How do you make learning more engaging and effective for academic and organizational settings?
The online M.S. in the Learning Sciences equips professionals with the skills to apply cutting-edge technology and cognitive science to empower learners and improve their career mobility.
SMU’s approach to the learning sciences is interdisciplinary: It blends cognitive science, pedagogical research, and advanced technology, to understand how people learn and design better experiences.
The online Master of Science in the Learning Sciences (MSLS) prepares you to lead at the intersection of theory and practical application. Gain hands-on experience in:
- AI and machine learning for personalized learning
- Learning analytics to measure and improve outcomes
- Augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) and gamification for immersive experiences
- Evidence-based instructional design grounded in cognitive science
Whether you're a teacher seeking new career paths beyond the classroom, a corporate trainer or learning and development professional upskilling for the future, or a tech professional entering the booming edtech sector,1 this program equips you with the skills to stand out.
Program Details
- Total Credits: 30
- Specializations: 2
- Start Dates: Two per year (Spring and fall)
- Program Length: 5 semesters, ~1.5 years
- Modality: 100% online with optional on-campus events
- Delivery: Primarily asynchronous with weekly synchronous sessions
Why SMU?
Premier education
Add a name with weight to your resume when you earn your degree from a recognized research university with a top-ranked school of education.
Tech-forward curriculum
Learn to use and creatively apply AI, AR/VR, analytics and gamificaiton–not just theory–to your career.
Flexible specializations
Tailor your degree to your industry and career goals with two pathways plus a create-your-own specialization.
Dallas advantage
Get access to one of the fastest-growing economic and innovation hubs in the U.S., home to dozens of Fortune 500 headquarters and industry leading firms.
Achievement unlocked
Level up your career when you master gamification and learning technology. Complete the form to receive a program brochure.
Get valuable insights into the online experience, learn more about SMU, and see where the online MSLS can take you.
Make the Next Move
This will only take a moment
What is learning science?
The question behind learning sciences asks: How do people learn best and how can we design those experiences?
Unlike traditional instructional design or education programs that focus primarily on creating curriculum, the MSLS from SMU goes deeper. It combines:
Cognitive science
Educational technology
Data
science
Design
thinking
Where do learning sciences graduates work?
The skills you'll develop are in high demand across sectors:
- K-12 & higher education: Technology integration specialists, curriculum innovation directors, learning analytics coordinators
- Corporate & military training: Learning experience designers, corporate training managers, simulation developers
- Edtech companies: Product managers, UX researchers, educational data scientists
- Consulting & policy: Education technology consultants, learning strategy advisors
From designing AI-powered tutoring systems to building VR surgical training for hospitals to leading Fortune 500 learning and development teams, MSLS graduates shape how people learn. With the backing of SMU's nationally ranked reputation and a curriculum designed for the future of work, you'll be positioned to lead.2
SMU is uniquely poised to drive innovation in the learning sciences.
Who thrives in this program? Professionals ready to lead learning innovation
The online M.S. in the Learning Sciences is designed for professionals across education, corporate training, and technology who want to deepen their impact and expand their career options.
You might be:
- A K-12 teacher or administrator seeking career mobility beyond the classroom
- An instructional designer or corporate trainer ready to master emerging technologies like AI and learning analytics
- A tech professional (software developer, UX designer, data analyst) pivoting into the fast-growing edtech sector
- A higher ed professional leading innovation, online learning, or student success initiatives
- An entrepreneur building the next generation of learning products
No matter your background, you share a common goal: understanding how people learn and designing solutions that work.
What you'll learn: MSLS Curriculum
The MSLS curriculum is designed for flexibility and relevance. You'll build expertise in the fundamentals while tailoring your degree to your career aspirations. Establish your foundation in cognitive science, learning theory, emerging trends in education, and research methodologies. You'll learn to evaluate educational technologies critically, design evidence-based interventions, and interpret data to drive decisions. Then, choose from one of two specializations in Learning & Technology Design or Learning Analytics, or choose electives individually to build a personalized curriculum to ensure the MSLS courses meet your career needs and interests.
Learn from faculty defining the future of learning sciences
Faculty Spotlight: Anthony “Tony” Cuevas, Ph.D.
Dr. Tony Cuevas exemplifies SMU’s commitment to research-driven innovation with real world impact. A clinical professor in the online MSLS, has spearheaded cutting-edge projects that fuse cognitive science with innovative technology, from an award-winning adult literacy app to cost-effective virtual reality surgical simulations, which markedly enhance medical training in resource-limited regions.
You'll learn directly from instructors like Dr. Cuevas throughout the MSLS. Each member of SMU’s faculty was specifically recruited for their work shaping the field of learning science and includes researchers and practitioners who are actively shaping the field through interdisciplinary partnerships, published research and consulting work with technology companies.
A world of opportunity, entirely online
Thrive with flexible program delivery
The M.S. in the Learning Sciences is delivered 100% online so you can expand your skills while continuing to work. Start dates in both the spring and fall mean you can begin your academic journey at a time that best fits your schedule.
Meet education innovators
The online MSLS faculty are revered for both their scholarship and their professional experience. Connect with faculty one-on-one to get support with coursework, find or develop research opportunities, or seek career advice.
Graduate with a degree that opens doors
Earning a degree from a nationally ranked research university like SMU1 is not just an academic achievement, it's a competitive advantage. Stand out in the market with a powerful network and the SMU name on your resume.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between the learning sciences degree and traditional education degrees?
The online MSLS emphasizes the application of the latest technologies in education, such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR) and data analytics, preparing graduates to implement and manage innovative learning solutions across all sorts of industries and settings. Further, graduates of a learning sciences program often pursue careers in instructional design, corporate training and educational technology leadership, which are distinct from the K-12 teaching roles that traditional education degrees typically prepare students for.
In short: if traditional education degrees prepare you to teach, learning sciences prepares you to design how people learn—across any age, industry, or modality.
Can I work while completing the online MSLS?
What kind of academic support is available to students in the online MSLS?
Additionally, upon admission to the program, you are paired with a student success coordinator who can help you navigate the online learning environment, find study strategies that work for you, connect you with additional resources and assist you in many other ways.
There are also non-mandatory campus-based opportunities like conferences and seminars where students can network with faculty, peers and other professionals.
What are some of the career opportunities available to a graduate with a master’s degree in the learning sciences?
- Learning experience designer
- Instructional technology coordinator
- Educational data scientist
- Corporate training manager
- Curriculum developer
- Learning management system analyst
- Education policy advisor
- User experience researcher for educational technology
- Chief learning officer
How is SMU's program different from other online Learning Sciences degrees?
Technology-forward curriculum: We don't just teach about emerging tech—you'll use AI, AR/VR, gamification, and advanced analytics in hands-on projects. Our partnership with SMU Guildhall (one of the nation's top game design academic programs3) brings cutting-edge engagement design directly into coursework.
Nationally ranked prestige: SMU is a nationally-recognized private research university. That credential matters in competitive markets—especially compared to lower-cost regional programs.
The Dallas advantage: SMU is located in one of the fastest-growing innovation hubs in the U.S., home to 22 Fortune 500 headquarters. You'll have direct access to employers and networks where learning innovation is in high demand.
Admissions Deadlines
Become an education innovator
- Retrieved on October 14, 2025, from https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/02/these-are-the-4-key-trends-that-will-shape-the-edtech-market-into-2030/
- Retrieved on October 14, 2025, from usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/southern-methodist-university-06904
- Retrieved on October 14, 2025, from princetonreview.com/college-rankings/game-design/top-25-game-design-grad