COURSE CURRICULUM

The Educational Science specialisation within the master’s program in Education and Child Studies is designed to explore the processes of learning and development in children and adolescents through a multidisciplinary lens that combines cognitive-psychological, social-emotional, and neuroscientific perspectives. The program not only addresses general principles of learning but also delves into subject-specific domains such as reading, science, and mathematics, offering a broad yet in-depth understanding of educational contexts. Students follow four substantive courses that provide close interaction with instructors and peers, ensuring an intensive and personalised learning experience. These courses cover the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying learning and academic performance, psychological perspectives on education and their practical implications for instruction and assessment, digital aspects of education in an increasingly technology-driven world, and the application of data-based instruction with continuous progress monitoring. Furthermore, attention is given to understanding the backgrounds, meanings, and outcomes of current educational innovations and interventions. Alongside these courses, students receive training in research methods and statistics, equipping them with the skills to conduct empirical studies with academic rigour. A central component of the program is the master’s project, where students develop and refine their research skills by engaging in a project within the broad field of Education and Child Studies. While the project does not have to be directly linked to the chosen specialisation, it must align with the wider research themes of the program. Students are encouraged to challenge themselves intellectually and gain new insights, supported through preparatory courses such as Practice of Empirical Research and the resources available within the university. Allocation to projects is based on student preferences, with efforts made to match them to their top choices. For international students, the program offers a welcoming environment, though the international community is relatively small. Importantly, all students are expected to work within the available thesis topics, with a limited number of English-taught options, and cannot propose their own research topics. This ensures a structured yet flexible approach to research training while fostering collaboration and inclusivity.