Education - Primary Teaching - CIC
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. 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.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Dublin City University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Dublin City University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
A minimum of H5 in at least 3 subjects and a minimum of O6/ H7 in 3 other subjects.
Your subjects must include H4 in Gaeilge ; O4 or H7 in English; and O4 or H7 in Mathematics.
Garda Vetting
Garda vetting has been introduced for students who have unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults as part of their studies at DCU. You must successfully pass the Garda vetting process in order to complete the process of registration.
DC004 Church of Ireland Centre pathway (Restricted Entry)
You must apply through CAO by 1 February. Late applications cannot be accepted. You will be sent a separate eligibility assessment form by the University in March. If you hold a minimum of H6 or O4 in Irish, you may be offered a place, but only if there are too few applicants with H4 in Irish. A Link Module of the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme may be presented as one of the 6 subjects for the calculation of points but will not qualify as a subject for matriculation purposes.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Applicants wishing to undertake a Level 8 degree at DCU must be at least 16 years of age on 15 January of the year of entry.
Leaving Certificate Subject Combinations
Certain subjects will not be scored separately if they occur in combination with subjects that are similar in content. In each case, the highest individual grade will be scored. The following 6 groups of subjects are affected by this:
1 Music and Musicianship, Music A, Music B.
2 Economics, Agricultural Economics.
3 Physics with Chemistry - if combined with Physics and Chemistry; only 2 best scored - if combined with Physics or Chemistry; only best scored.
4 History, Economics and Economic History - if all 3 subjects are taken; only the best 2 will be scored.
5 Latin, Classical Studies.
6 Greek, Classical Studies.
Candidates who meet the points requirements but not the specific course requirements, for example H4 in English for the BA in Journalism, are permitted to repeat that subject only to meet the course requirements.
Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will continue to be awarded for higher level Mathematics, at grades H6 and above in the Irish Leaving Certificate or equivalent.
Leaving Certificate Mathematics Requirements
DCU does not award points for the subject of Mathematics at Leaving Certificate Ordinary Alternative or Foundation Level. However, these courses will be accepted for admission purposes for the following courses:
DC001 - Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
DC009 - Bachelor of Arts: Joint Honours
DC014 - BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance
DC131 - BA in Communication Studies
DC132 - BA in Journalism
DC133 - BSc in Multimedia
DC155 - BA in Applied Language and Translation Studies
DC231 - BA in International Relations
DC232 - Bachelor of Civil Law and Society
DC235 - BSc in Education and Training
DC238 - BA in Social Sciences and Cultural Innovation
DC291 – Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Media)
DC292 – Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Law)
DC293 - Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (International Languages)
DC294 - BA in Climate and Environmental Sustainability
DC295 - Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Politics)
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Please note that LCVP link modules cannot be used as a subject for general or specific course entry requirements, but can be used for the calculation of points.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
No
Careers / Further progression
Future Careers
Teacher
Principal
Teacher Educator
Educational Administrator
Consultant
Content Writer
Researcher
School Inspector
In These Areas
Primary Schools
Government Departments
National Voluntary Organisations
Statutory Bodies
Development Agencies
Further information
Mature Applicants - Bachelor of Education
− Applicants applying for the Bachelor of Education DC002, DC003, DC004 and DC005 must apply through the CAO by 1 February
− Applicants meeting the eligibility criteria will receive a supplementary form in March with instructions for completing and submitting the form to CAO
− Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and complete the supplementary form will be invited to attend for a general interview and oral Irish test
− Applicants cannot avail of the CAO Change of Mind facility
For more information, please contact the Mature Student Officer, orla.stafford@dcu.ie or dcu.ie/mature-students
For general and admission enquiries, please visit dcu.ie/registry/ug-admissions
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Entry 2024 - Restricted Course
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid submitting an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all fees are non-refundable.
Restricted Courses
Applying for a restricted course – you must have applied to CAO by 1 February 2024 at 5pm if you wish to apply for a restricted course. The restricted course must be included on your course choices list by that date, or added to your application using the facility to amend course choices (for a fee of €10) before 1 March at 5pm.
Restricted courses normally require additional assessment procedures, for example, the submission of a portfolio, an oral assessment or interview, or a written assessment. Restricted courses are identified in the handbook by the words “(Restricted - see page 3)" on the same line as the restricted course’s title. Please make sure to acquaint yourself with the additional requirements, if any, of the restricted course(s) that you have applied for and go to page 24 of the 2024 CAO Handbook for more information about interviews and assessments.
Exception: If a restricted course shares the exact same assessment procedures with a course you had applied for by 1 February 2024, you may be permitted to introduce it on a Change of Mind. You should consult with the relevant HEI before introducing such a course.
Mature Applicants
Mature applicants – most HEIs will require mature applicants, who wish to be assessed on mature grounds, to have applied to CAO by 1st February 2024 at 5pm, and include course choices by that date or add them using the facility to amend course choices (for a fee of €10) before 1 March at 5pm. (This restriction does not apply if the applicant wishes to be considered on the basis of school leaving qualifications only.) For more information about applying to CAO on the basis of mature years go to www.cao.ie/mature
Supplementary Admission Routes
Applying for DARE and/or HEAR – to be considered for DARE and/or HEAR, applicants must have registered on the CAO system by 1 February 2024 at 5pm. To apply to DARE, you must answer YES to Question 1 ('Do you wish to be considered for DARE?) on Section A of the fully completed Supplementary Information Form (SIF) by 5pm on 1 March 2024.
