Mathematics - Initial Teacher Education - Post Primary Teaching
This is a four-year honours degree programme leading to registration with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) and to full recognition to teach by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor at UK Level 6 |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | |
| Awarding Body | Queens University Belfast |
| NFQ Level |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor at UK Level 6 | Queens University Belfast |
Duration
4 years full-time.
Entry Requirements
Applicants Presenting Irish Leaving Certificate Qualifications:
- Applicants must pass a minimum of five subjects at higher level for admission to BA (Hons) Liberal Arts and BEd (Hons) programmes. Where competition for places is high, six subjects at higher level will be required,
- Applicants must have achieved at least a grade O4 (ordinary level) in English and in Mathematics,
- Applicants for Primary courses of Initial Teacher Education other than the Primary with Science option must present Biology, Chemistry or Physics at Leaving Certificate level or have achieved Junior Certificate Science, grade C (higher level) or above. See entry guidelines for specific requirements for BEd Primary with Science.
For further information, please contact:
The Academic Registry
St Mary’s University College
191 Falls Road
Belfast
BT12 6FE
Tel: +44 (0) 28 9026 8320
E-mail: admissions@smucb.ac.uk
Careers / Further progression
Careers
The majority of students taking the BEd Post-Primary degree course wish to pursue a career in teaching. The course has been developed in consultation with the General Teaching Council Northern Ireland (GTCNI) and fully meets the requirements of the GTCNI and the Department of Education. Graduates have Qualified Teacher Status (necessary to obtain permanent employment as a teacher) and are eligible to register with the GTCNI.
Most graduates enter employment as teachers in post-primary schools within Northern Ireland. However a significant percentage of graduating students decide to apply for and are appointed to teaching posts outside Northern Ireland e.g. recent BEd graduates have been successful in securing permanent teaching posts in England and Scotland whilst others have decided to move further away and secured posts in Europe and Asia.
Beyond teaching, studying for a BEd degree at St Mary’s develops the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions. Some graduates decide not to teach in schools, but rather, pursue other careers related to education, such as sports development. Other graduates may also decide to pursue their academic studies further and take Masters or Doctoral courses in education or other subject specialisms.
Further information
Academic Year: 2024-25.
Yes
Undergraduate Applications
All applications must be made directly to the College as St Mary’s is not a member of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
To apply, go online to www.smucb.ac.uk/admissions or contact:
The Academic Registry
St Mary’s University College
191 Falls Road
Belfast
BT12 6FE
Tel: +44 (0) 28 9026 8320
E-mail: admissions@smucb.ac.uk
The College website is regularly updated with relevant admissions information.
When to Apply
For full-time undergraduate courses, applications for 2024 entry may be submitted from Monday, 2nd October 2023 until Monday, 22nd January 2024. Any form received after the closing date will be deemed late. Late applications may be considered if vacancies remain available.
Bachelor of Education Post Primary
Structure of the Degree
This is a four-year honours degree programme leading to registration with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) and to full recognition to teach by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland. Each year contains the following four strands:
• Education Studies
• Aspects of the Post-Primary Curriculum
• Professional Development and School Experience
• Subject Study and Subject Application.
In the final year of the programme, students also have the opportunity to take a module. This is an integrative and culminating module which allows the student to demonstrate the high-level skills and knowledge required to earn the BEd Honours qualification.
Education Studies
Education Studies modules are a compulsory element within each year of the BEd programme. Each year, the modules have a core theme which provides a theoretical foundation for the areas addressed in the other strands of the programme. The modules draw on all the disciplines of Education and address a range of theoretical and professional issues. This broad area of study facilitates the development of the knowledge and understanding that underpins successful teaching.
Aspects of the Post-Primary Curriculum
Modules within this strand of the programme involve the study of teaching strategies and modes of learning for key areas of the Northern Ireland Curriculum at post-primary level. There is a strong emphasis on issues relating to the Entitlement Framework including the areas of Literacy, Numeracy, Using ICT and Learning for Life and Work. The content of the modules is closely related to the development of the students’ competence during School Experience.
Professional Development and School Experience
Professional Development and School Experience modules are the core of each year of the BEd programme. The modules are closely allied to the Education and Curriculum modules and provide a practice-based perspective on the theoretical and pedagogical issues which those modules address. The modules focus on the development of the professional skills, capacities, knowledge and understanding required by teachers in contemporary schools. The taught element of these modules is integrally linked to School Experience and to the development of the students’ professional practice.
The practical element of teaching is an important aspect of the BEd programmes. The BEd degree is competence based, and each year, as students gain experience and confidence, they are asked to demonstrate increasing levels of proficiency in the classroom. Over the course of the programme, students will have opportunities to teach children of varying ages and abilities in a range of different contexts. In the first year of the programme, students are placed in primary school settings. Thereafter, placements will be in post-primary schools to allow students to teach their chosen main and subsidiary subject areas. There are also opportunities for students to choose options through which they may gain experience of teaching in the special sector. Students must pass School Experience each year to proceed to the next stage of the course.
Subject Study
BEd Post-primary students spend about one half of their scheduled time in College in the study of a subject and subsidiary subject. The subject study element enables students to develop their understanding of a traditional academic discipline and provides them with specific expertise. It enhances the intellectual formation of the student teacher and facilitates the development of their curriculum leadership capacity.
