• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
  • 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
     *

    Level
    Required
     *

    Duration
    Required
     *

    Skills
    Required
     *

    Subtitles
    Required
     *

    Educator
    Required
     *

    Find the Best Instructional Design Course for Your Goals

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Michigan

      An Introduction to Learning Experience Design (LXD)

      Skills you'll gain: Multimedia, Learning Theory, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Instructional Design, Educational Materials, Program Evaluation, Course Development, Design, Professional Development, Education Software and Technology, Design Thinking, Motivational Skills, Adult Learning Principles, Brainstorming, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Initiatives, Needs Assessment, Storyboarding, Content Creation, User Centered Design, Student-Centred Learning

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      87 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Michigan

      Generative AI as a Learning Design Partner

      Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, Education Software and Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Instructional Design, Design Thinking, Conceptual Design, Emerging Technologies, Content Creation, Design Strategies, Data Ethics, Technical Consulting, Technology Strategies, Professional Development

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      58 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Michigan

      Learning Experience Design: Theories and Frameworks

      Skills you'll gain: Learning Theory, Instructional Design, Course Development, Design Thinking, Motivational Skills, Adult Learning Principles, Brainstorming, Needs Assessment, Storyboarding, Student-Centred Learning, Prototyping, Analysis, Communication

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      28 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      Status: AI skills
      AI skills
      G

      Google

      Google UX Design

      Skills you'll gain: UI/UX Research, User Research, Responsive Web Design, Wireframing, Usability Testing, Storyboarding, User Experience Design, Information Architecture, Design Research, Figma (Design Software), Sprint Retrospectives, Mockups, Cross Platform Development, Prototyping, User Experience, Usability, Persona (User Experience), Design Thinking, Interviewing Skills, Applicant Tracking Systems

      Build toward a degree

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      92K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: New
      New
      Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      G

      Google

      Google AI Essentials

      Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Generative AI, Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Productivity Software, Workforce Development, Applied Machine Learning, Business Solutions, Organizational Strategy, Business Process Automation, Social Studies, Innovation, Data Collection, Automation, Data Security, Human Machine Interfaces, Forecasting, Emerging Technologies, Analysis, Critical Thinking

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      5.2K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      M

      Macquarie University

      Online Learning Design for Educators

      Skills you'll gain: Infographics, Video Production, Photo/Video Production and Technology, Content Creation, Multimedia, Education Software and Technology, Media Production, Developing Training Materials, Pedagogy, Peer Review, Blended Learning, Learning Management Systems, Discussion Facilitation, Teaching, Constructive Feedback, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Safety and Security, Data Sharing, User Accounts, Collaborative Software

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      391 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    What brings you to Coursera today?

    • Status: New
      New
      Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      IBM

      IBM UI/UX Designer

      Skills you'll gain: Agile Software Development, UI/UX Research, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Agile Methodology, User Research, Information Architecture, Usability, Agile Project Management, User Experience Design, Figma (Design Software), Design Research, Team Performance Management, Usability Testing, User Interface (UI) Design, Design Thinking, User Interface (UI), Wireframing, Software Development Life Cycle, InVision (Design Software), Prototyping

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.5K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Michigan

      Learning Experience Design: Development and Evaluation

      Skills you'll gain: Multimedia, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Educational Materials, Program Evaluation, Instructional Design, Professional Development, Content Creation, Design Strategies, Quality Assurance, Communication, Emerging Technologies

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      27 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Michigan

      Learning Experience Design: Orientation to the Profession

      Skills you'll gain: Learning Theory, Instructional Design, Design, Professional Development, Education Software and Technology, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Initiatives, User Centered Design, Technology Strategies, Emerging Technologies, Critical Thinking

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      59 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Preview
      Preview
      U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      AI for Course Design

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

      4
      Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      25 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Graphic Design

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

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      22K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      A

      Adobe

      Design Fundamentals with AI

      Skills you'll gain: Typography, Creative Design, Digital Design, Color Theory, Visual Design, Graphic Design, Logo Design, Data Ethics, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Design Software, AI Personalization, Content Creation, Creativity, Generative AI Agents

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      896 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    Searches related to instructional design

    instructional design foundations and applications
    instructional and curriculum design
    1234…211

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

    • An Introduction to Learning Experience Design (LXD): University of Michigan
    • Generative AI as a Learning Design Partner: University of Michigan
    • Learning Experience Design: Theories and Frameworks: University of Michigan
    • Google UX Design: Google
    • Google AI Essentials: Google
    • Online Learning Design for Educators: Macquarie University
    • IBM UI/UX Designer: IBM
    • Learning Experience Design: Development and Evaluation: University of Michigan
    • Learning Experience Design: Orientation to the Profession: University of Michigan
    • AI for Course Design: University of Colorado Boulder

    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. You can start learning instructional design skills on Coursera for free in two ways:

    • Preview the first module of many instructional design courses at no cost. This includes video lessons, readings, graded assignments, and Coursera Coach (where available).
    • Start a 7-day free trial for Specializations or Coursera Plus. This gives you full access to all course content across eligible programs within the timeframe of your trial.

    If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in instructional design, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can 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

    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