Learning Experience Design and Technology

Today’s learning designers are facing unique and rapidly evolving challenges. They must create environments that combine in-person, online, and mobile learning while taking advantage of our media-rich, digital, networked world. For your educational design career to grow and thrive, you need to stay on top of not only today’s trends but also tomorrow’s advances.

Northeastern’s MPS in Learning Experience Design and Technology program provides an experience-based curriculum designed for the challenges facing today’s learning designers, educators, trainers, and instructional technologists in higher education, pre-K-12, government, corporate, and nonprofit organizations. You’ll strengthen your design and instructional thinking to create educational experiences that meet today’s demands and expectations.

You’ll receive both foundational and advanced design-related coursework taught by industry experts. And you’ll be able to hone your classwork through real-world, skill-building opportunities to expand your expertise and network. For example, participate in the optional LXD Skill Building Labs as part of the curriculum - shorter, more intensive courses, focusing on a key skill or knowledge base.

More Details

Our Master of Professional Studies in Learning Experience Design and Technology teaches you today’s in-demand learning design skills through meaningful, learner-centered experiences and flexible, customizable coursework.

• Create an ePortfolio that highlights your accomplishments and design skills.
• Gain real-world experience before you graduate through experiential learning opportunities, including design studio electives and professional internships.
• Learn from industry professionals who provide practical and meaningful experiences.
• Connect with a thriving network of students, alumni, and industry experts through student orientation, residencies, panel discussions, and more.
• Receive flexible, personalized, and agile learning opportunities needed to succeed in today’s educational environment.
• Participate in Skill Building Labs (LXD SBLs) if you choose EDU 6558 as part of your electives – shorter intensive courses that provide students with opportunities to focus deeply on a key skill or knowledge base. They are experiential in nature - including specific design challenges. Examples include: Design Blueprinting, Universal Design Designing with Rise/Storyline, Designing for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Backward Design, and Gamification.

• Online application
• Statement of purpose (500–1000 words): Identify your educational goals and expectations of the program. Please be aware that Northeastern University's academic policy on plagiarism applies to your statement of purpose.
• Professional resumé
• Unofficial undergraduate transcripts; official transcripts required at the time of admission
• Two letters of recommendation from individuals who have either academic or professional knowledge of your capabilities such as a faculty member, colleague, or mentor, preferably one from your current employer
• English language proficiency proof. Students for whom English is not their primary language must submit one of the following:
  • Official associate or bachelor's degree transcript from an accredited college or university in the U.S., stating degree conferral and date
  • TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo, or NU Global Exam scores

Once your application is submitted, received, and processed, you will be able to access your Application Status Check. If you are required to provide further information regarding your proficiency in English, you will be able to complete the requirement in several ways, depending on your familiarity with English, and the frequency with which you use English each and every day:

• Non-native English-speaking applicants will be required to submit official and valid results from one of the following English Language Tests:
  • C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English)
  • Duolingo English Test (DET)
  • IELTS Academic
  • PTE Academic
  • TOEFL Internt-based Test (CEEB Code: 3667) Northeastern will accept either the in-person version completed in a test center, or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition
• However, based on your academic environment and the primary instructional language in either your high school or university, you may be eligible for a waiver. All waivers must be submitted through your Application Status Check. For additional information and to determine whether or not you are eligible for a waiver, please read the section below on waiving the English proficiency requirement.

Please note: Northeastern’s Admissions Committee reserves the right to request proof of English language proficiency from any applicant, regardless of citizenship or first language, at any time during the evaluation process.

Educators with the skills and experience to tackle today’s learning design challenges are finding themselves in demand across the industry:

• Employment for training and development specialists is projected to grow 9% between 2019 and 2029—much faster than the average rate. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• It’s projected that 37,300 job openings will be available for training and development specialists between 2019 and 2029. (O*NET Online)

• 1.Create your application

  Submit your application through The Common Application or the Coalition Application (both are accepted). Once you have created your application, please select Northeastern University to directly submit your application to us. Application fee of $75 or need-based fee waiver* *Northeastern accepts need-based fee waivers from the Common Application, the Coalition Application, as well as organizations such as the College Board and ACT, or in a written request from a school official.

• 2.Submit all required materials

  Double check to make sure that you have submitted all required materials. Even if your application has been submitted, we cannot begin reviewing your file until all of your required materials have been received. For applicants applying for the 2022-2023 academic year, Northeastern University is test-optional and does not require standardized testing to complete an application for admission.

• 3.Check your application status

  Within seven days of applying, you should receive a confirmation email containing your Northeastern University ID number and instructions for setting up your Application Status Check account. To ensure all of the necessary documents have been submitted, and for updates or information about your application, visit your application status check.