Subsidiary subject study takes place in years one and two. Business Studies, Religious Studies and Mathematics students can choose one of the following subsidiary subjects: Computing and ICT, English, History or Science. Technology and Design students will have Computing & ICT designated as their subsidiary subject.
Mathematics
The Mathematics subject study programme builds on A-level Mathematics and extends progressively to a range of university courses in Pure and Applied Mathematics.
• In year one you will complete the double module Fundamentals of Pure Mathematics which covers topics such as calculus, vectors, complex numbers and matrices.
• In year two the double module Fundamentals of Applied Mathematics explores a selection of topics in Mechanics and Statistics.
• In year three you will study the double module Further Advanced Mathematics (which comprises Linear Algebra and Analysis) and a module in Number Theory.
• In year four you will explore further Concepts in Mathematics and complete a short course devoted to Mathematics and eLearning.
An integral part of the programme is Subject Application where you will develop the necessary pedagogical knowledge and skills to teach Mathematics at post-primary level.
All the courses aim to encourage the student to develop mathematical reasoning and fluency with the emphasis on mathematical understanding and problem-solving.
The use of educational technology and Mathematical software is a key component of the programme. As such, students are enabled to conjecture, make connections and gain insight into mathematical concepts, as well as explore the potential for using technology in a classroom setting.
Subsidiary Subjects
In addition to their main subject, post-primary students take a subsidiary subject for the first two years of their course. They will be trained to teach this subject in addition to their main subject, but not to the same level.
The following subjects are on offer to study as subsidiary subjects:
Computing & ICT
This two-year course combines an introduction to selected topics in Computing with a preparation for the effective integration of ICT in teaching. Topics covered include an introduction to Computer Hardware and Computer Programming, Multimedia Studies (including web design), e-Learning Systems, Database Technology and UICT in the Northern Ireland Curriculum.
The course is suitable for students who have studied Digital Technology to GCSE or A-level (or equivalent), or students who have an aptitude for logical thought and who are interested in this practical subject. A good mathematical background, while not essential, would be helpful. The teaching approach will reflect good practice with a high level of ICT integration, including use of the interactive whiteboards, mobile devices and online technologies.
The classes are interactive, and students are expected to prepare materials in advance and to take part in class discussions. In the practical elements of the course, students will be required to work both in class and outside class. Assessment varies from module to module, but include examinations, coursework, reflective journals, assessed practicals and projects.
English
English explores the three main literary genres—poetry, prose and drama—in the context of their historical development.
In first year, under the theme of ‘Authority and Rebellion’, students study a range of texts, including Plato’s The Republic, Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale, Shakespeare’s King Lear, Milton’s Paradise Lost and Alphra Benn’s Oroonoko.
In second year, under the theme of ‘Nature, Love and Patriarchy’, students study a range of Romantic poetry and a selection of Victorian novels.
History
The first year of study focuses on twentieth-century American History. In the second year the course examines Modern European History 1914 to 1989, a study of which helps students acquire a more discerning approach to the modern world.
Science
A science course spanning two years is a subsidiary option for Post Primary students. Here, students learn about a wide range of scientific concepts and pedagogical application to equip them with the necessary knowledge and professional skills to teach science up to and including Key Stage 4.
Students are immersed in a broad range of learning experiences, including lectures, practical sessions, group work, peer-tutoring, research, computer simulations, virtual laboratories, presentations and field work.
They engage in independent study to broaden their subject knowledge and conceptual understanding and, at the same time, refine their skills in preparing for effective teaching in the Post Primary classroom. Emphasis is placed on building connections between the student’s main subject and the scientific disciplines.
The two-year course encompasses the study of major scientific ideas in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, mapping to the curriculum of these subjects as outlined in the NI (CCEA) Key stage 3 and 4 syllabi. Conducting core practical investigations, central to the delivery of the three main scientific disciplines at these Key Stages, students gain the confidence and skills in line with pedagogical understanding, to become highly competent and engaging science teachers.
BEd 1: Foundation Studies in the Physical and Biological Sciences:
Students undertake studies in all three scientific disciplines but with greater emphasis in the first year on the physical sciences. Concepts that underpin modern chemistry and classical physics, are explored in depth as is their connection to complex biological processes and biological systems. Topics covered include cosmology, kinetic theory, nuclear physics, Newton’s laws of motion and biomechanics, stoichiometry, respiration, photosynthesis, and the digestive and nervous systems.
BEd 2: Biological, Physical and Chemical Interactions in the Environment:
Students further develop their understanding of science from a wider biological perspective. The influence of material properties such as density, electronegativity, magnetism on ecosystems of all sizes is explored. The roles of competition, heredity, and genetics, alongside evolution and natural selection, in determining population dynamics, community structure and ultimately the endurance of species, are examined.
Enquiries regarding admission should be directed to:
The Academic Registry
St Mary’s University College
191 Falls Road
Belfast
BT12 6FE
Tel: +44 (0) 28 9026 8320
E-mail: admissions@smucb.ac.uk
Web: www.smucb.ac.uk