Learning, Society, & Religious Education
About
The Department of Learning, Society, and Religious Education (LSRE) represents a range of diverse and complementary disciplines within the field of education. In line with the Catholic tradition and mission statement of Mary Immaculate College, the department is committed to enhancing the role of education in helping individuals to reach their potential and in creating a just and compassionate society.
The department seeks to foster the personal and spiritual development of its students and to encourage them to be active citizens.
To that end, we value and promote constructive and critical inquiry and seek to promote this inquiry through our teaching and research. We welcome any inquiries about the work of the department and particularly welcome any interest in our research agenda or in engaging in postgraduate research within the department.
Department Mission Statement
The Department of Learning, Society, and Religious Education (LSRE) represents a range of diverse and complementary disciplines within the field of education. The exploration of key issues in education concerning human flourishing is of primary significance. Central to our work are the questions of how religious beliefs and traditions, spiritualities, equality, active citizenship, social justice, relationships in education, pedagogies, the governance of education, the history and status of childhood, children’s rights, wellbeing, gender issues, amongst others, all contribute to learning how we can share our planet and live well together. We nurture interdisciplinary, interinstitutional and international relationships in teaching, learning, research and service to the community in a spirit of creativity, enjoyment, collegiality and academic freedom.
Subject Overview
See below for a list of modules in the Bachelor of Education and Professional Master's in Education (PME) programme.
| EDU221/PME656: Local, Global and Environmental Studies 1 |
| EDU363: Local, Global and Environmental Studies 2 |
| EDU116/PME651: Foundations for Teaching and Learning 1: Schools and Society |
| EDU167/PME660: Foundations for Teaching and Learning 2: Global Citizenship |
| EDU307: Foundations for Teaching and Learning 3: Schools and Society – Equality and Equity in Education; Perspectives on Race, Ethnicity and Social Class |
| EDU360: Foundations for Teaching and Learning 4: Professional Relationships, Partnerships and Communication |
EDU455: Foundations for Teaching and Learning 5: Child Protection, Professional and Legal Responsibilities |
EDU456: Foundations for Teaching and Learning 6: Schools and Society – Equality and Equity in Education; Perspectives on Gender, Sexuality and Social Justice |
EDU166: Pedagogical Practice 1: Microteaching and Global Citizenship Education |
EDU309: Pedagogical Practice 2: Transdisciplinary, Inclusive and Global Citizenship Education Methodologies |
PME654: Pedagogical Practice: Transdisciplinary, Inclusive and Global Teaching Methodologies |
| EDU219/PME648: Wellbeing: Physical Education and Social, Personal and Health Education 1 |
| EDU271/PME658: Wellbeing: Physical Education and Social, Personal and Health Education 2 |
| EDU224: Religious Education 1 (Schools with a Christian Ethos) |
| EDU276: Religious Education 2 (Schools with a Christian Ethos) |
| PME652/PME678/PME679: Religious Education (Schools with a Christian Ethos) |
| EDU225: Ethical, Multi-belief and Values Education (Patrons' Curricula 1) |
| EDU277: Ethical, Multi-belief and Values Education (Patrons' Curricula 2) |
| PME653/PME680/PME681: Ethical, Multi-belief and Values Education (Patrons' Curricula) |
| CRE100: Christian Revelation |
| CRE200: Scripture and Spirituality |
| CRE300: Christology and Social Justice |
| CRE400: Church Sacraments and Interfaith Dialogue |
| CRE600: God; Faith, Creed and Trinity |
| CRE601: Jesus Christ and Scripture |
EDE331: Education and the Law Specialism: Legal Foundations of the Education System |
EDE383: Education and the Law Specialism: Legal Rights in Education |
EDE476: Education and the Law Specialism: School Liability |
EDE333: Primary History Specialism: Children's Agency as Local Citizens: Creative Approaches to the Teaching of Local History |
EDE385: Primary History Specialism: Children's Agency as Local Citizens: Creative Approaches to the Teaching of Local History 2 |
EDE478: Primary History Specialism: Creative Approaches to the Teaching of Controversial Issues in History |
EDE329: Primary Geography Specialism: Education for Sustainability, Outdoor Learning and Climate Justice |
EDE381: Primary Geography Specialism: Geo-literacy: Exploring Local and Global Issues through Story |
EDE474: Primary Geography Specialism: Teaching Geography Creatively: Reframing the Way we See the World |
| EDE330: Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Specialism: Teaching in a DEIS School |
| EDE382: Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Specialism: Evidence-based and Innovative Programmes and Initiatives in DEIS Contexts |
EDE475: Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Specialism: Working in Partnership with Families in DEIS Schools |
EDE336: Social, Personal and Health Education Specialism: SPHE in a Combination of Contexts |
EDE388: Social, Personal and Health Education Specialism: Relationships and Sexuality Education: An Aspect of Social, Personal and Health Education |
EDE481: Social, Personal and Health Education Specialism: Relationships, Conflict, Ethos and SPHE/Wellbeing Policy |
EDE334: Religious Education Specialism: Creativity, Religious Education and the Arts |
EDE386: Religious Education Specialism: Creative Approaches to Liturgy and Ritual in the Primary School |
EDE479: Religious Education Specialism: Fostering Spiritual Wellbeing in the Primary School |
EDE332: Global Citizenship Education Specialism: Exploring Resources for Teaching Global Citizenship Education |
EDE384: Global Citizenship Education Specialism: Philosophy for Global Citizenship Education |
EDE477: Global Citizenship Education Specialism: Developing Active Global Citizenship |
Staff
Research
Departmental Assistantship
The Department of Learning, Society, and Religious Education (LSRE) accepts applications from post-graduate students (MA by research and thesis or PhD) for the post of departmental assistant.
