Undergraduate Courses
As a student at DCU’s Institute of Education, you will have access to more opportunities in teacher education than any other Irish institution.
- Study in a context characterised by innovation and development, scholarship, research and excellence in teaching and learning.
- Enjoy our active and friendly campuses.
- Strengthen your passion for learning and discover how you can make a difference.
- Experience an environment that puts the student first.
Early Childhood Education
Learning to provide high quality early education and care for young children
Do you want to work with infants, toddlers and young children in early education and care settings such as preschools, community playgroups, Naíonraí and crèches? Are you deeply interested in young children’s well-being, development and learning? This course will help you learn how best to care for and support children during the crucial early years.
Course Information » DC001 | Placement on the Bachelor of Early Childhood Video
Primary Education
Gain the skills required to handle the complex, challenging and ever-changing primary education environment
Our programme is designed to help you become a skilled and creative teacher. We will give you the opportunities you need to develop your subject knowledge, your understandings of how children learn and how schools work, and your classroom management skills. We understand education; our teaching staff are highly experienced and have an unrivalled depth of expertise in curriculum areas. All this will be evident to you as you study with us.
Course Information » DC003 (Restricted entry - Gaeltacht Applicants)
Course Information » DC004 (Formerly CICE BEd - restricted entry pathway for Church of Ireland, Methodist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends, Baptist and other reformed Christian applicants)
Course Information » DC005 Bachelor of Education Irish Sign Language (Restricted Entry Pathway for Deaf or Hard of Hearing applicants who are users of Irish Sign Language)
Post-Primary Education
Help the next generation reach their potential
Are you interested in playing a key role in the educational development of the next generation? These programmes, as well as preparing you in two distinct areas, will also place emphasis on teamwork, leadership, communication and creativity – skills that will inspire you to work as a second-level teacher and also a variety of other professions.
Help the next generation reach their potential
Are you interested in playing a key role in the educational development of the next generation? These programmes, as well as preparing you in two distinct areas, will also place emphasis on teamwork, leadership, communication and creativity – skills that will inspire you to work as a second-level teacher and also a variety of other professions.
Help the next generation reach their potential
Are you interested in playing a key role in the educational development of the next generation? These programmes, as well as preparing you in two distinct areas, will also place emphasis on teamwork, leadership, communication and creativity – skills that will inspire you to work as a second-level teacher and also a variety of other professions.
Are you interested in languages and would you like play a key role in inspiring post-primary students to become confident speakers of Gaeilge and French, German or Spanish? This programme brings together the best of languages and education in DCU. We have created a four-year degree where you will learn to be a language teacher and gain high levels of ability in Gaeilge and your chosen language at the same time. There is a shortage of language teachers in the post-primary schools at present, so graduates of this course will be highly sought after. On completion of your degree, you will be qualified to teach Junior and Leaving Certificate courses to honours level and to register with the Teaching Council. As part of the degree, you will spend half an academic year in a country where French, German or Spanish is spoken. Cathfidh tú tréimhse dhá mhí sa Ghaeltacht ag obair mar chúntóir ar chúrsa samhraidh agus ag cur feabhas ar do chuid Gaeilge. Múinfear cuid de mhodúil an chúrsa trí mheán na Gaeilge rud a chuideodh leat barr feabhais a chur ar do chumas sa Ghaeilge.
The Bachelor of Education in Technology, Engineering and Graphics (BEd TEG) is a four year ‘concurrent’ post-primary teacher education course – meaning that the academic and professional formation of the teacher is integrated into all four years. The programme will be delivered through an innovative partnership across two Irish Universities, Dublin City University (DCU) and Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). You will undertake the first two years of study at the TUS Athlone campus, and the final two years at the DCU Institute of Education in Dublin, a nationally recognised centre of excellence in teacher education. Subject to accreditation of this programme by The Teaching Council, this Bachelor of Education programme will qualify you to teach Technology, Engineering, and Design and Communication Graphics subjects in post-primary schools. Currently, there is a shortage of educators in these subject areas so graduates of this course will be highly sought after. The unique approach taken in this course will enable you to become a confident and innovative technology education teacher.
