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BA in Education, Gaeilge & Religious Studies (MI018)

Note: The 'At a Glance' section below is indicative only. Hours and assessment methods vary across semesters, years and subjects.

CAO Points 2023: 424

Duration : 4 years full-time

Places Offered: Up to 30

Location: MIC Thurles

Lecture Hours: 10 approx.

Tutorial Hours: 5 approx.

Assessment:

Mixed but may include presentations, essays and exams.

  • Programme Overview
  • Programme Content
  • Entry Requirements
  • Ask a Question

Programme Overview

The BA in Education, Gaeilge and Religious Studies programme (post-primary) is a four-year, full-time, undergraduate concurrent teacher education degree (Level 8), currently offered at MIC Thurles. Graduates are qualified to teach Irish and Religious Studies to Leaving Certificate level.

BA in Education, Gaeilge and Religious Studies, MIC Thurles

Why study on this programme?

Graduates of the programme will:

  • Demonstrate subject knowledge, curriculum process and content, and professional knowledge
  • Engage in critical and analytical thinking, problem-solving, reflection and self-evaluation
  • Engage in planning, teaching, learning, assessment, classroom management and organisation for the classroom and the school as a learning organisation
  • Articulate a commitment to and vision for the development of the uniqueness of the pupil in all its dimensions
  • Integrate and apply knowledge skills, attitudes and values in complex and unpredictable educational settings
  • Exhibit strong interpersonal skill and a readiness to be leaders and innovators of curriculum change
  • Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong personal and professional development and actively participate in professional learning communities

Modules & Study Abroad

Students are educated in the most current methodologies and technologies available to enhance the teaching of their subject areas at post-primary level. The degree programme includes four years of modules in Gaeilge and Religious Studies. These are taken concurrently with education modules which include theoretical, pedagogical and professional studies along with a number of school placement experiences. The Teaching Council requires Irish language teachers to have spent a minimum of two months on residential placement in a designated Gaeltacht area prior to registering with it. Four weeks of this residential placement will be in the form of a compulsory Cúrsa Gaeltachta organised by the College.

Study Abroad Options

Opportunities to travel to the USA and Japan for short-stay school placements are available in Year 3. Semester 6 offers opportunities to study abroad including Australia. Our relationships with post-primary schools in Australia also extend to being placed in these schools in the summer of Year 4.

School Placement

The School Placement element of the programme is designed to meet the Teaching Council’s requirements, and students will spend approximately 23 weeks in schools during the programme. This period will allow students to engage in observation, class-based and whole-school teaching and learning activities. Working in partnership with schools, the placements are designed to enable students experience class levels from junior to senior cycle within a range of school types, and where student is guided and empowered along his/her learning-to-teach journey. The level and range of teaching and learning activities increases from School Placement 1 to School Placement 3 and the student is assisted by the placement tutors and cooperating teachers (treoraithe) to ensure that his/her practice is reflective of professional knowledge and his/her own personal commitment to the pupils’ well-being and learning. There is an integrated focus on subject knowledge and also inclusion and differentiation for each placement. Placements occur at four points in the programme:

  • Teaching and Learning 1 - Year 1, Semester 2: Students are given the opportunity to observe teaching in practice for one week in a senior primary classroom. This observation placement provides an opportunity for students to gain an insight into the interconnection between primary and post-primary education. The placement inducts student teachers into the practice of teaching and reflection.
  • School Placement 1 - Year 2, Semester 4: The focus for this six-week school placement is on lesson planning and preparation, scheme planning and developing effective teaching strategies in their subject areas. There is also a strong emphasis on the development of critical and reflective practice, and on developing an understanding of schools as organisations. Both observation and teaching elements are integrated into this placement which is located at Junior Cycle level and /or Transition Year level. Students may also be placed in pairs on this placement, facilitating team teaching with one another as well as with established teachers.
  • School Placement 2 - Year 3, Semester 6: In this two week placement, students will work in special settings including the possibility of an international placement. The purpose of this placement is to support the student in becoming an inclusive teacher and to develop their confidence and competence in responding to diverse needs in the classroom.
  • School Placement 3  - Year 4, Semester 8: School Placement 3 will run  over 14 weeks. In School Placement 3 the student teachers will plan, prepare and implement schemes of work and lesson plans in their subject areas at Junior and Senior Cycle level. There will be a strong emphasis on reflective practice throughout these modules.
A Supportive Teaching Community.
A Supportive Teaching Community.
Students experience the most current methodologies and technologies to enhance their skills.