This innovative, multi-disciplinary department provides opportunities to work with staff members and engage in a large variety of tasks and projects thereby enhancing the overall research experience and developing new skills. Staff research interests include: Global Education and Citizenship, Religious Education, Wellbeing in Education, Education Policy and Working in DEIS schools. Examples of work experience include the planning and provision of tutorials, organisation of materials, and assistance with organisation of events. The departmental assistants will be encouraged to attend training sessions provided by the RGSO and the Learning Enhancement and Academic Development (LEAD) centre.
A Departmental Assistantship award currently provides for a stipend of €6,900.00 per annum (AY2026/27) along with a full fee waiver in Years 1, 2 & 3 for PhD students. Where a DA Awardee enters a 4th year of studies, a full fee waiver is provided, but no stipend is payable in Year 4 and no duties are required in Year 4. MA (research and thesis) students who receive a DA Award are entitled to a stipend of €6,900.00 (AY2026/27) with a full fee waiver for a two year period.
Currently closed for applications.
Applications will re-open for the 2027/28 academic year in February 2027.
The Department of Learning, Society, and Religious Education at Mary Immaculate College accepts applications from current and potential research M.A./Ph.D. students for a funded Departmental Assistantship. Applications for the 2027/28 academic year will open in February 2027.
A Departmental Assistant (DA) Award currently provides for a stipend of €6,900.00 per annum (AY2026/27) along with a fee waiver for a maximum of three years within the normal duration of programme for PhD students. Where a DA Awardee who has received funding for three years enters a 4th year of studies, a fee waiver is provided, but no stipend is payable in Year 4 and no duties are required in Year 4. MA (research & thesis) students who receive a DA Award are entitled to a stipend of €6,900.00 (AY2026/27) with a fee waiver for a two-year period. A fee waiver consists of a contribution to defray tuition fees for a student for the normal duration of their programme (4 years for a PhD student; 2 years for a Research Masters student). Students outside of the normal duration of their programme may not avail of a DA or associated fee waiver.
The amount of a fee waiver is at the discretion of MIC and it is not guaranteed that a fee waiver will defray the full fees in the case of all programmes. Stipend instalments are normally paid monthly beginning in September and ending in May (9 instalments per academic year).
DAs are required to provide up to a maximum of 120 hours of assistance to their home department across the academic year or an average of 5 hours per week per semester. DAs may not exceed 10 hours duties in any given week during the semester.
In compliance with the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2018, the allocation of these duties must be recorded by the Head of Department on the DA Contract Request Form AY2026/27. This form must be deposited with the RGSO before DA contracts can be processed.
General information on the Departmental Assistantship funding scheme is available here.
Current PhD/ Masters by Research Students: The applicant should complete a Departmental Assistantship application form (LSRE) available above.
Potential PhD/ Masters by Research Students: There are two parts to the application process:
Part 1 - To be considered for a Departmental Assistantship, applicants should identify a research topic and supervisor, and complete a research postgraduate application. Information on this process is available here. It is essential that potential applicants allow sufficient time to prepare an application in conjunction with a potential supervisor. Further information on the research interests of faculty in the Department is available here.
Part 2 - In addition, the applicant should complete a Departmental Assistantship (LSRE) application.
Selection Criteria & Application Process
Selection Criteria
- Academic record at undergraduate level
- Academic record at postgraduate level (if appropriate)
- Research M.A. or Ph.D. project related to the fields of interest of staff in the Department
- Aptitude for teaching undergraduate students in tutorials
Application Process
Applications are welcome from current students and potential students who intend to begin a research postgraduate programme in Education, related to the fields of expertise in the Department. Applicants should submit the following documents by email to Dr Maurice Harmon, Email: Maurice.Harmon@mic.ul.ie.
- Academic Transcript
- A completed Departmental Assistantship Application Form (LSRE) with accompanying academic reference
Applications are now closed.
Selection Process
The Department will convene a Selection Committee consisting of the Head of Department (chair) and two other members of staff. The committee will assess applications on the basis of the selection criteria and make recommendation(s) for approval via the Head of the Graduate School to the Executive Team. The Head of Department will notify applicants of the outcome of the selection process as soon as possible. Late Applications will not be accepted.
Further Information
Please direct general queries to Dr Maurice Harmon, Email: Maurice.Harmon@mic.ul.ie.
- About
- Subject Overview
- Staff
- Research
