• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
  • Online Degrees
  • Careers
  • 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

    • E

      Epic Games

      Epic Games Game Design

      Skills you'll gain: Unreal Engine, Game Design, Video Game Development, Animation and Game Design, Ideation, 3D Modeling, Prototyping, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Software Documentation, Software Design Documents, User Experience Design, Computer Graphics, Usability, Interactive Design, Virtual Environment, User Interface (UI) Design, Version Control, Conceptual Design, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, UI Components

      4.2
      Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
      ·
      347 reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      AI for Course Design

      Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, Education Software and Technology, Data Ethics, Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, ChatGPT, Emerging Technologies

      4
      Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      22 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: New AI skills
      New AI skills
      G

      Google

      Google Project Management:

      Skills you'll gain: Quality Management, Project Management Life Cycle, Project Scoping, Project Closure, Project Management, Project Planning, Continuous Improvement Process, Agile Project Management, Project Controls, Backlogs, Quality Assessment, Team Management, Project Documentation, Agile Methodology, Communication Planning, Project Schedules, Change Management, Milestones (Project Management), Organizational Structure, Data Storytelling

      Build toward a degree

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      128K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: New
      New
      Status: New AI skills
      New AI skills
      A

      Adobe

      Adobe Graphic Designer

      Skills you'll gain: Photo Editing, Adobe Illustrator, Color Theory, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, Typography, Document Management, Generative AI, Graphic and Visual Design, Design, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Creativity, Photography, Data Ethics, Workflow Management, Adobe Creative Cloud, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Collaborative Software

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      773 reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Graphic Design

      Skills you'll gain: Typography, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Visual Design, Logo Design, Design Software, Digital Design, Creative Design, Graphic and Visual Design, Color Theory, Adobe InDesign, Photo Editing, Photography, Style Guides, Branding, Peer Review, Art History, Design, Aesthetics, Design Strategies

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      21K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: AI skills
      AI skills
      M

      Microsoft

      Microsoft UX Design

      Skills you'll gain: Storyboarding, User Research, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Design Thinking, Prototyping, Usability Testing, User Experience, Persona (User Experience), Wireframing, Design Research, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Interaction Design, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Human Centered Design, Figma (Design Software), Usability, User Interface (UI) Design, User Centered Design, Design

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      383 reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • C

      California Institute of the Arts

      UI / UX Design

      Skills you'll gain: Information Architecture, Wireframing, Persona (User Experience), Mockups, User Experience Design, Responsive Web Design, Web Design, UI/UX Strategy, User Interface (UI) Design, User Centered Design, Interaction Design, Prototyping, Graphic and Visual Design, User Research, Web Language, HTML and CSS, User Flows, Design Elements And Principles, Human Computer Interaction, Typography

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      7.9K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of California San Diego

      Interaction Design

      Skills you'll gain: Design Research, Interaction Design, User Experience Design, Statistical Analysis, Usability, Ideation, User Research, Graphic and Visual Design, User Interface (UI) Design, Experimentation, Prototyping, Human Centered Design, A/B Testing, Usability Testing, User Centered Design, Mockups, Human Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Collaborative Software, Telecommuting

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4K reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • M

      Meta

      Principles of UX/UI Design

      Skills you'll gain: UI/UX Research, Usability Testing, Persona (User Experience), Interaction Design, User Experience Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, User Interface (UI), User Experience, Design Research, User Centered Design, User Interface (UI) Design, Figma (Design Software), Design Elements And Principles, Wireframing, Prototyping

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • G

      Google

      Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design

      Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, User Research, User Experience Design, User Centered Design, Usability, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Cross Platform Development, Prototyping, Wireframing, Sprint Planning

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      73K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • 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

      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
      ·
      256 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    Searches related to instructional design

    instructional design foundations and applications
    1234…383

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

    • Epic Games Game Design: Epic Games
    • AI for Course Design: University of Colorado Boulder
    • Google Project Management:: Google
    • Adobe Graphic Designer: Adobe
    • Graphic Design: California Institute of the Arts
    • Microsoft UX Design: Microsoft
    • UI / UX Design: California Institute of the Arts
    • Interaction Design: University of California San Diego
    • Principles of UX/UI Design: Meta
    • Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design: Google

    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

    Top courses include Instructional Design Foundations and Applications from the University of Illinois and An Introduction to Learning Experience Design (LXD) from the University of Michigan as well. These programs cover learning theory, course planning, digital pedagogy, and technology tools for designing engaging learning experiences.‎

    Yes. Many instructional design courses offer a free audit option. You can access video lectures and readings at no cost. If you want to complete assessments or earn a certificate, you’ll need to upgrade or apply for financial aid.‎

    You’ll learn how to design learning objectives, structure courses, select appropriate media and tools, and evaluate learning outcomes. Many courses also include frameworks like ADDIE, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).‎

    Not necessarily. While experience in education or training can be helpful, many courses are beginner-friendly and provide a strong foundation for anyone interested in creating effective learning experiences.‎

    Yes. Instructional design is a growing field across education, corporate training, government, and nonprofits. Coursera courses can help you build job-ready skills, create a portfolio of work, and earn certificates that demonstrate your ability to design engaging and effective learning materials.‎

    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
    • Manage Cookie Preferences
    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