Education & Psychology - Primary Teaching
The B Ed in Education and Psychology is a four-year, full-time, honours degree (Level 8), which prepares primary-level teachers and which also provides opportunities for graduates to pursue a career in Psychology.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | University of Limerick |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | University of Limerick | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Applicants must be at least 16 years old on 15 January of the year of entry and must have obtained the following minimum grades at a single sitting of the Leaving Certificate examination:
• Grade H5 on a Higher Level paper in not less than three subjects
• Grade O6/H7 in three other subjects (Higher or Ordinary Level)
Applicants must have obtained the following grades, at minimum, in subjects specified:
• Gaeilge - Grade H4
• Mathematics - O4 or H7
• English - O4 or H7
Foundation Level Mathematics does not satisfy the entry requirement in Mathematics.
*Minimum grades required in Gaeilge, English and Mathematics can be obtained at different sittings of the Leaving Certificate Examination(s). The requirement to achieve a minimum of Grade H5 in three Higher Level papers and Grade O6/H7 in three other subjects (Higher or Ordinary Level) must be obtained in a single sitting of the Leaving Certificate Examination.
STUDENT FITNESS TO TEACH FORM
In order to establish students’ fitness to teach, all incoming teacher education students are required to complete a Student Fitness to Teach Form.
GARDA VETTING/CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU CHECK
Registration will be conditional upon successful completion of the Garda Vetting/CRB checking process.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Careers / Further progression
As the Education component of this programme retains all of the key elements of the main Bachelor of Education, graduates of this programme will be eligible to practise as primary school teachers in the normal way. Additionally, in view of their joint specialisation, graduates of this programme will have the option of pursuing postgraduate studies in Psychology.
Further information
If you are at least 23 years old on the 1 January of the year of entry to college, you are considered as a mature applicant. All mature applicants who make an application to the College through the CAO for MI008 and meet the eligibility criteria will be invited to attend for an interview and an oral Irish test. Candidates are awarded a grade for their performance at the interview and an additional grade for the oral Irish test. The combined score determines the candidate’s place on the order of merit list. Where places remain unfilled after the list of successful first preference applicants has been exhausted, offers may be made to other applicants in order of preference and in accordance with the order of merit. Applicants who get a ‘fail’ grade in either the interview or oral Irish test will be eliminated from the competition. Applicants who have failed the interview on two previous occasions are not eligible to reapply. Mature applicants who have completed an interview and oral Irish test will be contacted by the College to indicate whether or not they are being offered a place and all places will then be offered by the CAO.
STUDENT FITNESS TO TEACH FORM
In order to establish students’ fitness to teach, all incoming teacher education students are required to complete a Student Fitness to Teach Form.
GARDA VETTING/CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU CHECK
Registration will be conditional upon successful completion of the Garda Vetting/CRB checking process.
GCE/GCSE/BTEC APPLICANTS
For further information about minimum grades and entry requirements please contact the MIC Admissions Office at E: Admissions@mic.ul.ie
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 study the B Ed in Education and Psychology at MIC?
MIC offers a four-year joint undergraduate honours degree in Primary Teaching and Psychology. This programme leads to both an academic and a professional qualification, allowing graduates to pursue careers either in Primary Teaching or in the field of Psychology. The programme would be particularly suitable for, though not confined to, students who might wish to undertake a postgraduate specialisation subsequently in the field of Educational Psychology. This programme is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland and the Teaching Council.
What you will study
EDUCATION
The Education component of the programme seeks to equip participants with the competence to teach all levels of primary school (4-12 year olds). Given the structure of primary school provision, the teacher is required to have a mastery and competence in all the curricular areas of the primary school, inclusive of Art, Drama, English, Gaeilge, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education and Social and Environmental Studies (which includes Geography, History and Science). The foundation studies, professional studies, the school placement and the subject disciplines are carefully planned in light of changing understandings of the nature of learning and the theory-practice relationship. There is an appropriate balance in the programme provision for these areas and their interrelationship is made explicit.
PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology is studied throughout the four years. Modules will include Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Psychological Perspectives on Behaviour, Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Research Design and Methodology, Personality and Individual Differences, Information Technology in Psychology, Biological Basis of Psychology and Abnormal Psychology. In Year 4, students also undertake an elective in Psychology. Students are also required to undertake an undergraduate dissertation in Psychology in their final year.
