Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)  MI005, MI006

The BEd degree programme is currently being re-designed to create an attractive and exciting new four-year programme which will reflect the College's well-established reputation for excellence in teacher education.  The new programme will be introduced for students who enter the College in September 2012.

During Year 1 of the programme, all students will follow a core programme consisting of 15 units of study.  Students will spend part of this time in schools observing, teaching and participating in the life of the school.  As students progress through the programme, there will be increasing opportunities for them to specialise, especially from year 3 onwards.  At the beginning of Year 2, students will choose the first of eight elective modules which, if a student wishes, can lead to a specialisation, either within Education or within a Liberal Arts discipline.  Student choice and flexibility is further enhanced by allowing those students who would prefer not to specialise within any particular area to take instead individual modules from a wide and attractive range of electives.

Examples of the Education specialisations that will be on offer include:

• Special Education
• Early Childhood Studies
• Theatre Studies
• Physical Education
• Music Education
• Teagasc i Suíomhanna Lán-Ghaeilge
• Theology/Religious Education
• Visual Arts Education

Alternatively, students may elect to pursue a specialisation in one of the following Liberal Arts disciplines:

• English Language & Literature
• French Studies
• Gaeilge
• Geography
• German Studies
• History
• Media & Communication Studies
• Music
• Philosophy
• Theology & Religious Studies

Aims       

"The fundamental aim of courses is to provide the professional and academic foundation for teachers’ careers, by providing a third-level education which will impart the knowledge and pedagogical skills necessary to teach the primary school curriculum." (Charting our Education Future, An Roinn Oideachais, 1996, p.122).

The content of the B.Ed. programme seeks to equip participants with the competence to teach all levels of primary school (4-12 year olds). Given the structure of primary school provision, the teacher is required to have a mastery and competence in all the curricular areas of the primary school inclusive of Art, Drama, English, Gaeilge, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education and Social & Environmental Studies (which includes Geography, History and Science). In addition, an understanding of education’s knowledge base is provided by History of Education, Philosophy of Education, Psychology of Education and Sociology of Education. Student teachers must major in one academic subject to degree level.

Entrance Requirements 

Age Limit: Candidates must be at least 16 years old on 15 January and not more than 22 years old on 2 January in the year of entry.

*Minimum Grades Required:

Leaving Certificate Examination

(a) Grade C3 on a Higher Level paper in not less than three subjects

(b) Grade D3 in three other subjects (at Higher or Ordinary Level) in accordance

with the Rules and Programmes for Secondary Schools.

(c) They must have the following minimum grades in:

1) Gaeilge: Grade C3 on the Higher Level Paper

2) English: Grade D3 on the Higher Level Paper or

Grade C3 on the Ordinary Level Paper

3) Mathematics : Grade D3 on the Higher or Ordinary Level Paper

*Note: The minimum grades in Gaeilge, English and Mathematics can be carried forward from previous Leaving Certificate(s) but the requirement to achieve a minimum of Grade C3 on three (3) Higher Level papers and Grade D3 in three (3) other subjects (Higher or Ordinary Level) must be obtained in a single sitting of the Leaving Certificate Examination.

Points will be compiled from one sitting only of the Leaving Certificate Examination

GCSE/A Levels

Six subjects must be presented, at least three subjects at GCE A Level and the remaining subjects at GCE AS or GCSE level.  The six subjects must include Irish, English and Mathematics.

A subject may be counted from only one of the examinations, GCSE, GCE AS Level or GCE A Level.

Only subjects taken at one sitting of a particular examination, GCSE, GCE AS Level or GCE A Level will be accepted.  Examinations taken in the same academic year are regarded as the same sitting.

Minimum Grades required

• Grade C at GCE A level in at least three subjects, including Irish
• Grade C at GCSE Level in both English and English Literature, or Grade B at GCSE Level in either
• Grade D at GCSE Level in Additional Mathematics or Grade A at GCSE Level in Mathematics
• Grade C in one other subject at GCSE level
• Applicants must satisfy the matriculation requirements of the University to which the College of Education is affiliated.

Medical

Before being accepted for the BEd. degree course, all candidates are required to complete a health declaration questionnaire for submission to the College Medical Officer.