Digital Learning Institute Partners with University of San Diego to Offer Graduates a Pathway to Master's Degree

SAN DIEGO, California / DUBLIN, Ireland — August 31, 2026

The Digital Learning Institute (DLI) and the University of San Diego (USD) have announced an academic partnership that gives eligible graduates of DLI's Professional Certificate in Digital Learning & Instructional Design a direct pathway into USD's online Master of Science in Learning Design and Technology (MS-LDT).

Under the agreement, DLI graduates who earned “Pass with Distinction” can apply 6 transfer credits toward the MS-LDT, skipping the program's first two foundational courses and moving directly into coursework that builds on what they've already mastered.

Students who move on to the MS-LDT will add to their learning and development skillset with graduate-level coursework covering:

• advanced learning theory

• accessibility and designing for all learners

• leading cross-functional remote teams and complex project deliveries

• applying educational research methods

• the evaluation and use of emerging technologies

Along the way, they will produce assets and artifacts, including a full two-module online course, that reflect their ability to apply learning theories, instructional design processes and technology integration to address a specific instructional need.

“This partnership reflects USD's commitment to creating meaningful and accessible pathways for working professionals to continue their education and advance their careers,” said Brandon Gregory, Senior Director of Professional and Continuing Education at the University of San Diego. “By recognizing the quality and rigor of DLI's program, we are enabling graduates to build on the knowledge and experience they have already gained while creating a more seamless pathway to an advanced degree. We are excited to welcome DLI graduates into the USD community and support them as they take the next step in their professional development.”

“In a field where designing for how people learn matters as much as the tools used to support learning, I'm excited to help DLI graduates take their career to the next level with the knowledge and skills employers seek,” said Lisa Evans, PhD, Academic Director of the MS in Learning Design and Technology at USD. “What really sets the MS-LDT apart is that no one learns alone here. Students join a professional learning community of working peers who become design partners, industry-embedded faculty who teach what employers actually need, and a dedicated Student Support Services team. This creates an environment where both career starters and career transitioners thrive.”

John Kilroy, Founder and CEO of the Digital Learning Institute, said: “This partnership gives DLI graduates a valuable opportunity to build on the professional skills and credentials they've already earned. It creates a clear route from applied, industry-focused learning into postgraduate study, without requiring learners to repeat what they've already mastered. We're proud that the University of San Diego has formally recognized the quality and academic value of DLI's program.”

DLI graduates who complete the full Professional Certificate in Digital Learning & Instructional Design with “Pass with Distinction” and apply to USD's MS-LDT program within three years of completing their certificate are eligible for 6 units of transfer credit, applied upon acceptance.

That credit reduces the program to 24 remaining units (8 courses), lowering the standard cost of the degree by $4,410 and shortening the standard 20-month timeline to as few as 17 months.

Every MS-LDT course is taught by faculty who work exclusively in the program and remain active practitioners in learning design and instructional design. Each student is also paired with a dedicated program coordinator who provides support from enrollment through graduation.

Admission to the master's program is not automatic. Applicants must meet USD's standard admissions requirements and complete the university's application process.

DLI graduates interested in the USD pathway can learn more at www.onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu/masters-learning-design-technology/lp/dli/

The Digital Learning Institute is a global provider of professional qualifications in digital learning design, instructional design, and learning technology. Its programs are internationally accredited, university credit-rated, and trusted by over 800 leading organizations worldwide. DLI’s qualifications are designed to equip digital learning professionals with the practical skills and credentials to build, deliver, and lead outstanding digital learning experiences.  

For more information: www.digitallearninginstitute.com 

The University of San Diego is a private, Catholic university with a global conscience, guided by mission-driven values of academic excellence, community service and personal development. More than 8,800 students from 85 countries and 50 states study across the university's undergraduate and graduate programs.

Through its Division of Professional and Continuing Education and USD Online, the university offers flexible, regionally accredited (WSCUC) online graduate programs for working professionals, including the Master of Science in Learning Design and Technology: a fully online, project-based program in which students build a professional portfolio, including a complete, functional online course, culminating in a capstone peer-evaluated against industry benchmarks.

For more information, visit www.onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu/masters-learning-design-technology/lp/dli/