Gaeltacht Placement

Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht

Tabharfaidh mic léinn faoi dhá Thréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht, i ndá bhloc ar leith de choicís an ceann le linn chlár na céime. De ghnáth, beidh na tréimhsí foghlama le déanamh ag deireadh Bhliain 1 agus ag deireadh Bhliain 3. Cuid riachtanach den chlár céime is ea na Tréimhsí Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht. Déanfaidh mic léinn an dá thréimhse foghlama sin i gceantair Ghaeltachta éagsúla chun taithí a fháil ar dhá cheann de phríomhchanúintí na Gaeilge.

Trí thumadh sa Ghaeilge tá sé d’aidhm ag na Tréimhsí Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht:

Cur le heolas agus le tuiscint an mhic léinn ar shaol agus ar shaíocht na Gaeltachta;

Cur le cumas cumarsáide an mhic léinn i gcomhthéacs an ról atá rompu mar mhúinteoirí Gaeilge agus mar mhúinteoirí a mhúineann ábhair eile trí mheán na Gaeilge mar aon le Gaeilge a úsáid mar theanga bheo i bpobal na scoile. Déanfar tástáil ar an gcumas sin trí thagairt do thorthaí foghlama comhaontaithe;

Taithí thaitneamhach a bheith ag an mac léinn le tógáil ar an ngrá atá aige/aici don Ghaeilge mar theanga agus a m(h)uinín i labhairt na Gaeilge a threisiú.

Beidh 35 uair an chloig de ghníomhaíochtaí foghlama ag an mac léinn le linn na seachtaine, ranganna foirmeálta iad 20 uair an chloig díobh sin.

.

Undergraduate Dissertation

This programme places great emphasis on teaching and research and as part of their development as research-active teachers, students undertake an undergraduate dissertation. The Dissertation can be in either education or a subject discipline. Students begin the preparation for the dissertation in Year 3 where they undertake their Research Methods module.

Career Opportunities

This programme is accredited by the Teaching Council and has been developed in response to the growing need for excellence in teaching at post-primary level. The programme prepares graduates for their roles in all areas of professional life in education.

The following list demonstrates just some of the careers our graduates have pursued:

  • Post-primary teacher
  • Researcher
  • Irish Language Media
  • Irish Language Promotion
  • Translation
  • Administrative positions in faith-based organisations
  • Parish and diocesan pastoral assistants and administrators

Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships

Each year, Mary Immaculate College awards up to 50 Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships across all undergraduate programmes valued at €2,000 each, on the basis of results obtained in the Irish Leaving Certificate Examination.

Further information about Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships available here.

Contact

MIC Thurles

T: +353 504 20535 / 21201

E: Paula.Hourigan@mic.ul.ie

Programme Content

Semester 1 (Year 1)

Becoming a Student Teacher

Teanga agus Litríocht na Gaeilge 1

An Fhiannaíocht agus Scéalaíocht Ár Sinsear

Two of the following modules to be offered:
Religion and World Religions
Introduction to Systematic Theology
Theology of the First Testament
Semester 2 (Year 1)
Teaching and Learning 1 - Planning for Teaching

Understanding Contemporary Schools and Society

Adolescent Development - Understanding Young People and How They Learn

Teanga agus Litríocht na Gaeilge 2

One of the following modules to be offered (excluding the modules already offered):
Religion and World Religions
Introduction to Systematic Theology
Theology of the First Testament
Semester 3 (Year 2)

Teaching and Learning 2 – Planning for Differentiation

Teaching Gaeilge and Religious Studies 1

An Ghearrscéalaíocht agus an Béaloideas

An Litríocht Chlasaiceach

Two of the following modules to be offered:
Theology of the Second Testament
Christology
Fundamental Moral Theology
Semester 4 (Year 2)

