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Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching)

Note: The 'At a Glance' section below is indicative only.

Duration: 2 years full-time

Level: 9

Places Offered: 120

Location: MIC Limerick

Delivery Mode:

Face-to-face

Assessment:

A variety of methods across the 2 years including portfolios, essays, examinations, school placement, presentations and dissertation.

  • Programme Overview
  • Programme Content
  • Entry Requirements
  • How to Apply
  • Ask a Question

Programme Overview

The Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) is a two-year, full-time Level 9 postgraduate professional teacher education programme designed to qualify graduates as primary teachers. A key element of the PME is practice-oriented inquiry where students interrogate experiences and forge new understandings, integrating educational theory and practice through structured reflection and research applications. The programme is designed to equip student teachers with the cognitions and competencies necessary to develop creative and flexible approaches to teaching in different contexts and settings embracing pupils with diverse and often complex needs.

Key Features

Thematic in nature, the programme focuses iteratively on students’ role as learner, teacher, researcher and leader. In addition to the established broad range of curriculum and foundation studies areas studied traditionally within ITE programmes at MIC, this programme contains a strong focus on research methods. Students undertake practitioner based research while on their extended school placement and complete a Taisce portfolio combining their research in the final semester. 

This course provides students with the opportunity to spend two Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht across their two years. These two modules are usually undertaken within the first year of the programme and between semesters; in early January and during the Summer break between first year and second year. 

A range of assessment modes are employed across the two year programme, comprising written examinations and course work including group presentations. 

Professional Placement & Career Opportunities

The students have the opportunity to undertake a number of school placement experiences across a range of classes over the course of the two years and assessment and mentoring supports the student during this process. Assessment of school placement and micro-teaching is also a core component of this programme.

On successful completion of the course, graduates are qualified to teach all classes in the primary school.

 

Programme Aims

The PME programme aims to develop student teachers' knowledge skills, beliefs, and values in ways that support:

  • The development of professionals who promote and maintain a strong commitment to education and teaching and to the quality of the educational experiences of their pupils based on the principles of compassion, empathy, honesty, trust, integrity, democracy, social justice and social engagement, within a strong ethic of responsibility to children, parents and community; 
  • The development of professionals who will respect and value childhood and help children to unlock and realise their potential as children and as future adults. The PME programme endeavours to recognise the uniqueness of every child with their own particular history, culture and life experience; 
  • The emerging identity of students as learners, teachers, researchers and future leaders;
  • The recognition of the dignity of the individual student teacher who brings their own unique identity to the teaching profession;
  • The development of professionals who understand, respect, question and think critically about knowledge and who can adapt this knowledge within the complexities of their educational practice;
  • The development of professionals who are committed to promoting rich, flexible, creative learner-centred environments, where pupils are active agents in the learning process, and who support the general aims of primary education within the context of each individual child's social and cultural background, development, potential, learning and the multiple forms of understanding the child brings to the classroom;
  • The development of professionals who are competent, assured, creative, caring, active and participative citizens. In addition to demonstrating excellence in knowledge and skills, they will have a sense of the needs of those who are vulnerable in society; they will be enabled to recognise their dignity; and they will have a profound sense of social justice;
  • The development of personal and professional qualities including creativity, enthusiasm, risk-taking, commitment and responsibility, all of which equip teachers to actively initiate, contribute to and respond positively to change in Irish society in the twenty-first century. Also, when appropriate, to act as dynamic agents of change within, and for education;
  • The promotion of the reflective practitioner through inquiry based critical examination and consideration of all aspects of professional practice linked to a commitment to the teacher as learner and sustained by Professional Learning;
  • The development of professionals who challenge and confront social injustice and inequality helping them to become agents of change;
  • The development of professionals who are empowered to recognise, appreciate and celebrate difference and most importantly, create an inclusive environment for all children;
  • The development of professionals who understand and recognise the contribution of educational research to teacher formation.

Contact

Dr Margaret Nohilly

T: +353 61 774744

E: Margaret.Nohilly@mic.ul.ie

Programme Content

Year One

    Year 1 - Semester 1 

    Semester 1 provides a strong foundation in many curricular areas and foundation disciplines as well as introducing students to School Placement. Blending subject-specific pedagogies with modules which interrogate contemporary issues in education in a context of campus-based and school-based learning opportunities, students will be enabled to achieve deep insights into teaching and learning early in the programme. Students are introduced to the Taisce module in semester one which is the development of an e-portfolio combining a number of strands including research. Between semester 1 and semester 2 students attend the Gaeltacht for two weeks. The Gaeltacht placement takes place in early January ahead of Semester 2 commencing. 

