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DC004

Bachelor of Education - Church of Ireland Pathway (Restricted Entry)

Course Details

CAO Code:
DC004
Course Type:
Undergraduate
NFQ Level:
- Please see www.qqi.ie for further information
Placement:
Yes
Delivery Modes
Full-Time
Minimum Points
#401
Duration
4 Years
Phone:
+353 (0) 1
01 700 6074

The Bachelor of Education will prepare you for a rewarding career as a Primary School Teacher, a role that has a positive and lasting impact on young children's lives.

 

Overview

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As a primary school teacher, you can make a real difference - guiding and supporting children’s growing minds and personal development. This course will help you to become a skilled and creative teaching professional.

Learning to Teach, Teaching to Learn

The Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) will equip you not only with subject knowledge, but also with the leadership and communication skills that teachers need. 

The course helps you to understand how children learn, and gives you the tools to motivate your students in the classroom. As well as learning how to teach the subjects on the primary school curriculum, your knowledge and understanding of the world will deepen through great interactive lectures.

Graduates can teach in all schools across the primary sector.

You will take an additional qualification in Religious Studies & Religious Education to prepare you to teach the Follow Me programme, the Religious Education programme in use in primary schools under Church of Ireland, Methodist, Presbyterian and Society of Friends patronage.

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Entry Requirements

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In addition to the general entry requirements for admission to the university the following entry requirements apply:  Minimum of H5 in no fewer than three subjects and a minimum of O6/H7 in three other subjects.  Programme requirements: Irish H4, English and Mathematics O4/H7.

Minimum age of 16 by 15th January in the year of entry.

Eligible candidates are required to complete an online supplementary form and pass a qualifying interview to be considered for a place on the programme. Applicants will be contacted by email with instructions on how to complete the online form.

 * DC004 Restricted Entry: students with minimum of H6 or O4 in Irish may be offered places but only if there are insufficient candidates meeting the H4 Irish requirement. Candidates with H5 take precedence over those with O4. A Link Module of the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme may be presented as one of the six subjects for the calculation of points but will not qualify as a subject for matriculation purposes.

DES 2024 entry requirements for non-mature applicants is available here. Irish version available here.  

In addition to the general entry requirements for admission to the university the following entry requirements apply: Six subjects must be presented, at least three at GCE A Level with the remaining subjects at GCE AS or GCSE Level. Applicants must present the following subject requirements: GCSE Level C in both English and English Literature or GCSE Level B in either English or English Literature; GCE A Level C in Irish; GCSE Level D in Additional Mathematics or GCSE Level C in Mathematics; GCE A Level C in two further subjects; GCSE C in one other subject.

Eligible candidates are required to complete an online supplementary form and pass a qualifying interview to be considered for a place on the programme. Applicants will be contacted by email with instructions on how to complete the online form.

DES 2024 entry requirements for non-mature applicants is available here. Irish version available here.  

No Entry Path

No Entry Path

Course Structure

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In Years 1 and 2, students cover the basics needed for teaching. You will come to understand how children think and learn in active ways. 

Your curriculum courses will prepare you to teach all the subjects of the primary curriculum using approaches that develop children’s understanding and motivation. 

You’ll also take modules in Psychology, Philosophy Sociology of Education and History of Education.

 

In Year 3, you will review what you’ve learned to date and will apply it in different situations. 

Your understanding of classroom contexts and of how to plan for rich learning experiences will be enriched. 

You’ll learn how to work with children in ways that are democratic and enable them to engage in an ethical way with the world.

 

Year 4 focuses on deepening your expertise. 

It will provide you with opportunities to think about big ideas in education such as social justice, inclusion and working in a school community. You will also undertake a research project.

 

Placement

Learners spend time in schools in each year, with extended placements in Years 3 and 4. 

You will start by observing the class teacher and will build up gradually to teaching all day. 

The majority of DC004 placements will be in schools under Church of Ireland, Methodist, Presbyterian and Society of Friends patronage with a particular focus on developing the experience and skills for teaching multi-grade classes in small schools. 

You will also visit the Gaeltacht for four weeks.

 

Specialisms

The BEd also enables you to specialise in key areas of learning. 

In Year 1 you’ll select a maximum of three from English, Gaeilge, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, and Religious Studies. You can continue with one of these as a Major Specialism in Years 2 to 4. 

Alternatively, you may decide to opt for Early Childhood Education, Digital Learning, Science Education, Human Development, Physical Education, Literacy Education, Geo Learning, or Special and Inclusive Education. (The number of places on some specialisms is restricted and options are subject to change).

The DC004 pathway requires you to follow a specific major specialism to prepare you to work in primary schools under Protestant patronage. 

You will specialise in teaching in multi-level classes which will include modules on inclusive education, early childhood education, integrated and project-based learning and leadership, research and policy in small schools.

 

Fees and Funding

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Fees

Student Contribution
€3,043 per annum
EU Status Fee
€5,607 per annum
Non EU Fee
€15,000 per annum
Material Charge
€175 Year 1 only

How To Apply

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Apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1st February.

Apply through the CAO by 1st February. In March, those meeting the eligibility criteria; those intending to sit the Leaving Certificate and applicants presenting GC(S)E in 2024 must complete a supplementary form. All eligible applicants will be contacted and sent a supplementary form which must be completed and returned. Candidates will then be invited to attend a general interview and oral Irish examination which will take place one after the other via zoom on Tuesday 7th May 2024. 

Applicants sitting examinations in 2024 will be included in this invitation provided they meet the minimum entry requirements or are intending to sit Leaving Certificate/GC(S)E examinations before August 2024.

Applicants will be offered places in order of merit. Candidates who have failed the interview on two previous occasions are not eligible to reapply.

Please note that mature applicants can apply either on mature grounds or on points alone or both.

Information regarding the DES 2024 Mature Entry requirements are available here. Irish version here.

Candidates required to apply through the CAO can apply online at www.cao.ie 
 

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