What Is an Online Course Developer and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

As an online course developer, your job is to help create the curriculum, class content, and coursework for an internet course. In this role, you may help decide which subject matter is relevant to the class, design daily lessons, research additional educational materials, and coordinate with other online course developers to minimize overlapping content. Online course developers often submit course proposals, help determine the expertise required for teachers to grade the content of the course, adjust existing courses based on feedback, and work with department heads as necessary. Most online course developers work for individual schools or supporting institutions.

The primary qualifications for becoming an online course developer are a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and familiarity with software applications specific to instructional design. Employers prefer applicants who have a master's degree. Many online course developers focus on general content and one area of expertise, though some developers write courses for multiple subjects. Education is often more important than experience in this field, especially if you are developing advanced courses. Fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of an online course developer requires problem-solving skills, communication skills, and some experience teaching online classes. This is rarely a remote position, so living close to your school is essential for keeping this job.