The next generation of science teachers will shape the future
With our partners in the School of Chemical Sciences, the School of Physical Sciences and the School of Mathematical Sciences we offer a four year concurrent degree in Science Education. Students on this programme specialise in any two subjects from Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics and will be qualified to teach their chosen subjects to Leaving Certificate level.
Mathematics, science and technology play vital roles in our day-to-day lives, so having an understanding of these subjects is important for everyone. As a science/mathematics teacher, you will develop your pupils' understanding of the world in which we live and you will educate future generations of business people, scientists, engineers and technologists. You will help young minds to develop and you will prepare them for an increasingly technological and information-based future. You will play a vital role in Ireland's economic recovery by teaching subjects that will be central to a sustainable and successful future for the country. Science Education will give you a teaching qualification with a specialisation in two of chemistry, physics and mathematics, and strong elements of information and communication technology (ICT). Teachers with this degree are highly skilled and motivated and are much sought after in the second-level education system.
Institute of Education Co-ordinator | Director of School Placement: Dr Shivaun O'Brien
Programme Chair: Dr Sinéad Breen
Making Physical Education an essential part of our children's education and development
With our partners in the School of Health and Human Performance and the School of Biotechnology we offer a four year concurrent degree in Physical Education with Biology. Students on this programme specialise in both Physical Education and Biology and will be qualified to teach these subjects to Leaving Certificate level.
Physical education (PE) is an important influence on the long-term health of our children. As such, it is an integral part of the education process, one that promotes the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of a child, as well as their attitude to activity, learning and each other. This is embraced through involvement in games, health related fitness, aquatics, gymnastics, dance, athletics and outdoor adventure education. Biology is fundamental to the knowledge and understanding of the body and how it works and it is an excellent subject to combine with physical education. As a graduate you will be qualified to teach general science to Junior Certificate level and PE and biology to Leaving Certificate level. Both the PE and biology elements of this course have already obtained approval from the Teaching Council for registration as a secondary teacher.
Institute of Education Co-ordinator | Director of School Placement: Dr Shivaun O'Brien
Programme Chair: Dr Johann Issartel
Making Physical Education an essential part of our children's education and development
With our partners in the School of Health and Human Performance and the School of Mathematical Sciences we offer a four year concurrent degree in Physical Education with Maths. Students on this programme specialise in both Physical Education and Maths and will be qualified to teach these subjects to Leaving Certificate level.
Physical education has an important influence on the long-term health of our children. As such, it is an integral part of the education process, one that promotes the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of a child, as well as their attitude to activity, learning and each other. This is embraced through involvement in games, health-related fitness, aquatics, gymnastics, dance, athletics and outdoor adventure education. Mathematics is a key subject in the understanding of the modern world, being necessary in areas as diverse as international financial systems and the use of statistics in sport. This makes the job of teaching mathematics hugely important. As a graduate, you will be qualified to teach PE and maths to Leaving Certificate level. Both the PE and maths elements of this course have approval from the Teaching Council for registration as a secondary teacher.
Institute of Education Co-ordinator | Director of School Placement: Dr Shivaun O'Brien
Programme Chair: Dr Johann Issartel
Education and Training
Gain knowledge, skills and professionalism in Education and Training
There is a strong demand for educators across Ireland, from individual communities through to large organisations. There are always people who want and need to learn. Teaching and training is a very desirable skill and this course will help you to develop that skill by:
- Developing your understanding of all aspects of education and training, both in the formal and informal sectors (adult education, community education and workplace education and training) as they have evolved in the social and historical context in Ireland.
- Enhancing your understanding of the key theories underpinning education, community development and organisational learning.
- Providing you with the practical and theoretical skills necessary to deliver quality education and training.
- Enhancing your abilities to communicate effectively in a learning environment.
The degree contains two strands of study
3 year option - level 8 honours degree
4 year option - level 8 honours degree which allows registration with the teaching council of Ireland as a teacher in Further Education
The Foundation Programme in Education and Training offers modules at FETAC Level 5. This course is delivered collaboratively with Whitehall College of Further Education and Dublin City University (DCU). Learners will spend one day a week in DCU as two modules will be taught in DCU at first year degree level. The course aims to provide a foundation for students who wish to progress to the BSc in Education and Training.