Educational Neuroscience Undergraduate Major

Definition and Goals

Curriculum

Career Opportunities

Program Coordinator:Dr. Firat Soylufsoylu@ua.edu

edneuro@ua.edu

http://edneuro.ua.edu

What is Educational Neuroscience?

• Interdisciplinary field that interprets findings from brain and cognitive sciences to inform educational theory and practice.

• Uses neuroscience research methods to address educational questions.

• Introduces biological-level explanations to existing levels in education (e.g.,socio-cultural, cognitive, behavioral).

Environment

Learning & Education:A Multi-level Perspective

Body

Brain

Socio-Cultural

First-Person

Cognitive-Behavioral

Neural / Physiological

Genetic

Educational Neuroscience

4

Areas of Study Cognitive, affective, and social development in typical and

atypical (e.g., autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia) groups

Development and learning of cognitive skills (e.g., mathematics, science, language & reading)

Biological factors associated with learning and development (e.g., structural and functional brain measures, genetics)

Evidence-based learning and teaching practices, and development of interventions

UA Educational Neuroscience Program

Started enrolling students in 2020 Interdisciplinary curriculum Extensive research opportunities Part of the wider Ed. Neuro. Initiative

● PhD Concentration in Ed. Neuro● 5 Research Labs

Part of the wider neuroscience research and training efforts on campus

Curriculum (1st & 2nd years)

Science & math foundations (biology, chemistry, physics & calculus)

Curriculum (1st & 2nd years)

Interdisciplinary courses (psychology, biology, human development, neuroscience, anthropology, philosophy & special education)

Curriculum (3rd & 4th years)

Research methods & experiences (statistics, exp. design, computational skills, electrophysiology & neuroimaging)

Curriculum (3rd & 4th years)

Advanced topics courses (cognitive & educational psychology, mathematics, scientific thinking, reading, language & moral psych./devel.)

Skills & Knowledge Acquired● Foundational math &

science training● Interdisciplinary exposure

(e.g., psychology, biology, anthropology, philosophy & special education)

● Cognitive, developmental & educational psychology

● Focused training in educational neuroscience – Understanding and interpreting

neuroscience research– Developing interventions

● Data Analysis & Research skills– Experimental design– Neuroimaging– Electrophysiology– Computational skills

Career Opportunities

Health ProfessionsPre-medPhysical TherapyPhysician AssistantNursing

AcademicGraduate programs in relevant areas (e.g., neuroscience, education, psychology)Lab managerResearch assistant

Non-ProfitNGOs (e.g., Save the Children, Mercy Corp, Care International)Foundations (e.g., UNICEF, Gates Foundation)

Public AdministrationHealth systems administrationCommunity development / relationsPractice coordinator Private Sector

HealthEducational technologyCognitive diagnosis and assessmentData miningEntrepreneurship

Thank you!

Please contact me with questions:Dr. Firat Soylu

fsoylu@ua.edu

http://edneuro.ua.edu

edneuro@ua.edu