Instructional design is one of the fastest-growing jobs in the education world right now.
Instructional designers use learning theory to create and design educational experiences and content, often in the virtual sphere.
It’s no wonder why the job is growing fast: as more and more learning takes place online, there’s a higher demand for quality educational materials and programs.
Plus, instructional designers enjoy some great career perks.
Many instructional designers work from home or in a hybrid setting, allowing for a flexible work/life balance.
Instructional design, or ID, also allows for creativity and expression as you bring educational experiences to life.
Plus, instructional designers tend to make good money, with salaries averaging around $80k a year.
This career path is a popular choice for teachers who might be looking for something outside the classroom, as instructional design draws on many of the skills that teachers already have.
Instructional design is also a great option for anyone with a passion for sharing knowledge and promoting learning.
If you’re thinking about breaking into the world of ID, it’s important to be prepared.
You want to feel confident in your resume and expertise before you start searching for that great new job.
That’s where an instructional design boot camp can really save the day.
In this article, we’ll take a close look at the highly-rated Emeritus Professional Instructional Design boot camp to get an idea of what this particular course can offer.
Read on to learn more about the program’s features, pros, cons, and cost!
Emeritus Professional Certificate in Instructional Design Overview
Emeritus Professional Instructional Design Certificate | Online Certificate Course
Gain firsthand expertise in instructional design principles and methodologies through this unique Professional Certificate program. Create impactful learning solutions and improve people's ability to learn.
The next class kicks off on October 22, 2024, so don't miss your chance to enroll now! Take advantage of early bird discounts leading up to the kickoff date:
20% off until September 3
15% off until September 24
10% off until October 15
Emeritus is a comprehensive five-month program designed to get you completely prepared to succeed in this field.
Once you’ve enrolled in the program, you’ll join your cohort on an intensive training journey that will help you build everything from your foundational knowledge to your work portfolio.
Emeritus offers 250 hours of technical training, along with nineteen hours of career development activities.
You’ll have access to one-on-one sessions with professional instructional designers along the way to help you through any obstacles.
Emeritus focuses on teaching the learning theory and design models that will help you form a solid foundation.
You’ll also build analytical skills to help you assess and address learner problems.
You’ll be comfortable creating everything from guided practice to assessments, videos to lesson plans, and feel confident that you’ve chosen the best mode of delivery for your content.
Plus, you’ll be a pro at creating instructional materials and modules that effectively help your target audience learn.
Essentially, Emeritus will walk you through every part of becoming a knowledgeable and experienced instructional designer.
Now that you’ve got a basic idea of what Emeritus has to offer, let’s look closely at how the Emeritus program is structured.
How Does the Emeritus Professional Instructional Design Program Work?
The Emeritus Professional Instructional Design program is broken down into six parts:
- Introduction to Instructional Design
- Developing Objectives
- Developing Instruction
- Course Implementation and Iteration
- Course Production
- Capstone
Each of these six categories is then further divided into modules that go in-depth on everything you need to know.
You’ll also complete six career-guidance assignments focused on helping you meet employer expectations right out of the gate.
The Emeritus Instructional Design program also includes eight hours of optional career support activities to help you boost your portfolio even further.
The course’s short lessons and engaging format help you stay focused on meeting your learning objectives, while the comprehensive curriculum ensures that you’ve covered all your bases.
Plus, you’ll have access to industry professionals in 1:1 sessions, so that you can gain an expert opinion on how to tackle any challenges.
Now that we’ve looked at how the course is structured, let’s talk about the five major things we loved about Emeritus Professional Instructional Design, as well as some of the things we might change.
Pros
The Curriculum is Thorough
The Emeritus curriculum is incredibly thorough, and since the course has been recently updated, there’s no outdated or unneeded information.
You can be sure that all of the skills you’re learning in this bootcamp are in line with current best practices.
For such a short program (only five months), the Emeritus offering packs a major punch.
You’ll learn the theory behind what makes a course or training effective, and then get to practice actually designing lessons and modules for different audiences.
You’ll experiment with different media, work on both group and solo projects, and build up your work portfolio, all with expert guidance keeping you on the right track.
The Guidance is Professional
The expert guidance ties into the next feature that really sets Emeritus apart: the professionals helping you along the way.
There are plenty of instructional design bootcamps out there, but not all of them offer actual one-on-one sessions with industry professionals.
Especially if you’re transitioning from another line of work, it can be hard to find a mentor who can review and critique your progress… yet this step is often the most valuable towards actually honing your abilities.
The Emeritus Instructional Design bootcamp allows you to show your work to pros who can give you important feedback on how to maximize your potential.
The Community is Strong
Professional guidance is huge, but so is having a network of other instructional designers at your level.
After all, a lot of instructional design is creative and collaborative.
No one is creating educational content in a vacuum, so it helps to have a community of folks who you can chat with.
The other members of your Emeritus cohort provide a built-in community of other instructional designers learning and growing along with you.
Whether you’re sharing successes, laughing over mistakes, or bouncing around ideas for new projects, having a support system can be a huge lift when embarking on a new career path.
The Price is Competitive
For such a comprehensive and detailed course, Emeritus is well-priced.
The five month instructional design bootcamp costs $3,500 total, with financing and flexible payments available.
Right now, Emeritus is also offering some substantial discounts for their next cohort, which begins October 22, 2024.
Sign up before September 3rd to get a whopping 20% Early Bird discount. This means you can get the entire course for only $2,800.
If you end up missing the September 3rd cutoff, Emeritus is offering 15% off until September 24th, and 10% off until October 15th.
Consider that most courses of this caliber cost over a thousand dollars per month, and you can see that the Emeritus Professional Design bootcamp is a solid value.
The Certificate is Valuable
When you’ve completed all of the lessons and trainings in this five-month bootcamp, you’ll receive the Emeritus Professional Design certificate.
Not every online ID course provides you with certification, so this is a nice perk.
An Emeritus Professional Instructional Design certificate is a great addition to your resume and shows employers that you’ve done your homework.
Whether you’re just starting out in the field or simply looking to upskill and add to your ID toolbox, having a certificate from Emeritus is a great accomplishment.
Keep in mind that you won’t walk away with only a certificate, too.
You’ll also have a carefully curated portfolio of the work you’ve created, highlighting your talents and abilities to design engaging educational content.
Cons
Space is Limited
The only real drawback we see to the Emeritus program is that space is limited, and the course is only offered a few times a year.
This means you’ll need to plan ahead if you think this course is a worthwhile investment.
While the limited space does ensure that you’re getting plenty of quality time with your instructors, it would be great if Emeritus could expand to allow enrollment in their instructional design bootcamp at all times.
With the next cohort beginning on October 22, there’s thankfully still plenty of time to reserve your spot in this competitive course.
Final Thoughts
The Emeritus Professional Instructional Design bootcamp is a great way to prepare yourself for success in the world of instructional design.
You’ll learn the ins and outs of course design, adult learning theory, course implementation, and editing, all from experts who are up-to-date on best practices.
You’ll also create a valuable network of peers, build a portfolio of your own unique work, and earn the Emeritus Instructional Design certificate to prove that you know your stuff.
While it’s not offered year-round, this bootcamp is worth the extra effort of securing your spot in advance.
With early bird discounts available, the Emeritus program is among the best value on the market, especially for such a concise and effective course.
If you’re serious about transitioning to instructional design, or leveling up from your current ID skills, this course is a great tool to get you on your way.
That puts you one giant step closer to landing your dream job in instructional design.
Are you looking to transition into the field of instructional design? Do you have expert insights in the ID field already? We’d love to hear your questions and comments below!