Professional Online Learning

Department of Professional Online Learning

Chairperson: Laila Sanguras
Graduate Program Director: Marquita Foster

The Professional Online Learning Unit in the School of Education at Baylor University aspires to be a leader in innovative, high-quality online education, empowering working professionals to drive meaningful change in their organizations and communities. Grounded in Christian values, we cultivate a dynamic learning environment that fosters scholarly excellence, collaboration, and transformative leadership. Through rigorous academic programs, strong mentorship, and a commitment to staff, faculty, and student success, we aim to expand access to impactful, research-driven education while strengthening our reputation for excellence.

Objectives for Learning and Organizational Change Leadership Programs

The EdD and the MSEd in Learning and Organizational Change Leadership emphasize the development of a broad understanding of the educational process. They help students build a skill set that can be adapted to a variety of leadership situations. Courses take a practitioner-oriented approach and help to shape transformative leaders into change experts. Coursework is delivered online with weekly live sessions, and the program is designed for full-time working professionals.

Curriculum consists of:

Learning Foundations Courses
Organizational Change Courses
Research Methods and Dissertation Courses

Through the practitioner-focused curriculum, students develop a multitude of skills that can be applied across many professional settings. Upon completion, graduates are ready to demonstrate leadership in areas such as the dynamics of organizational change, contextual learning and design, program assessment and evaluation, professional development, research design evaluation, as well as teaching and learning.

Objectives for Learning Design and Technology Programs

The MS and certificate programs in Learning Design and Technology at Baylor University aim to equip graduates with the essential skills and knowledge required for success in the rapidly evolving field of learning design. The programs focus on fostering industry relevance by preparing students with practical software expertise and theoretical foundations necessary for creating effective online and digital learning experiences across various sectors, including corporate, K–12, and higher education environments.

Coursework is delivered online with weekly live sessions, and the programs are designed for full-time working professionals.

The programs encompass essential principles and content areas to help prepare students for their current or future careers in a variety of industry settings. These include:

Learning Accessibility
Artificial Intelligence Technologies
Learning Design Theory
Technology Training

The programs are meticulously crafted to equip future graduates with the tools and expertise they need to build effective, inclusive, and accessible digital learning experiences.

Objectives for Online Teaching and Learning Certificate

The Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning equips graduates with strong theoretical and practical knowledge for effective teaching and learning in online spaces. The 12-credit hour certificate can be completed in as little as 4 months, or up to 8 months if students take one 7-week course at a time

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Policy

Purpose

To recognize and credit the knowledge and skills students have acquired outside of a traditional academic environment through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA).

Definition

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a term to describe the is the process of evaluating knowledge, while "Credit for Prior Learning" (CPL) is the outcome—the actual college credit awarded after a successful assessment gained outside a traditional classroom. By issuing CPL, School of Education Online Learning programs (EdD in Learning and Organizational Change, MS in Learning Design and Technology, Graduate Certificate in Learning Design and Technology, Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning) may assess students' prior learning that has occurred outside of the traditional academic environment. In essence, it allows students with substantive work experience to demonstrate that they already have the knowledge and skills taught in a selected course.

Policy

Courses Eligible for PLA Credit
1. EDC 6372: Teaching and Learning in Online Environments
2. LDT 5310: Learning Design and Emerging Technologies
3. LDT 5311: Learning Design and Applied Multimedia Production
4. LDT 5313: Project Management in Learning Design
5. EDC 6360: Instructional Design
6. LOC 6361: Leadership and Organizational Change
7. EDC 6346: Principles and Practices of Mentoring
8. LOC 6362: Community Leadership and Collaboration
Student Eligibility for PLA:
1. Students may receive up to 6 credits toward one Online Learning program by way of PLA.
2. Admitted students seeking PLA should notify their Graduate Academic Advisor when they enroll in the program.
3. The Graduate Academic Advisor will assist students in registering to take the PLA assessment(s).
4. Students have 5 weeks to complete all requirements to receive PLA credit. Students will receive notification of whether they receive credit within 2 weeks of submitting their final PLA requirement.
5. Students may seek PLA up until the first day of the term before they enroll in a program Capstone Course.
Application Process:
1. Students must pay a non-refundable $200 fee per PLA application.
2. To receive PLA, students must demonstrate their knowledge in three ways:
  1. Portfolio Project: Submitting a portfolio project that meets the criteria of the course for which they seek PLA and aligns with the course’s learning outcomes, and
  2. Written Narrative: Students will write a narrative essay that describes how the portfolio project demonstrates their mastery of the course learning objectives, and
  3. Presentation: Presenting their project to a panel of faculty who will ask the student questions about the processes, systems, and software used to develop the project and how the project reflects the content knowledge from the course.
Assessment and Awarding of Credit:
1. A panel of faculty will evaluate the student's exam, portfolio project, and presentation.
2. All PLA credits are awarded on a Credit/No Credit basis.
3. If the student meets the criteria, the PLA credits will be recorded on the student's transcript and will count towards the completion of the Online Learning program.

The best candidates for PLA are those who...

Have flexibility in their degree plans,
Have at least 4-5 years of professional experience in an area that aligns with one of the PLA eligible courses, and
Are comfortable creating a portfolio project showcasing skills from the course and meeting with faculty for an oral examination about the project.

LOC 6333 Problem of Practice Dissertation Phase Three (3)

Pre-requisite(s): LOC 6391, LOC 6392, EDO 6390

This is the third course in the sequence of courses for Ed.D. students to work on and complete the dissertation. In this course, students will complete the data analysis, results, and conclusion sections of their dissertations. To be eligible to register for this course, students must be a doctoral candidate, have completed the IRB determination process, and have collected their data.

