graduate certificates by visiting their websites.