Science & Mathematics Education - Second Level Teaching
You’ll build a strong foundation in key areas of education, mathematics and either physics or chemistry, developing essential mathematical thinking skills, and scientific practices and ways of working throughout the four years. You’ll also study the history, psychology, sociology and philosophy of education, as well as undertaking curriculum studies.
| 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
General Entry Requirements
Applicants must present a minimum of 6 Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade O6/H7, which must include Mathematics and English or Irish. In addition, applicants must present at least 2 subjects at Grade H5.
Additional Requirements
Minimum of O1 or H6 in Mathematics PLUS minimum of O4 or H6 in one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics with Chemistry, Agricultural Science.
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.
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
DCU welcomes applicants with appropriate QQI-FET (Level 5/6) qualifications. Applicants who have a full National Framework of Qualifications Level 5 award in appropriate qualifications and modules can be admitted on a competitive basis to certain DCU courses.
QQI-FET (Level 5) entry route is a competitive entry route with a limited number of places. A quota of places are offered based on the CAO ranked order of applicants based on performance. For courses with a QQI-FET (Level 5) entry route, approximately 10% of places are retained for QQI-FET (Level 5) applicants. Application is made through the CAO.
Careers / Further progression
Future Careers
Teaching
Technical Training in Science-based Industries
Project Management
Management Research
In These Areas
Industry
Vocational School
Secondary School
Community School
Comprehensive School
Further information
Mature applicants are those aged 23 years, or above, on 1 January in the year of entry. All candidates (presenting with EU/Non EU qualifications) applying on the grounds of mature years should apply ONLY through the CAO by 1 February.
For many DCU courses, mature application assessment is based on the CAO application and in some instances, an assessment and/or interview. ‘Other’ experience, apart from performance in examinations, may be taken into consideration - this may be work experience, further studies, or other such experience deemed to be relevant to the application. Interviews will take place in April either in person or remotely.
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
30
Entry 2024
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
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Why DCU?
− Graduates obtain an Honours teaching qualification recognised by the Teaching Council of Ireland – a direct route into post-primary teaching
− Teacher education modules run concurrently with science, mathematics and information technology modules, plus school-based placements in Years 3 and 4
− You will be qualified to teach Mathematics and either Chemistry or Physics to Leaving Certificate level and Mathematics and Science to Junior Certificate level
− Strong STEM background for alternative careers
About You
Are you enthusiastic about science and mathematics? Do you wish to share your enthusiasm with young people through a career in teaching? If you are interested in teaching future generations of business people, scientists, engineers and technologists then this course is the place to start.
Understanding: Science and Mathematics Education
Mathematics, science and information 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 students’ 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 develop and prepare them for an increasingly technological and information-based future.
You will also play a vital role in Ireland’s reputation as a pioneer in scientific research and education by teaching subjects that will be central to developing a scientifically, mathematically, and technologically literate citizenry and a sustainable and successful future for the country. Science and Mathematics Education will give you a teaching qualification with a specialisation in 2 of chemistry, physics and mathematics, and strong elements of information and communication technology (ICT).
Teachers with this degree are highly skilled, motivated and are highly sought after in the second-level education system.
Course Structure
At the beginning of the course, you will choose from one of 2 pathways, which you will follow throughout the 4 years of the degree:
− Physics and Mathematics
− Chemistry and Mathematics
You will be qualified to teach both of your 2 speciality subjects to Higher Leaving Certificate level. In Years 1 and 2, many of the science and mathematics modules will be taken in common with other Year 1 science students but you will also take modules in these disciplines that are specially designed for student teachers. There are also further specialist modules in education.
Years 2 to 4 build on this content, and in Years 3 and 4 you will complete an action-based education research project as well as projects in chemistry/physics.
You will study a variety of topics in education over the duration of the course, from the history, philosophy and psychology of education to curriculum development and digital learning. There will be a particular focus on the teaching of science and mathematics, not only in the modules dedicated to teaching preparation but also embedded within a number of chemistry, physics and mathematics modules.
School Placement
Over the 4 years of the course you will have various opportunities to gain valuable teaching experience in a range of settings such as micro-teaching, peer-teaching, observation in schools and school-based teaching. These will allow you to practise and develop the teaching skills you have learnt in the course. By engaging in micro-teaching in Years 1 and 2, you will design, plan, teach and receive feedback on micro-lessons. In Year 3, you will spend 8 weeks in post-primary schools taking classes up to Junior Certificate level. Finally, all of the second semester in Year 4 is spent taking both junior and senior cycle classes in your chosen subjects.
You will enjoy strong support from DCU throughout your school placements, making it easier to go from being a student to professional teaching.
What Will I Study?
Year 1
Microteaching and Teaching Preparation | Irish Education | Calculus | Linear Algebra | Mathematical Thinking
Year 1 Options
Chemistry: Introductory Chemistry | Fundamental Concepts for Chemistry Education | Chemistry Laboratory | Interdisciplinary Science Physics: Light and Optics | Motion and Energy | Electricity and Magnetism | The Universe | Physics Laboratory
Year 2
Microteaching and Teaching Preparation | Developmental Psychology | Geometry | Probability and Statistics | Calculus of Several Variables | Differential Equations
Year 2 Options
Chemistry: Spectroscopy and Physical Chemistry | Organic Chemistry | Inorganic Chemistry | Kinetics and Thermodynamics | Chemistry Laboratory Physics: Quantum Physics | Nuclear Physics and Relativity | Solid State Physics | Properties of Matter | Physics Laboratory
Year 3
Teaching and Assessing Junior Cycle Science and Mathematics | ICT Teaching Strategies and Professional Preparation | Philosophical Perspectives on Education | Equality in Education | School Placement | Discrete Mathematics | Analysis
Year 3 Options
Chemistry: Analytical Techniques and Research Project | Chemistry Topics through Laboratory Physics: Electronics for Science Teachers | Physics Laboratory and Research Project
Year 4
Curriculum Development and Evaluation | Teaching in Online Learning Environment | Diversity and Inclusion | School Placement | Research Project| Abstract Algebra | Teaching and Assessing Senior Cycle Mathematics
Year 4 Options
Chemistry: Teaching and Assessing Senior Cycle Chemistry Physics: Teaching and Assessing Senior Cycle Physics
Additional Information
This course will enable you to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland on graduation. Upon graduation you can apply for employment as a post-primary teacher of physics/ mathematics or chemistry/mathematics.
Contact Details
Tel: +353 (0) 1 700 9258
E: natalie.oneill@dcu.ie
E: studenthelp@dcu.ie
Visit Us Online dcu.ie/DC203