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Instructional technology specialist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an instructional technology specialist. Instructional technology specialists usually study elementary education, education, or business. 56% of instructional technology specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 32% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,692 real instructional technology specialist resumes to see exactly what instructional technology specialist education sections show.
The most common colleges for instructional technology specialists are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online instructional technology specialist courses to help get the education required to be an instructional technology specialist.
There are certain instructional technology specialist certifications that you should consider. These instructional technology specialist certifications include Certified Instructional Technologist (CIT) and Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:).
What education do you need to become an instructional technology specialist?
What degree do you need to be an instructional technology specialist?
- Bachelor's, 56%
- Master's, 32%
- Associate, 7%
- Doctorate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become an instructional technology specialist?
- Elementary Education, 12%
- Education, 11%
- Business, 11%
- Other Majors, 57%
Most common colleges for instructional technology specialists
| Instructional technology specialist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 9.61% |
| University of Houston | 7.42% |
| University of North Texas | 6.99% |
| University of Georgia | 6.11% |
| Texas A&M University | 5.68% |
Best majors for instructional technology specialists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elementary Education | 12.3% |
| 2 | Education | 11.2% |
| 3 | Business | 10.7% |
| 4 | Educational Leadership | 9.0% |
| 5 | Educational Technology | 7.4% |
Best colleges for instructional technology specialists
The best colleges for instructional technology specialists are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.
An instructional technology specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for instructional technology specialists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become instructional technology specialists.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
3. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
6. SUNY at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$10,099
Enrollment
21,404
7. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
8. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$52,930
Enrollment
5,030
9. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
20 best online courses for instructional technology specialists
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1. Teach English Now! Technology Enriched Teaching
This course focuses on the key concepts you need in order to effectively integrate technology into your teaching, without letting it overshadow language learning. Discover current and future trends in educational technology, along with strategies for implementing these trends in the classroom and beyond. As technology is continually evolving, learn how to keep up on current technological applications through professional development networks and training opportunities...
2. Constructivism and Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education
This course is designed to help participants examine the implications of constructivism for learning and teaching in science, mathematics, and technology focused areas. Course readings, discussions, and assignments will examine constructivist views of learning, research on students' ideas and idea-based interactions, research on instructional approaches taking student ideas into account, and challenges in implementing constructivist perspectives in instruction...
3. Information Technology Essentials
Introduction to Information Technology and Information Systems...
4. Instructional Design for ELearning
Designing Successful ELearning Courses. Learn from a multi-award-winning instructional designer...
5. Advanced Instructional Strategies in the Virtual Classroom
Welcome to Advanced Instructional Strategies in the Virtual Classroom! This course will help you apply strategies to the critical areas of K-12 virtual instruction to significantly impact virtual education. We will examine the pitfalls beginning teachers run into and learn how to overcome them by focusing on the fundamentals that have the greatest impact on student learning in a blended or online environment. By the end of the course, you will be able to empower your students to be voracious...
6. Teaching Impacts of Technology in K-12 Education
2% That’s the estimate of how many high school students in all of California took a Computer Science class in 2015. And yet, computers and data are everywhere. Just consider a typical 24 hours in your life … how many different computer devices do you use? We all live in multiple digital worlds that are changing rapidly with new apps, devices, and data analyses offering a constant stream of innovations and technology integrations for our lives.\n\nAs it's an integral part of our lives, we’re...
7. Instructional Design for Classroom Training
Design effective and engaging in-person classroom training sessions and learning experiences from scratch...
8. Instructional Design for Corporate Learning and Development
Giving you the tools to design and deliver on-point, effective corporate training programs...
9. Information Technology (IT) and Cloud Fundamentals
In today’s connected world, core knowledge of IT hardware, software, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies is vital for almost every function, or role within an organization. Adding storage, updating an operating system, connecting to a network, recognizing phishing, and setting up Cloud instances are some of the skills employees need or need help with. This five-course specialization provides prerequisite skills for almost all IT careers, including technical support specialist,...