Year 1
Semester 1
• Language Education 1 (English): Supporting Integrated Learning Across the Curriculum
• An Ghaeilge agus Múineadh na Gaeilge 1
• Mathematics Education 1: Developing Critical Mathematical Literacies to make Sense of the World
• Foundations for Teaching and Learning: Schools and Society-where we are, how we got here and where to next
• School Placement and Taisce 1 and Micro-Teaching
• Developmental Psychology: Theory and Practice
• Individual and Developmental Influences on Behaviour • Introduction to Research
Semester 2:
• Language Education 2 (English): Supporting Integrated Learning across the Curriculum
• An Ghaeilge agus Múineadh na Gaeilge 2 agus Tréimhse foghlama sa Ghaeltacht 1
• Mathematics Education 2: Developing Critical Mathematical Literacies to make Sense of the World
• Creative Arts 1: Inclusion, Integration, Imagination and Innovation
• Foundations for Teaching and Learning 2: Global Citizenship
• School Placement and Taisce 2 and Digital Technologies 1 - Beginning to Teach
• Historical and Social Influences on Behaviour
Year 2
Semester 3
• Language Education 3 (English): Inclusive Language and Literacy Practice
• An Ghaeilge agus Múineadh na Gaeilge 3/An Ghaeilge agus Múineadh na Gaeilge 3 (scoileanna T1)
• Mathematics Education 3: Developing Critical Mathematical Literacies in Number and Algebra
• Wellbeing: Physical Education and Social Personal and Health Education 1
• Science Education 1: Creating a Scientific Habit of Mind
• Local, Global and Environmental Studies 1
• Creative Arts 2: Equality, Empowerment, Embodiment and Expression
• Understanding the Psychology of Behaviour: Supporting Relationships, Engagement, Participation and Learning
• Cognitive Psychology
Semester 4
• Wellbeing: Physical Education and Social Personal and Health Education 2
• Science Education 2: Developing Scientific Connections with the World Around Us
• School Placement and Taisce 3 and Curricular Studies (English 4, Gaeilge 4 and Mathematics 4)
• Early Childhood Curriculum and Education 1
• Individuality, Difference, and Psychological Science
• Research Design and Analyses
Year 3
Semester 5
• Pedagogical Practice: Transdisciplinary, Inclusive and Global Citizenship Education Methodologies
• Religious Education 1 (Christian Schools)
Or
• Ethical, Multi-Belief and Values Education Patrons’ Curricula 1
• Digital Technologies 2
• Leading Teaching and Learning Through Assessment
• Inclusive Education: SEN and Interculturalism
• Applied Social Psychology
• Advanced Cognitive Psychology
Semester 6
• Religious Education 2 (Christian Schools)
Or
• Ethical, Multi-Belief and Values Education Patrons’ Curricula 2
• Language Education 5 (English): Supporting Integrated Learning across the Curriculum
• Múineadh na Gaeilge agus Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht 2
• Local, Global and Environmental Studies 2
• Early Childhood Curriculum and Education 2: Linking sites of Practice and Taisce
• Design and Ethical Evaluation of Psychological Research
• Advanced Research Methods
• Biological Basis of Behaviour
Year 4
Semester 7
• School Placement and Taisce 4
• School Placement and Taisce 5
• School Placement and Taisce 6
• Undergraduate Dissertation in Psychology 1
Semester 8
• Undergraduate Dissertation in Psychology 2
• Advanced Issues in Educational Psychology
• Advanced Issues in Developmental Psychology
• Students select one elective from a range of options
PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT
The professional placement element of the programme is designed to meet the Teaching Council’s requirements, and students will spend approximately 24 weeks in primary schools during the programme. This period will allow students to engage in observation, class-based and whole-school teaching and learning activities. Working in partnership with schools, the placements are designed to enable students to experience all class levels and a range of school types, and the student is guided and empowered along their learning-to-teach journey.
PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT 4: APPLIED PLACEMENT
This placement provides students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge of Psychology to an educational environment other than a mainstream Irish national school, and to bring psychological insights to the professional experience.
GAELTACHT COURSES - TRÉIMHSÍ FOGHLAMA SA GHAELTACHT
All Bachelor of Education students are required to attend two residential placements in the Gaeltacht as part of the programme – Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht 1 agus 2. Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht 1 is taken in Year 1 of the programme and Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht 2 in Year 3. Each placement lasts two weeks. The Department of Education covers the cost of this compulsory course and the current cost is €750 per placement. Each of these modules is graded with an examination in oral Irish. Students will take an examination in oral Irish after completing the first placement at the end of their first year of Initial Teacher Education. Students must pass this examination in order to continue to the second year of the programme. A repeat of the examination in oral Irish is provided by the College. All students must have completed the two Gaeltacht placements successfully before entering Year 4 of the programme.
Education Faculty Office
T: +353 61 204906
E: EducationOffice@mic.ul.ie
W: www.mic.ie