To apply to HEAR, you must indicate on your CAO application that you wish to apply for HEAR and fully and correctly complete all elements of the online HEAR form by 5pm on 1 March 2024.
Supporting documents for DARE and/or HEAR applicants must be sent to CAO offices before 15 March 2024 at 5pm
Why DCU?
- You will be taught by internationally recognised experts in primary teacher education.
- You will gain experience in a broad range of classes in different types of schools including multi-grade classes in small schools.
- Select from a range of specialisms designed to prepare you to be a leader and innovator in education.
- Most teaching happens in small groups where you’ll get to know your fellow students well.
- Conduct an action research project in the final year of your course.
About You
Are you deeply interested in children, how they learn and how they experience and interpret the world? Do you enjoy working with, and learning from, other people? Are you a good communicator? Are you committed to your own personal and professional development and are you willing to challenge your assumptions about teaching, learning, schools and society?
Understanding: Bachelor of Education Primary Teaching
Teaching is a highly skilled and challenging activity. It requires expert knowledge, but also the ability to apply that knowledge flexibly and to adapt it quickly to new situations. Teachers must be able to handle unexpected events in the classroom and to use these imaginatively to promote learning. We will give you the opportunities you need to develop your subject knowledge, your understanding of how children learn and how schools work, and your classroom management skills.
All entrants through the DC004 Church of Ireland Centre pathway must be aware of and willing to support the distinctive ethos of Protestant primary schools. Eligibility will be assessed in late Spring of the year of entry via a separate eligibility assessment form.
DC004 students take an additional qualification in Religious Studies and Religious Education to prepare them to teach the Follow Me programme in schools under Church of Ireland, Methodist, Presbyterian and Society of Friends patronage supported by denominational specialism track module (Religions, Ethics, Morals and Values) and a specialism which prepares you to teach in small schools and multi-level classes, a module in Irish Language and Literature in Year 1 plus a short intensive course in Irish and a one-week placement in a Gaelscoil.
Course Structure
Our BEd is designed to help you become a skilled and creative teacher. All students study Education, complete 30 weeks' school placement and visit the Gaeltacht for four weeks. You will also take specialism subjects relevant to teaching. You will be part of a small study group (a tutorial group) and this will give you a chance to share your experiences of school placement and your thoughts on course content.
You will spend time in schools each year, with extended placements in each of Years 3 and 4. You will start by observing the class teacher and will build up gradually to teaching all day. Throughout your placements, you will be supported by both faculty and school staff.
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.
In Years 1 and 2, you will 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 will also take modules in Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology of Education and History of Education.
In Year 3, you will review what you have learned to date and will apply it in different situations. You will deepen your understanding of classroom contexts and of how to plan for rich learning experiences. You will 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.
Specialism Track Modules
The BEd also provides opportunities for students to specialise in key areas of learning.
DC004: In Year 1 you take modules in Religious Studies and Irish Language, Years 2 to 4, you must follow a particular specialism which prepares you to teach in small schools and multi-level classes as well as continuing with Religious Education.
What Will I Study?
[Module titles are subject to change]
Year 1
Foundations in Education and Early Childhood Education | Literacy and Language Litearthacht agus Teanga | Visual Arts and Music Education | Drama and Physical Education | STEM Education and Social Studies | Assessment, Digital Learning and Inclusive and Special Education | Teacher as a Reflective Practitioner | Gaeilge Professional Placement | Optional Track Modules - Foundations in Humanities | DC004 Irish Language and Literature | DC004 Church of Ireland Denominational Module | Centre for Catholic Education Denominational Module
Year 2
SPHE, Ethics and Social Studies | Foundations in Education | Literacy and Language Litearthacht agus Teanga | Visual Arts and Music Education | Drama and Physical Education | STEM and Early Childhood Education | Teacher as Reflective Practitioner Professional Placement | Optional Track Modules - Major Specialism | DC004 Church of Ireland Centre Denominational Module | Centre for Catholic Education Denominational Module
Year 3
Philosophy, Ethics and Citizenship | Integrating Learning Across the Curriculum | Literacy and Language Litearthacht agus Teanga | Local Studies and Mathematics | School Placement | Professional Placement Studies | Optional Track Modules - Major Specialism | DC004 Church of Ireland Centre Denominational Module | Centre for Catholic Education Denominational Module
Year 4
Foundations in Education and Ethics | Literacy and Language Litearthacht agus Teanga | Math Ed, Assessment, Digital Learning | Inclusive/Special Education and Social Inclusion | Research Project | Schools as Communities |Professional Placement | Major Specialism
Module content on DC005 may differ slightly from the above.
Additional Information
This course will enable you to register on graduation as a primary teacher with the Teaching Council of Ireland.
Contact Details
Tel: +353 (0) 1 01 700 6074
E: Anne.Lodge@dcu.ie
E: anne.lodge@dcu.ie
Visit Us Online dcu.ie/DC004