Graduate Certificate in Educational Neuroscience

Duration0.5 years full-time, 3 years part-time
Location
Online
Next start termAnytime
Study modeOnline
Course codeCM11
First-year fee
$6,888 (Indicative) (FFP)
CQU student sitting at a table on her veranda, using her laptop

Overview

Enhance your professional practice and gain an understanding of the brain to maximise learning and wellness, fundamental to learning and teaching with CQUni’s Graduate Certificate in Educational Neuroscience.

Ideal for those who are involved in education whether as a teacher, an academic, a psychologist or social worker – convert your interest in cutting edge neuroscientific evidence to immediately inform and improve practice in brain-friendly ways.

Throughout your studies, you will discover the importance of neuroscience in education and develop contemporary insights into the brain that will enhance your ability to optimise student learning experiences that will improve both their achievements and wellness – and yours.

You will learn about the brain’s neuroplasticity and how to use that to improve learning and memory through brain-friendly strategies and neuroeducation. Using a growth mindset, you will learn about neuromyths, neuroleadership strategies to lead teams, and research in educational neuroscience, that will greatly enhance your professional practice. Educational Neuroscience is fundamental in our new and emerging landscape in education requiring brain-based strategies that really work.

As you study this course, you will also be able to immediately apply what you have learned to your workplace making it an excellent option for professional development with both short and long term outcomes for learners.

In addition, this course is offered by flexible online delivery via our Be Different platform, where you set your own pace, and units that have been designed to be broken into smaller professional development modules of 10 to 50-hours each, so you'll find that this course truly fits around your life.

The flexible course structure allows you to pathway into the Master of Educational Neuroscience with credit for four units.

Study experience

Career Opportunities

This course provides professional development for teachers, clinicians, academics and other professionals who would like to complete studies in a flexible and self-paced environment to gain neuroscientific insights to inform practices. Undertaking this course enables teachers to meet Continuing Professional Development obligations for registration. For other professionals, it may contribute to industry update requirements and significantly enhance professional practice.

Structure & Availability

COURSE STRUCTURE
The Graduate Certificate in Educational Neuroscience is comprised of four units that are delivered via our flexible online study platform, Be Different. These units are broken down into smaller modules that you can complete at your own pace.

The four units within this course are designed to each require a time commitment of 150 hours, equating to a total of 600 hours of study for all four units, which is approximately six months of full-time study when compared to a typical university term structure of two terms of full-time study. However, you will have up to three years from enrolment to complete the course at your own pace.

ASSESSMENTS
You will have to complete assessments throughout this course, and these range from online quizzes, case studies and video projects. There are optional additional activities available if you wish to explore topics further. The difference between traditional university course assessments and this flexible online course is that there are no deadlines or due dates - you set your own pace.

Online Availability

IntakeLocations
Hyperflexible Annual Term, 2023Available Online
Hyperflexible Annual Term, 2024Available Online
Hyperflexible Annual Term, 2025Available Online

This course is open for applications all year round so you can start your studies anytime.

When you study this course via our flexible online Be Different learning platform, not only will you study high-quality course content delivered by our supportive Educational Neuroscience educators, but you also get to set the pace. This flexible online course is available 24/7, 365 days a year to support your self-paced study, this means that you are not bound by our traditional term dates for study nor doing assessments, and you can submit your responses to assessment tasks when it suits you.

UNIT OVERVIEWS

EDED20515 Educational Neuroscience
Educators are brain changers through the learning experiences they create. They are neural architects working with students/clients. Having informed knowledge about the brain is critical to maximise learning and wellness. In this unit, you will learn how our social brain connects with others in ways that are core to our existence. You will learn about neurobiological fundamentals, how neuroplasticity drives the development of neural networks in learning and memory, the role of stress responses in learning, and how sleep, nutrition and movement are critical to a healthy brain. You will gain neuroscientific insights into contemporary and emerging evidence-based findings to enhance your practices and create optimal learning environments that underpin achievement and wellness.

EDED20516 Neuroscience-Powered Leadership
This unit examines the attributes of inspirational leaders from a neuroscientific perspective based on contemporary research. You will learn how, as an inspirational leader, you need to appeal to your team’s needs and inner motivations to inspire them to engage in personal and organisational growth. This unit uses a social cognitive neuroscience approach based on trust, rapport, and growth. Contemporary brain-wise interventions to enhance team engagement and optimise the cooperation of members are examined through a neuroscientific lens.

EDED20517 Neuroplasticians Research Project
Educators and other professionals quite literally change the brain of students/clients – they are ‘neuroplasticians’. You will learn how findings from Psychology, Education and Neuroscience (PEN) disciplines co-jointly support brain-friendly principles to improve both achievement and wellness and about the many neuromyths that abound and how to challenge and avoid those. The unit content is carefully selected from authoritative sources such as Tokuhama-Espinosa, Willis, The Science of Learning Research Centre (SLRC), Howard-Jones, Siegel and other prominent, cutting-edge researchers in Educational Neuroscience. You will learn about research-based findings that have immediate practical use with learners, including young people and colleagues. You will review contemporary brain teaching guidelines and use those to enhance your practices utilising integrative reflections.

EDED20513 Learning and Memory - A Neuroscientific View
Educators need an understanding of learning and memory informed by evidence-based research involving neural activation patterns. In this unit, you will engage with contemporary views on how the brain works and develops by responding to internal and external stimuli. You will learn about how information flows in the brain and how the brain creates, consolidates, stores and retrieves memories. The knowledge and skills that you develop in this unit may be applied immediately in your professional practice to enhance learning and memory.

This course has no residential schools.

Requirements

To be eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements. 

During your study

While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies. 

Fees & Scholarships

Indicative First-Year Fee

$6,888
Indicative first-year FFP place

The Indicative First-Year Fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one academic year for a Full Fee Paying (FFP) Place. For a graduate certificate, this is usually four units studied full-time over one term or part-time over two terms. Your actual fees may vary depending on the units you select to study and your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. 

Understanding your fees.

You may be eligible for FEE-HELP, an Australian Government loan scheme that helps eligible students pay their tuition fees. Provided you meet the FEE-HELP eligibility criteria, you can choose to use FEE-HELP to cover all or part of your tuition fees. 

Learn more about paying for university or view the FEE-HELP information booklet on the Australian Government’s Study Assist website.

There may be additional costs as part of your studies, such as technology expenses. Learn more about other study costs.

How to apply

How to apply

Check what you need to do to apply to study this course. 

Your application options

Follow these steps

1
Check you meet the course requirements
2
Get a Unique Student Identifier
3
Submit your application
Applications are open year-round.

Extra admission information

Learn about the assessment of applications and everything you need to know about receiving and accepting an offer to study with CQU.

Start your application

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