LOC 6334 Problem of Practice Dissertation Phase Four (3)

This is the fourth course in the sequence of courses for EdD in Learning and Organizational Change students to work on and complete the dissertation. In this course, students complete Chapter Four, the executive summary and final chapter of their dissertations. This course is taken concurrently with LOC 6333.

LOC 6361 Leadership and Organizational Change (3)

This course examines successful strategies for leading change in complex organizations and allows students to acquire methods to assist in minimizing the disruptions and ensure stability of staff during these situational shifts. While organizational change can be challenging, this course provides students with proven techniques that successful leaders implement during times of transitions and leading change in complex organizations.

LOC 6362 Community Leadership & Collaboration (3)

This course provides all professionals the opportunity to investigate how they can establish or enhance collaborative partnerships with the goal of learning the most effective strategies for organizing collaborative community partnerships. Students will engage in a strategic process of assignments to support the development or enhancement of a beneficial collaborative partnership during the course duration.

LOC 6365 Ethics for Leadership in Global Communities (3)

This course provides students with an opportunity to define, test, and solidify their own ethical philosophy of leadership and code of ethics to help them lead effectively in ethnically and culturally diverse communities. By deepening understanding of the intersection of ethics and leadership and the frameworks available for making ethical decisions, students can build ethical leadership capacity in individuals, organizations, and communities. This course studies and analyzes the range of values and beliefs that inform ethical decision making.

LOC 6368 Future Trends in Leadership (3)

This course focuses on future trends that impact leadership and call for new leadership competencies. The course examines these trends as well as successful examples of leadership excellence in various fields. Students discuss emerging leadership frameworks, profiles, and case studies as the students develop in their own roles as future leaders in their organizations.

LOC 6376 Organizational Change in a Technological Society (3)

This course examines short, medium, and long-range trends in the nature of professional work, organizations, and change as a result of rapid and pervasive technological development. The legal, ethical, and moral dimensions associated with these changes are addressed. Tools for trend analysis, innovation implementation, and professional development are introduced.

LOC 6391 Problem of Practice Dissertation Phase One (3)

Pre-requisite(s): EDP 5334, EDC 6336, EDP 5321, and EDC 6359

This course is in a sequence of courses for students to work on their problem of practice dissertation and is taken concurrently with EDC 6392. In this course, students work on their literature review and methodology chapters.

LOC 6392 Problem of Practice Dissertation Phase Two (3)

This course is in a sequence of courses for students to work on their problem of practice dissertation and is taken concurrently with EDC 6391. In this course, students work on their literature review and methodology chapters.

LOC 6393 Problem of Practice Dissertation Final Phase: Capstone (3)

Pre-requisite(s): LOC 6333

This capstone course provides students the opportunity to finalize the completed Problem of Practice, complete the defense process, and consider ways to build beyond their doctoral research in their careers as action-based researchers.

LDT 5101 Technology Lab 1: Learning Management Systems (1)

Technology Lab 1 provides hands-on experience with the latest educational tools and software, equipping students to enhance learning and teaching methodologies. Participants will explore tools such as the Canvas learning management systems (LMS), third-party tools (i.e., DesignPlus, Bongo, Playposit, etc.) connected to the LMS, and video platforms (Kaltura) in education. By collaborating on real-world projects, students will develop practical skills in integrating technology into academic settings.

LDT 5102 Technology Lab 2: E-Learning Authoring Tools (1)

Technology Lab 2 provides hands-on experience with the latest educational tools and software, equipping students to enhance learning and teaching methodologies. Participants will explore tools such as the Articulate Rise and Storyline in education. By collaborating on real-world projects, students will develop practical skills in integrating technology into academic settings.

LDT 5103 Technology Lab 3: Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies (1)

Technology Lab 3 provides hands-on experience with the latest educational tools and software, equipping students to enhance learning and teaching methodologies. Participants will explore AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Co-pilot, and others in education. By collaborating on real-world projects, students will develop practical skills in integrating technology into academic settings.

LDT 5301 Applied Learning Design in Professional Contexts (3)

An examination of the fundamental theories, models, skills, technologies, and processes that support a systematic approach to learning design, development, and evaluation. Students explore the professional paths of learning designers by examining trends and issues in the field of learning design and emerge equipped to navigate the breadth of learning design services across diverse industries.

LDT 5302 Learning Development: Design Thinking for Human Flourishing (3)

In this course, we will explore Design Thinking, a human-centered design process, as a powerful framework for creating innovative and impactful learning experiences that not only meet learner needs but also contribute to their overall well-being and flourishing. We will learn and apply design thinking principles and methodologies to identify learner needs, generate creative solutions, and develop prototypes for engaging and effective learning interventions that support human flourishing.

LDT 5310 Learning Design and Emerging Technologies (3)

A survey of the evolution and science of learning technologies, the relationship between learning technologies and teaching strategies, as well as how to assess the strengths and weaknesses of different learning technologies. Through this course, students gain insights into improving learning designs and enhancing student outcomes using innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence.

LDT 5311 Learning Design and Applied Multimedia Production (3)

This course delves into the dynamic realm of multimedia production for digital learning environments, focusing on the practical application of various multimedia techniques and emerging technologies in real-world scenarios. Through a blend of theoretical exploration and hands-on projects, students will develop the skills necessary to create compelling multimedia content across diverse platforms and mediums.

2026-2027 Academic Catalog