The Learning and Performance Technology Program (previously known as Instructional Systems Development) is dedicated to helping students advance their career and achieve their professional goals in this rapidly expanding field. Currently, LAPT graduates are enjoying training positions in a wide variety of high-profile organizations, including IBM, the National Security Agency, T. Rowe Price, Booz Allen and Hamilton, and many more.
Career FAQs
How do I know that the training and development field is right for me?
The field of instructional systems development appeals to a wide variety of people hailing from many different professional fields.
How do I prepare for a career in training and development?
One of the most difficult aspects of transitioning from one career to another is gaining hands-on experience and building a knowledge base of the field. Here are some helpful tips to prepare yourself for this transition while working on your degree: create a portfolio of course projects, join local training and development societies, subscribe to professional journals, and build your professional library.
What are some Training and Development Professional Associations?
- Association for Talent Development (ATD) previously American Society of Training and Development
- International Society of Performance Improvement
- American Association for Adult and Continuing Education
- Association for Career and Technical Education
- Association for Educational Communications and Technology
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
- International Association for Continuing Education & Training
- International Society for Technology in Education
- National Association of Workforce Development Professionals
- National Council for Continuing Education and Training
- Society for Human Resources Management
For what type of careers does the Learning and Performance Technology Master’s program prepare me?
Students can find employment in diverse fields such as business, education, government and health care. Graduates of the program have pursued positions as:
– Program and materials designer
– Training and education program planner
– Human performance improvement specialist
– Curriculum developer
– Training program manager
– Distance educator
– Multimedia development specialist
– Training consultant
– Instructional designer
– Web-based training developer
Also checkout the Salary Calculator from Learning Solutions Magazine.
What type of career development assistance does the program provide?
Students can take advantage of the services and resources available through the UMBC Career Center. Services include resume review, job search strategies and guidance, job interview preparation and more. In person or virtual appointments may be scheduled online (via Handshake), in person (Math/Psychology 210), or by phone (410-455-2216). Learn more about scheduling an appointment with the UMBC Career Center.
The program also regularly receives employment notifications from area businesses that are posted on the Job Openings Page and distributed through the Jobs’ Listserv. All students should make sure they subscribe to this list in order to receive these announcements.
I’m looking to change my career. How do I take the leap?
Career changers make up approximately 1/3 of the students who attend the Learning and Performance Technology program. The program is customized for people who are advancing or changing fields. You can build on previous experience or learn new skills sets with in-class or online training methods.
The program gives students the opportunity to receive career services. Services include resume review, job search strategies and guidance, job interview preparation and more. In person or phone appointments may be scheduled online (via UMBCworks), in person (Math/Psychology 212), or by phone (410-455-2216). Learn more about scheduling an appointment with the UMBC Career Center.
Where can I search for LAPT related careers?
- USAJobs
- Sologig
- Guru
- GlassDoor
- Dice.com
- Association for Talent Development Job Listings
- Indeed
- SimplyHired
- LinkedIn Job Search (LinkedIn Salary)
- Zip Recruiter for UMBC Students
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Learning and Performance Technology Job Outlook
The demand for qualified employees in the field of Learning and Performance Technology is growing as technical and distance learning education techniques expand in the global marketplace. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2019-20 Edition, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of training and development specialists is projected to grow 11% from 2020 to 2030, faster than average for all occupations. They found the median salaries for training and development professionals were $61,570 in 2021, with salaries for training and development managers averaging $120,130.
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