• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
  • Coursera Plus
  • Log In
  • Join for Free
    Coursera
    • Browse
    • Instructional Design

    Instructional Design Courses

    Instructional design courses can help you learn how to create effective learning experiences using educational theory, technology, and learner-centered strategies.

    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
     *

    Find the Best Instructional Design Course for Your Goals

    • I

      IBM

      Applied Software Engineering Fundamentals

      Skills you'll gain: Software Development Life Cycle, Linux Commands, Unit Testing, Bash (Scripting Language), Shell Script, Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Development Environment, Version Control, File Management, Jupyter, Software Engineering, Software Development Tools, Application Deployment, Collaborative Software, Automation, Flask (Web Framework), Web Scraping, Python Programming, Software Testing

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      47K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • A

      Arizona State University

      Arizona State University TESOL

      Skills you'll gain: Oral Comprehension, Learning Management Systems, Education Software and Technology, Language Competency, Pedagogy, Literacy, Learning Strategies, Instructional Strategies, Enthusiasm, Motivational Skills, Oral Expression, Learning Styles, Technology Strategies, Grammar, Language Learning, English Language, Vocabulary, Design Elements And Principles, Self-Awareness, Goal Setting

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      21K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • C

      Copenhagen Business School

      Sustainable Fashion

      Skills you'll gain: Corporate Sustainability, Environmental Regulations, Business Transformation, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Innovation, Business Strategies, Sustainability Reporting, Consumer Behaviour, Business Modeling, Strategic Partnership, Material Handling, Waste Minimization, Product Lifecycle Management

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      765 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of Virginia

      Design Thinking for the Greater Good: Innovation in the Social Sector

      Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Stakeholder Engagement, Innovation, Prototyping, Brainstorming, Storytelling, Human Centered Design, Ideation, Service Design, User Experience, Experimentation, Qualitative Research, Data Visualization

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      414 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      Relational Database Design

      Skills you'll gain: Database Design, Database Management Systems, Relational Databases, Database Theory, Databases, Database Architecture and Administration, Data Modeling, Data Integrity, Requirements Elicitation, Technical Communication

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      294 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Michigan

      User Experience Research and Design

      Skills you'll gain: UI/UX Research, Surveys, Qualitative Research, Usability Testing, User Experience Design, User Experience, User Research, User Story, Prototyping, Wireframing, User Centered Design, Survey Creation, Sampling (Statistics), Design Research, Interaction Design, Ideation, A/B Testing, Conceptual Design, User Interface (UI), Test Case

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.2K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Virginia

      Design Thinking

      Skills you'll gain: Brainstorming, Design Thinking, Innovation, Ideation, Creative Thinking, User Research, Human Centered Design, Creative Problem-Solving, Design Research, Open Mindset, Stakeholder Management, Project Scoping, User Experience Design, Persona Development, Project Planning, Process Mapping, Value Engineering, Product Development, Growth Mindedness, Visionary

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      209 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • I

      IBM

      IBM Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst

      Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Storytelling, Data Warehousing, SQL, Database Design, MySQL, Presentations, Descriptive Statistics, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Intelligence, IBM DB2, Tableau Software, Relational Databases, Star Schema, Data Visualization Software, Interactive Data Visualization, Regression Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      14K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      Y

      Yale University

      Roman Architecture

      Skills you'll gain: Ancient History, Art History, Architectural Design, Architecture and Construction, Construction, Civil Engineering, European History, Culture, World History, Cultural Diversity, Research and Design, Design Elements And Principles

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      684 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 3 - 6 Months

    • I

      IBM

      IBM Data Management

      Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Data Storytelling, Data Warehousing, SQL, Data Governance, Data Security, Data Migration, Database Design, Data Literacy, Descriptive Statistics, Extract, Transform, Load, Data Mining, Cloud Storage, Data Visualization Software, Data Store, IBM DB2, Data Management, Relational Databases, MySQL, Excel Formulas

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      16K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • I

      IBM

      IBM Data Analytics with Excel and R

      Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Interactive Data Visualization, Shiny (R Package), Data Wrangling, Exploratory Data Analysis, Relational Databases, Big Data, Data Visualization Software, Ggplot2, Database Design, Data Analysis, IBM Cognos Analytics, Statistical Analysis, Data Presentation, Data Mining, Dashboard, Excel Formulas, Data Manipulation, Web Scraping, Microsoft Excel

      Build toward a degree

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      28K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Minnesota

      User Interface Design

      Skills you'll gain: UI/UX Research, User Research, Design Research, User Interface (UI) Design, Usability Testing, Prototyping, User Interface (UI), User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Usability, User Experience, User Centered Design, Graphic and Visual Design, Ideation, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience Design, Interaction Design, Qualitative Research, Design Thinking

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.8K reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    Searches related to instructional design

    instructional design foundations and applications
    1…91011…377

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

    • Applied Software Engineering Fundamentals: IBM
    • Arizona State University TESOL: Arizona State University
    • Sustainable Fashion: Copenhagen Business School
    • Design Thinking for the Greater Good: Innovation in the Social Sector: University of Virginia
    • Relational Database Design: University of Colorado Boulder
    • User Experience Research and Design: University of Michigan
    • Design Thinking: University of Virginia
    • IBM Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst: IBM
    • Roman Architecture: Yale University
    • IBM Data Management: IBM

    Why Learn Instructional Design?

    Instructional design focuses on developing educational content and experiences that help people learn effectively—whether in classrooms, online platforms, or workplace training. It blends learning science, curriculum development, and digital tools to support meaningful outcomes. Learning instructional design can prepare you to create engaging learning solutions across education, business, and nonprofit sectors.

    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