How DCU's Post Graduate course in Sexuality Studies can boost teaching careers
Post primary school teacher Claire says doing DCU’s Post Graduate Certificate in Sexuality Education & Sexual Wellbeing has enhanced her teaching of related topics and boosted her career.
Claire, from North Dublin, enrolled for the course in DCU as part of her continuous professional development.
In today’s current climate, health and education professionals are busier than ever so this course is dual-delivered - participants can attend the lectures at our DCU campus in Glasnevin in person, or tune in remotely from anywhere in the country.
Another course in DCU which also attracts interest from professionals in a health and education setting is the Post Graduate Cert in Relationships and Sexuality Education for People with Intellectual Disability. This course is also dual-delivered - with participants physically attending class on campus or engaging in long distance learning from anywhere.
As Claire is based in Dublin’s city centre for her role as teacher, she opted to attend the lectures for Sexuality Education and Sexual Wellbeing in DCU.
The one year course saw Claire attending four hours of lectures one evening every week across two semesters, coupled with a number of assignments.
Here, Claire tells us why she decided to take the course and how it has benefitted her professionally.
“I am a post-primary teacher, and give classes in RSE (Relationships & Sexuality Education) to students.
“I studied in Mater Dei where I did a degree in RE, History and Education before becoming a teacher.
“Because I’m teaching modules in RSE in a post primary school, I just wanted to keep up to date with the subject, and have more knowledge on the topic which would be of benefit to my students.
“I work full-time but was able to attend lectures without missing any work.
“This was the first time I returned to education since my degree - so it was a little daunting at first but by the second week I had settled in.
“To be honest the course is very full on - and while four hours of lectures sounds fine when you’re working full-time, you do need to give some time to the assignments that go with them. I should point out that there aren’t too many assignments - I could find the time to do them - but they do require concentration and focus which is what one would expect if doing a postgrad.
“In the lectures, I learned a lot around the medical side and there was some very useful information there.
“And then there were the lectures in topics which I found really useful in terms of preparing for my RSE classes.
“I’m very happy I did the course in DCU. It’s made my teaching of RSE much better - I’m a much better educator, and I have more knowledge I guess in terms of it
“My pupils are benefitting as a result of my doing this course - so it has been a positive experience in that regard.
“I really would recommend doing this course - particularly if you’re teaching both primary and post-primary, nursing (all disciplines), social workers, prison personnel, working in the community and/or with young people such as youth workers.
“There is so much information now in the area of sexual health - and I enjoyed some really good discussions within the class in DCU while doing this course.
“The content of the course was excellent. I found it to be very informative - and I’ve learned an awful lot from it.”