Inclusive Education: Contemporary Perspectives

School Placement 1

Litríocht an 17ú agus an 18ú hAois

One of the following modules to be offered (excluding the modules already offered):
Theology of the Second Testament
Christology
Fundamental Moral Theology
Semester 5 (Year 3)

Curriculum Studies; Assessment for and of Learning

Diversity in Education: Ethics, Interculturalism and Inclusive Classrooms

Logainmneacha agus Gnéithe den Teangeolaíocht

One of the following modules to be offered:
Approaches to God
Foundations and Approaches to Religious Education/The Christian Church 
Ritual and Sacrament
Semester 6 (Year 3)

Research Methods – Ethical Foundations for Teaching and Research

School Placement 2

Filíocht na Nua-Ghaeilge

Na Mná sa Litríocht

Two of the following modules to be offered (excluding the modules already offered):
Approaches to God
Foundations and Approaches to Religious Education/The Christian Church
Ritual and Sacrament
Semester 7 (Year 4)

Policy and Leadership in Education

Dissertation 1

Teaching Gaeilge and Religious Studies 2

Prós na Gaeilge
Selected Topics in Applied Moral Theology
Semester 8 (Year 4)

School Placement 3

E-Portfolio

Dissertation 2

 

 

Entry Requirements

Applicants must have obtained the following minimum grades in the Leaving Certificate examination:

  • Grade H5 on a Higher Level paper in not less than two subjects
  • Grade O6/H7 in four other subjects (Higher or Ordinary Level)

Applicants must have obtained the following grades, at minimum, in the following subjects:

  • Irish – H5
  • English - O6/H7
  • Mathematics – O6/H7

Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP)

Link modules will be accepted for points purposes but they will not qualify as a subject for matriculation purposes.

GCE/GCSE Applicants

Further information about minimum grades and entry requirements is available here or please contact the MIC Admissions Office at E: Admissions@mic.ul.ie.

Student Fitness to Teach Form

In order to establish students' fitness to teach, all incoming teacher education students are required to complete a Student Fitness to Teach Form.

Garda Vetting

Registration will be conditional upon successful completion of the Garda vetting process.

If you are at least 23 years old on 1 January of the year of entry to College, you are considered as a mature applicant. All mature applicants who make an application to the College through the CAO for MI018 and are meeting the eligibility criteria, will be invited to attend for an interview. Applicants are awarded a grade for their performance at the interview. Where places remain unfilled after the list of successful first preference applicants has been exhausted, offers may be made to other applicants in order of preference and in accordance with the order of merit. Applicants who get a ‘fail’ grade in the interview will be eliminated from the competition.

Applicants who have failed the interview on two previous occasions are not eligible to re-apply. Mature applicants who have completed an interview will be contacted by the College to indicate whether or not they are suitable applicants for a place on the programme. Places are offered by the CAO based on the applicant’s order of preference.

For details of Uversity Scholarships for Mature Applicants click here. Applications can be submitted from 1 February 2024 to 26 March 2024.

Student Fitness to Teach Form

In order to establish students' fitness to teach, all incoming teacher education students are required to complete a Student Fitness to Teach Form.

Garda Vetting

Registration will be conditional upon successful completion of the Garda vetting process.

A limited number of places per year will be awarded to applicants through the Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS), which gives learners the opportunity to use their QQI Level 5 or 6 major award to apply, through the CAO, for a place on a higher education programme.

Entry requirements vary for each degree programme.

Essential Major awards -  (Any)

Five Distinctions + H5 in LCE Irish (If QQI major award is a Level 6 award then four distinctions may suffice).

Fees & Grants

Fees

Tuition fees may be paid in respect of full-time undergraduate students undertaking approved courses in eligible institutions. Details of the Free Fees criteria are listed here.

If you do not qualify for free fees, undergraduate tuition fees and other charges may apply. See Undergraduate Fees here.

Grants

Students apply for a grant through Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) and if they meet certain criteria, they may be eligible for full or partial financial support.

Before applying at www.susi.ie, please review the criteria carefully.

Contact
MIC Thurles
+353 504 20535 / 21201

Ask a Question

  • Programme Overview
  • Programme Content
  • Entry Requirements
  • Ask a Question