• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
  • Online Degrees
  • Careers
  • Log In
  • Join for Free
    Coursera
    • Browse
    • Instructional Design

    Instructional Design Courses Online

    Study instructional design for creating effective educational programs. Learn about learning theories, course design, and assessment methods.

    Skip to search results

    Filter by

    Subject
    Required
     *

    Language
    Required
     *

    The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.

    Learning Product
    Required
     *

    Build job-relevant skills in under 2 hours with hands-on tutorials.
    Learn from top instructors with graded assignments, videos, and discussion forums.
    Learn a new tool or skill in an interactive, hands-on environment.
    Get in-depth knowledge of a subject by completing a series of courses and projects.
    Earn career credentials from industry leaders that demonstrate your expertise.
    Earn career credentials while taking courses that count towards your Master’s degree.
    Earn your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree online for a fraction of the cost of in-person learning.
    Complete graduate-level learning without committing to a full degree program.
    Earn a university-issued career credential in a flexible, interactive format.
    Graduate level learning within reach.

    Level
    Required
     *

    Duration
    Required
     *

    Skills
    Required
     *

    Subtitles
    Required
     *

    Educator
    Required
     *

    Explore the Instructional Design Course Catalog

    • Status: Free
      Free
      C

      Coursera Project Network

      Create and Design Digital Products using Canva

      Skills you'll gain: Canva (Software), Design, Digital Design, Design Elements And Principles, Product Design, Color Theory, Intellectual Property, Product Promotion, E-Commerce, Digital Assets, Marketing Materials

      4.4
      Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.2K reviews

      Advanced · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

    • I

      IBM

      Data Engineering Foundations

      Skills you'll gain: Web Scraping, Database Design, SQL, MySQL, Data Transformation, Data Store, Extract, Transform, Load, IBM DB2, Relational Databases, Data Architecture, Jupyter, Data Pipelines, Big Data, Data Warehousing, Data Governance, Data Manipulation, Stored Procedure, Databases, Automation, Python Programming

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      56K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      G

      Georgia Institute of Technology

      Introduction to User Experience Design

      Skills you'll gain: User Experience Design, Prototyping, User Centered Design, Usability, Requirements Analysis, UI/UX Research, Interaction Design, User Interface (UI) Design, Usability Testing, User Research

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      8.8K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • I

      IBM

      Designing User Interfaces and Experiences (UI/UX)

      Skills you'll gain: User Centered Design, Responsive Web Design, Prototyping, Front-End Web Development, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Figma (Design Software), Design Elements And Principles, Web Design, Wireframing, Typography, Web Applications, Mobile Development

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      255 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      Graphic Design

      Skills you'll gain: Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design, Visual Design, Typography, Adobe InDesign, Design Reviews, Adobe Photoshop, Design Elements And Principles, Peer Review, Color Theory, Editing, Creativity

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.3K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: New
      New
      A

      Adobe

      Graphic Design

      Skills you'll gain: Adobe Illustrator, Color Theory, Typography, Graphic and Visual Design, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Adobe Creative Cloud, Design Elements And Principles, Creative Design, Generative AI Agents

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      47 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Virginia

      Design Thinking for Innovation

      Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Creative Problem-Solving, Ideation, Innovation, Creativity, Strategic Thinking, Human Centered Design, Curiosity, Storytelling, User Research, Business Modeling

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      9K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      C

      California Institute of the Arts

      The Language of Design: Form and Meaning

      Skills you'll gain: Design Reviews, Design, Graphic Design, Design Elements And Principles, Visual Design, Peer Review, Typography, Creative Design

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      885 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Fundamentals of Graphic Design

      Skills you'll gain: Typography, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Visual Design, Design Software, Logo Design, Digital Design, Color Theory, Photo Editing, Adobe Creative Cloud, Creativity

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      18K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of California San Diego

      Human-Centered Design: an Introduction

      Skills you'll gain: Interaction Design, Usability, Human Centered Design, Mockups, Storyboarding, User Experience Design, Design Thinking, Prototyping, User Research, Creativity, Interviewing Skills

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.8K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • C

      California Institute of the Arts

      UX Design Fundamentals

      Skills you'll gain: User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, User Experience Design, User Interface (UI) Design, User Centered Design, Interaction Design, Prototyping, Wireframing, User Research, Design Research, User Flows, Usability Testing, Mockups, Information Architecture, Ideation

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.2K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of Michigan

      Instructional Methods in Health Professions Education

      Skills you'll gain: Instructional Design, Adult Learning Principles, Education Software and Technology, Patient Education And Counseling, Learning Theory, Learning Styles, Creativity, Decision Making, Technology Strategies

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      520 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Instructional Design learners also search

    UX Design
    Information Design
    Beginner UX Design
    UX Design Projects
    Computer Design
    UI
    Visual Design
    Design Thinking
    1234…377

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular instructional design courses

