Applied Technology & Performance Improvement

Master's Degree Programs

Graduate opportunities

The Department of Learning Technologies at the University of North Texas creates an atmosphere for the intellectual exchange of ideas and research related to applied technology and performance improvement. We’ve designed the program to reflect the multidisciplinary nature of the field.

You can pursue either a Master of Science or a Master of Education degree in Applied Technology and Performance Improvement. The M.S. degree is intended for professionals seeking careers in training and development. The M.Ed. degree is for those pursuing careers in career and technical education and those seeking certification in trade and industrial education, health education or marketing education. All courses are offered entirely online, allowing you to better balance work, personal and academic obligations.

While working toward your degree, you can simultaneously earn certification in basic corporate training and advanced corporate training. This could give you an advantage over other job seekers.

Career fields in applied technology and performance improvement are rapidly expanding because of restructuring within the private and public sectors requiring the current workforce to develop new skills. Graduates play key roles in educational and business settings as:

• Higher education faculty members
• Instructional designers
• Researchers
• Technical consultants
• Technology coordinators
• Web designers and developers

The College of Information is located at Discovery Park, a 300-acre research facility four miles north of the main campus. Our programs have been nationally recognized by U.S. News and World Report, which ranks our college among the top 20 in the nation.

Research centers and laboratories

Several laboratories and research centers provide the resources and facilities you need for in-depth study of information and technology. These centers have successfully obtained a number of research grants.

3D Learning Environment Research Lab
Examines how 3D environments impact learning and how such technology can be deployed into educational settings to engage and/or immerse the student in learning situations.

Design+Research Initiative Lab
Creates digital designs for learning that are systematically studied for their effectiveness in capturing students’ imaginations and improving learning in various settings.

Educational Computing Research and Development Lab
Serves doctoral students and faculty members in educational computing, instructional technology and technology-based learning systems.

Information for Research and Analysis lab
Allows students and faculty members to share research experiences and can be a consulting resource for the community. They can use advanced statistical software for their research methodology and analysis.

Institute for the Integration of Technology into Teaching and Learning
Conducts research and implements best practices in teaching and learning with technology. Its instruments and online data collection systems have gathered data from thousands of educators in recent years.

Intelligent Information Access Lab
Focuses on cross-language information access, multimedia retrieval, information filtering, social network analysis and user interaction issues. It also helps solve problems related to digital libraries, knowledge management, biomedical informatics, education and information seeking behavior.

Technology and Applied Research in Autism Lab
Supports individuals with autism spectrum disorders through technology and academic tools.

Texas Center for Digital Knowledge
Brings scholars from multiple disciplines together to investigate and consult on technology practices that enhance organizational and workplace effectiveness.

Texas Center for Educational Technology
Facilitates and conducts research; develops and evaluates collaborations among industry, education and educational communities; and serves as a focal point where instructional technology can be created and adapted for integration into the educational programs.

Visual Thinking Lab
Explores the ways humans interact at the moment of image and meaning.

Attending UNT

Admission requirements

You must meet the requirements for the Toulouse Graduate School as well as the following program requirements:

• One-page statement of career goals and how the master’s degree will assist in achieving them
• Documentation of professional work experience in education or training
• Professional ré´sumé

Admission to the program is based on a holistic review of your qualifications. Because of our program’s competitive nature, achieving a particular score on generalized tests does not guarantee admission. You may be allowed to enroll for one semester without GRE scores.

International students whose native language is not English may substitute completion of our Graduate Preparation Course for their GRE verbal scores.

Degree requirements

M.Ed. degree

• 27 credit hours of required applied technology, training and development courses
• 6 credit hours of special research/problems
• 3 credit hours of an educational statistics course

M.S. degree

• 24 credit hours of required applied technology, training and development courses
• 6 credit hours of special research/problems
• 3 credit hours of an educational statistics course
• 3 credit hours of an applied technology, training and development elective (taken in consultation with your advisor)

Financial assistance

We offer several financial awards to help pay for your graduate education. These include competitive scholarships, grants, and teaching and research assistantships. Visit gradschool.unt.edu for more information on these opportunities. Information about other financial assistance programs is available at financialaid.unt.edu.