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The Master of Arts in Learning Experience Design (MALXD) is a fully online, 10-course (30-credit), non-thesis master’s program.

The MALXD Graduate Certificates are a fully online, 3-course (9 credit) transcriptable credentials. If you are considering a full MALXD degree, we encourage you to apply directly to the MALXD program.

We do not require GRE scores for admission to MALXD or the MALXD graduate certificate programs.

Basic Admission Requirements

The MALXD degree and MALXD Graduate Certificate programs accept applicants who meet the following standards:

  • Undergraduate degree (e.g., B.A., or B.S.) from an accredited institution
    • MALXD degree program requires a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher
  • For first-language speakers of languages other than English: Minimum TOEFL score of 80 (see Information For Bilingual and Multilingual Applicants below).

If you meet these requirements, we welcome your application to our program! Please follow the application process outlined below, based on your degree or certificate interests. If you have any questions throughout the process or if you’d like to schedule a pre-admissions advising Zoom chat with an academic advisor, please contact Heather Williamson at MALXDegree@msu.edu. We’re here to support you and we look forward to you joining us!

Before filling out the university application, consider the information and materials you need to gather:

  1. Name, email, and phone number for 3 professional references who have agreed to write letters of recommendation for you. Your references should be supervisors, colleagues, and/or mentors who can tell us about your academic performance, work ethic, and professional character (please do not submit personal or character references). Your references will be automatically notified by the system to submit a letter of reference. Letters should speak specifically to your preparation for this program and for graduate-level study. We can not accept letters uploaded directly by applicants.
  2. Official transcripts from your undergraduate institution(s) listed on your application (see Step 3: Request Official Transcripts below).

In general, the application process is:

  1. Create your application on MSU’s application management system by selecting Graduate Certificate from dropdown menu.
  2. Provide Personal Background information.
  3. Under Other Information:
    1. select Major Preference, scroll to the College of Education and select your choice of:
      1. Learning Sciences (Online Program),
      2. Learning Design (Online Program), or
      3. Learning Design Leadership (Online Program).
    2. select the first semester you wish to enroll in classes.
    3. provide additional details about Enrollment Information, Communications preferences, and Financial Aid.
    4. providing information on your experiences in the COVID-19 section is optional.
  4. Provide responses to Conduct Questions from the dropdown menus and in text boxes where appropriate.
  5. Include all Academic History information for higher education institutions that you’ve attended. To begin, click on Add Institution.
  6. Test Scores: The GRE (Graduate Record Exam) is not required. All international applicants and applicants whose first language is not English must be competent in English as a condition for regular admission to MSU. Such applicants will be required to demonstrate their English language competency by meeting certain minimum standards. See the International or Multilingual Applicants section below for more information.
  7. Employment and Activities Pages: Leave blank.
  8. References: Using Add Recommender, provide contact information for your three professional references.
  9. Provide your Signature electronically by typing in your full legal name, then select Confirm.
  10. The Review section will provide you with a list of potential errors if a section has not been completed. Please return to those sections and make the appropriate corrections.
  11. Submit your application fee ($75 fee for domestic applicants and international applicants). The MSU McNair program covers the cost of MSU’s application fee for first generation or underrepresented students. If you meet these criteria, please complete their application waiver form.
  12. Request your official transcripts (see Step 3: Request Official Transcripts section below).
  13. Check the status of your application and remind references to upload their letters of recommendation as needed.

Please request official transcripts directly from the undergraduate institution listed on your application (MSU will not accept transcripts marked ‘Issued to Student’ or paper transcripts delivered outside of an officially-sealed, university envelope).

  • For applicants who attended US institutions, we prefer electronic transcripts. Official electronic transcripts can be sent to the attention of Heather Williamson at MALXDegree@msu.edu. If electronic delivery is not available, transcripts can be sent via the postal address below.
  • MSU alumni can request MSU transcripts for free directly from MSU. You will need to validate your identity with your MSUNet ID and password or your date of birth and student number (PID) or social security number (SSN).
  • For international applicants, please see the International or Multilingual Applicant section below for specifics related to your transcripts and degrees. MSU will not accept electronic transcripts issued by international universities. If you are applying from an institution outside of the USA, please have your official transcripts sent via postal mail to the address below.

MSU Office of Admissions
426 Auditorium Rd–Rm #250
East Lansing, MI 48824

MALXD Graduate Certificates

Our courses are offered in a fully online format, and therefore residency in the US is not required to complete the certificate program. If you are an international applicant interested in the program, please note that the MALXD graduate certificate programs do not fulfill the academic requirements to apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa. MALXD courses are all fully online, thus admission to an MALXD graduate certificate program does not qualify you for a student visa.

The MSU Graduate School outlines that official transcripts of all records from all postsecondary schools attended are required. Mark sheets, transcripts, certificates, and diplomas, must be submitted as official documents directly from each institution. In most cases, these documents will need to be sent in official, sealed, issuing institution envelopes.

Records must show courses taken, grades earned, and must be translated into English if the original records are in another language. Translations must be done by the issuing institution, a certified translator in the country of study, or by an American Translator’s Association certified translator in the US. The original record should also be included. For complete information, please visit the International Transcripts and US Degree Equivalency section of the Graduate School’s International Applicants page.

All applicants pursuing or who have earned degrees from universities in China submit not only transcripts and graduation certificates from China, but must also obtain verification of these documents from the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC). CDGDC operates underneath the Ministry of Education for the purpose of verifying the authenticity of transcripts and degrees granted at the post-secondary level.

The process is:

  • Applicants send copies of their official documents to the CDGDC along with payment (approximately $40 U.S.).
  • Applicants must request that the original transcript accompany the CDGDC verified documents when sent to MSU.
  • CDGDC verifies grades and degrees (depending on what is requested) by accessing national and provincial databases and contacting universities directly.
  • CDGDC then sends the report and verified documents, via courier service, directly to Michigan State University. The report is in English and provides a statement noting what degree was conferred and whether the university and program is recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Education.