    • Create and Design Digital Products using Canva: Coursera Project Network
    • Data Engineering Foundations: IBM
    • Introduction to User Experience Design : Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Designing User Interfaces and Experiences (UI/UX): IBM
    • Graphic Design: University of Colorado Boulder
    • Graphic Design: Adobe
    • Design Thinking for Innovation: University of Virginia
    • The Language of Design: Form and Meaning: California Institute of the Arts
    • Fundamentals of Graphic Design: California Institute of the Arts
    • Human-Centered Design: an Introduction: University of California San Diego

    Skills you can learn in Business Essentials

    Analytics (37)
    Presentation (33)
    Modeling (29)
    Business Analytics (27)
    Language (26)
    Microsoft Excel (26)
    Writing (26)
    Speech (18)
    Plan (17)
    Business Communication (16)
    Decision-making (16)
    Leadership (15)

    Frequently Asked Questions about Instructional Design

    Instructional design courses cover a variety of topics essential for creating effective educational programs and materials. These include the fundamentals of learning theories, instructional strategies, and curriculum development. Learners will explore topics such as needs assessment, learning objectives, and the use of technology in education. Advanced courses might cover e-learning design, multimedia development, and assessment techniques. Practical projects and case studies help learners apply these concepts to design and evaluate instructional materials for different learning environments.‎

    Choosing the right instructional design course depends on your current skill level and career aspirations. Beginners should look for courses that introduce the basics of instructional design, including learning theories, instructional strategies, and curriculum development. Those with some experience might benefit from intermediate courses focusing on e-learning design, multimedia development, and the use of technology in education. Advanced learners or professionals seeking specialized knowledge might consider courses on instructional design for specific contexts, such as corporate training or higher education, or preparing for certifications like CPTD (Certified Professional in Talent Development). Reviewing course content, instructor expertise, and learner feedback can help ensure the course aligns with your goals.‎

    A certificate in instructional design can open up various career opportunities in education, corporate training, and e-learning development. Common roles include instructional designer, e-learning developer, training specialist, and curriculum designer. These positions involve creating and evaluating educational programs, developing online courses, and designing training materials for various audiences. With the growing importance of effective learning solutions in both educational and professional settings, earning a certificate in instructional design can significantly enhance your career prospects and opportunities for advancement in fields such as education, corporate training, healthcare, and government.‎

    Yes, Coursera offers a variety of free courses across many topics, including instructional design. While you can access most course materials for free by auditing the courses, this does not include graded assignments or a completion certificate. For those looking to obtain a certificate to showcase their learning or enhance their professional profile, Coursera provides the option to purchase the course. Additionally, Coursera offers free trials or financial aid to learners who qualify, making certifications more accessible to everyone.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

    Other topics to explore

    Arts and Humanities
    338 courses
    Business
    1095 courses
    Computer Science
    668 courses
    Data Science
    425 courses
    Information Technology
    145 courses
    Health
    471 courses
    Math and Logic
    70 courses
    Personal Development
    137 courses
    Physical Science and Engineering
    413 courses
    Social Sciences
    401 courses
    Language Learning
    150 courses

    Coursera Footer

    Technical Skills

    • ChatGPT
    • Coding
    • Computer Science
    • Cybersecurity
    • DevOps
    • Ethical Hacking
    • Generative AI
    • Java Programming
    • Python
    • Web Development

    Analytical Skills

    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Big Data
    • Business Analysis
    • Data Analytics
    • Data Science
    • Financial Modeling
    • Machine Learning
    • Microsoft Excel
    • Microsoft Power BI
    • SQL

    Business Skills

    • Accounting
    • Digital Marketing
    • E-commerce
    • Finance
    • Google
    • Graphic Design
    • IBM
    • Marketing
    • Project Management
    • Social Media Marketing

    Career Resources

    • Essential IT Certifications
    • High-Income Skills to Learn
    • How to Get a PMP Certification
    • How to Learn Artificial Intelligence
    • Popular Cybersecurity Certifications
    • Popular Data Analytics Certifications
    • What Does a Data Analyst Do?
    • Career Development Resources
    • Career Aptitude Test
    • Share your Coursera Learning Story

    Coursera

    • About
    • What We Offer
    • Leadership
    • Careers
    • Catalog
    • Coursera Plus
    • Professional Certificates
    • MasterTrack® Certificates
    • Degrees
    • For Enterprise
    • For Government
    • For Campus
    • Become a Partner
    • Social Impact
    • Free Courses
    • ECTS Credit Recommendations

    Community

    • Learners
    • Partners
    • Beta Testers
    • Blog
    • The Coursera Podcast
    • Tech Blog
    • Teaching Center

    More

    • Press
    • Investors
    • Terms
    • Privacy
    • Help
    • Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Articles
    • Directory
    • Affiliates
    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Do Not Sell/Share
    Learn Anywhere
    Download on the App Store
    Get it on Google Play
    Logo of Certified B Corporation
    © 2025 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
    • Coursera Facebook
    • Coursera Linkedin
    • Coursera Twitter
    • Coursera YouTube
    • Coursera Instagram
    • Coursera TikTok