10. Strategic Technology Management
The success of modern companies depends critically on their manager’s ability to generate strategic innovationwhich leverages technological and market changes. A key part of the equation is delivering new products that deliver exceptional customer value. Another essential element is implementing innovation initiatives effectively. The Strategic Technology Management specialization is targeted towards aspiring managers, managers at all levels, and entrepreneurs who lookto gaina well-rounded...
11. The complete Instructional Designer course
Learn the skills to become an e Learning Instructional Designer for Corporate Learning and Development...
12. Instructional Design Pro (Part 1): No Beginners Allowed!
Write Golden Training Curriculum that's Easier to Learn and More Enjoyable to Teach...
13. Understanding Technology and Data
Welcome to the course Understanding Technology and Data. This course is designed to provide a foundation on how technology and data are applied in everyday life. It will help you learn to succeed in a digital work environment. By the end of this course, you will be able to: - Recognize the evolution of electronic devices - Identify new technologies in different industries - Define technologies such as cloud, Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, etc. - Recognize what digitalization is and how it...
14. Technology Strategy: Creative Destruction
The success of modern companies depends critically on their ability to manage and respond to technological change. Innovation is continually challenging companies’ competitive advantages, giving rise to new business models, and stimulating new platform-based competition. Managers and entrepreneurs need to understand these strategic forces and how they impact firms and industries in the modern knowledge economy. This course explains how technological innovation affects the competitive dynamics...
15. Instructional Design Pro (Part 3): No Beginners Allowed!
Write Golden Training Curriculum that's Easier to Learn and More Enjoyable to Teach...
16. Technology Systems Auditing (Part 1 of 2)
Technology Systems Auditing Training Course...
17. Instructional Methods in Health Professions Education
This course provides those involved in educating members of the health professions an asynchronous, interdisciplinary, and interactive way to obtain, expand, and improve their teaching skills. These skills can then be applied within their own professional context, with a variety of learners, extending across many stages. After completing this course, learners will: 1. Understand educational theory as it relates to health professions education 2. Match instructional methods with desired...
18. Teaching Impacts of Technology: Relationships
In this course you’ll focus on how “smart” devices have changed how we interact with others in personal ways, impacting how we stay connected in our increasingly mobile society. This will be done through a series of paired teaching sections, exploring a specific “Impact of Computing” in your typical day and the “Technologies and Computing Concepts” that enable that impact, all at a K12-appropriate level. This course is part of a larger Specialization through which you’ll learn impacts of...
19. The Absolute Beginners Guide to Information Technology 2023
Gain a solid foundation knowledge of all 4 main branches of Information Technology...
20. Instructional Design Pro (Part 2): No Beginners Allowed!
Write Golden Training Curriculum that's Easier to Learn and More Enjoyable to Teach...
Top 10 most affordable universities for instructional technology specialists
The most affordable schools for instructional technology specialists are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and usf sarasota-manatee.
If the best universities for instructional technology specialists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for instructional technology specialists.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
4. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
7. University of Houston - Victoria
Victoria, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$6,491
Cost of attendance
19,075
8. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
9. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
10. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for instructional technology specialists
The hardest universities for instructional technology specialists to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.
Some great schools for instructional technology specialists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for instructional technology specialists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
4. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
5. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
8. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,380
9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,398
10. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for instructional technology specialists
The easiest schools for instructional technology specialists to get into are Barry University, notre dame de namur university, and mount saint mary's university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an instructional technology specialist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for instructional technology specialists.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
3. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
4. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
5. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
6. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
7. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
8. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
9. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
10. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,046
Average instructional technology specialist salary by education level
| Instructional technology specialist education level | Instructional technology specialist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $48,519 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $42,894 |
| Doctorate Degree | $50,203 |
Instructional technology specialist education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025