Educational media design programs prepare people to make materials and products that help teachers in the classroom. Students learn how to use film and video to instruct. They also learn how to use graphics and text to improve teaching methods.

Have you ever been in a course where you didn't use a single textbook and your teacher didn't use the blackboard? Does this situation sound impossible to you? Students of educational media design learn how to make this situation not only possible, but a positive learning experience. They study different ways of applying technology in the classroom.

For a chemistry course, they might design a computer program that displays moveable three-dimensional models of molecules. For a history course, they might make a video showing images from civil rights demonstrations.

As an educational media design specialist, you could work for companies that create classroom materials. You could also combine educational media design with teaching. That way, you would enhance your own teaching skills with technology.

To study educational media design, you typically need to enter a master's program in curriculum and instruction first. There are over 170 universities that offer such a program, usually through their colleges of education. Within those master's programs, you can take courses in educational media design. About ten schools offer specific concentrations in this program of study.

Master's degrees typically take five to six years of full-time study after high school. In addition, some of these master's programs require teaching experience or teacher's certification before admission. This admission requirement would take one to two years of additional full-time study after high school.