    Year 1 - Semester 2 

    Semester 2 builds on and extends the knowledge, skills and understanding gained in Semester 1. Semester 2 culminates in a prolonged school placement offering students an opportunity to apply learning in practice. Research Methods is a core feature of semester 2 where the students develop a literature review to support their practitioner based research that they will undertake while on extended placement in year 2. During the Summer of Year 1 the students undertake their second Gaeltacht placement for a two-week period. 

     

    Year Two

    Year 2 - Semester 3

    Semester 3 builds on the knowledge, skills and attitudes gained during Year 1 through curricular areas, foundation disciplines and research methods. Inclusive and Special Education is a discrete focus of this Semester through both a taught module and a specific school placement. Students will develop their research focus for their extended school placement by planning and preparing the lesson content that they will teach, aligned with the literature review completed in Semester 2. A significant element of Semester 3 will be the parallel focus of teaching, learning and research highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the role of the teacher and the teaching profession. 

    Year 2 - Semester 4

    Semester 4 is primarily devoted to prolonged school placement and the application of knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired through Semesters 1, 2 and 3. A key feature of Semester 4 is the completion and presentation of the Tasice professional portfolio which reflects the professional learning, practice and research experiences gained by the student over the course of the programme. 

     

     

     

    Entry Requirements

    Applications for 2024 entry are now open - link to application form on the 'How to Apply' section.

    There are 120 places available and the closing date for applications is Monday 8 April 2024.

    For September 2024 entry, the Leaving Certificate minimum requirements for the PME are as follows:

    • Irish - H4
    • English - H7 or O4
    • Maths - H7 or O4

    Useful Links

    Oral Irish Exam for 2024

    TEG oral exam for 2024 entry will take place 26/27 January 2024 and 9/10 February 2024. Application forms available from www.teg.ie from 15 November 2023 and closing date for applications will be 8 January 2024.

    Please note that the TEG office are running an additional exam for TEG on 24th February in Maynooth only, with the closing date Friday 16th February.

    The Oral Irish Exam requirements for 2024 entry are detailed below.

    For 2024, applicants wishing to apply for the PME Programme are required to take an Oral Irish exam before applying to MIC for the programme.

    Applicants are required to take the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Meánleibhéal 1 (B1) Irish-language oral examination. Full details on the oral exam are available here

    A minimum of 65% must be obtained in the B1 Oral TEG exam to be eligible to apply for the PME Programme.

    Applicants must upload their results from TEG Level B1 Oral Irish exam as part of their application to MIC for the PME programme. 

    A successful result in the TEG oral will be valid for two years before the test needs to be retaken. Applicants who have achieved a minimum of 65% in the TEG oral exam in the last two years are eligible to apply.

    The following TEG certificates from 2022 and 2023 will be accepted:

    TEG Meánleibhéal 1 (B1) with a mark of 65% or higher/ a pass or higher at TEG Meánleibhéal 2 (B2) (min 50%)/ a pass or higher at TEG Ardleibhéal 1 (C1) (min 60%).

    Additional marks are awarded for students who complete the TEG Oral Examination at a high level.

    • Up to 6 additional marks may be awarded for students who successfully complete the TEG B1 oral examination at a high level and these marks will be added to their score. Applicants achieving from 90-100% receive 6 additional marks, applicants achieving from 80-89% receive 3 additional marks.
    • Applicants who complete the TEG oral examination and obtain 65-79% receive no additional marks, but are deemed to have passed the test and are eligible for the programme.
    • Applicants who have passed higher levels of TEG (B2, C1 and C2) receive 6 additional marks.

     

    Commencing with applications for the 2023-2025 programme cycle, an interview is now no longer part of the selection process for Mary Immaculate College, and is replaced by a points scoring system. Details available in the How to Apply section.

    How to Apply

    There are 120 places available on the programme for 2024 and the closing date for receipt of completed applications (link below) is 8 April 2024.

    Applications are now open - click here to apply.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    For fees click here.

    This programme is not open to applications from non-EU countries. Application fees are non-refundable due to applicant ineligibility. See International programme listing here.

    Please note: Commencing with applications for the 2023-2025 programme cycle, an interview will no longer be part of the selection process for Mary Immaculate College, and will be replaced by a points scoring system. For full details on points system click here. 

    All qualifications must have been awarded by 1 March 2024 to be included for points purposes. All supporting documentation must be uploaded with the online application and MIC will not accept late submissions after the closing date. Please do not submit late documentation by post or email, as it cannot be accepted. 

    Please note: If any information provided for points calculation is found to be fraudulent, the applicant's application will be cancelled and will not be processed by the College.

    Download the Employer Reference form (for paid employment) here.

    Contact
    MIC Admissions Office
    061 204348/ 205137

    Ask a Question

    • Programme Overview
    • Programme Content
    • Entry Requirements
    • How to Apply
    • Ask a Question