The Online Master’s in Learning Design and Technology (OTEC) program welcomes busy professionals from the neighbor islands and the mainland United States as well as international students who hold a bachelor’s degree and find time and distance constraints of furthering an on-campus degree too difficult.
OTEC is a two or three-year academic program leading to a Master’s in Education (MEd) in Learning Design and Technology, with a theoretical basis Instructional Design. Started in 2006, the online Master’s program builds on the UH educational technology graduate program with a 50-year history of success and leadership in the field.
The primary employers of LTEC graduates are educational institutions, both public and private, at all levels: K-12, post-secondary (community colleges and universities). Also, government and private agencies like software companies, publishing companies, and companies and agencies with training and design departments, such as health care, manufacturing industries and large retail corporations.
There is no single job title for learning design and educational technologists in organizations, but some examples include: Training Coordinator, Instructional Designer, Technology Support Specialist, Museum Education Specialist, and so on.
Must have graduated from an accredited, four-year institution of higher education recognized by the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM), prior to beginning the MEd, Learning Design & Technology program.
An Undergraduate Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
A transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.
A written statement of objectives as part of your application.
Your resume or CV.
Three (3) letters of recommendation
Applicants who are not native English speakers may need to take the TOEFL or IELTS (Academic) tests. For more information view the Graduate Division website.
International students are required to submit a copy of their Identification documents (i.e. Passport or Identification Card)
International applicants need to show proof of sufficient funding to cover all educational and living expenses
The OTEC MEd is cohort-based, with students only admitted in the fall term each year as part of a group that takes initial classes together and beginning with a three-day, on-campus orientation. In a cohort model, students enroll in a series of core courses, beginning and ending the series together. Such an approach helps build community and support structures within the program. Students work with like-minded professionals to achieve a common goal.
OTEC courses are offered fully online, except for two required weekend sessions at the Manoa campus in the first semester. Courses are scheduled within the standard UHM semester.
The first is an orientation scheduled as part of a three-day, on-campus retreat usually beginning on the Friday of the weekend proceeding the first day of instruction in August. The second is a two-day Saturday-Sunday session after the fifth or sixth week of classes. There are no on-campus sessions required after these two in the first semester.
The M.Ed. in Learning Design and Technology is a 33-credit graduate program of six required core courses and a minimum of five elective courses. Core courses are taken in sequence. All students follow the same sequence in their first year. Courses for the second year depends on whether students are attending full-time, with those on a part-time basis typically completing core requirements in year 3.
The six core courses in the OTEC program are offered online and include live sessions on the Internet weekday evenings to accommodate adult learners, typically from 6:00-8:30 PM HST on Tuesdays and Thursday.
LTEC 600 Theory and Practice in Educational Technology
Electives may be taken on campus or online and in any semester, including summer, and are selected from LTEC 400-level and 600-level courses. At least three electives must be graduate level and taken after admission to the program. Students develop a plan for electives with their program coordinator based on individual interests and goals.
Culminating Experience
Plan B option which is most commonly selected includes the following:
a design or research project selected by the student and approved by an advisor; and
a conference presentation showcasing the project
Students have the option of completing a Master’s thesis under Plan A.
The tuition rates are generally around $650 per credit for residents and $1402 per credit for non-residents. In addition, student fees typically total $451. Students enrolled in an online program will only be assessed for resident tuition regardless of their residence in a different state or country. Please see the “General & Post-Baccalaureate” heading on the Graduate Tuition Schedule for more accurate tuition rates.
STAR website (please note that this is only accessible to students with a valid UH ID number – must be admitted as a student prior to looking for scholarships on this site)
Our faculty and staff will provide you with guidance and resources to support your success from beginning to end. You will receive a dedicated faculty advisor to partner with you on your journey.
