Home Economics and Biology Teacher Education
Course Overview
The Bachelor of Arts (Education, Home Economics and Biology) and Professional Master of Education (with Home Economics) is a concurrent teacher education degree leading to a National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Level 9 Master’s.
After four years students will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Education, Home Economics and Biology; an NFQ level 8 honours degree. In order to qualify to teach, students must progress into Stage 5 which carries the award Professional Master of Education (PME) at NFQ Level 9. Upon graduation students will meet all the Teaching Council requirements to be registered as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) in Home Economics and Science / Biology. The course is an integrated five year process. Students do not have to compete for a place in the fifth stage. However, students must reach the required standard of H2.2 after Stage 4 before they can progress into Stage 5.
Applications and Selections
Who Teaches this Course
Requirements and Assessment
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, another language, Mathematics, a Laboratory Science subject* and any one other subject recognised for entry purposes.
*Laboratory Science subjects include: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics/Chemistry or Agricultural Science.
Additional Requirements
Duration
BA: Four Years
PME: One Year
Next start date
Autumn 2021
A Level Grades (2020)
See www.nuigalway.ie/alevels
Average intake
30
Closing Date
Please see Important CAO Dates.
NFQ level
Level 8 (BA) / Level 9 (PME)
Mode of study
Classroom based.
ECTS weighting
BA: 240 / PME: 60
Award
Professional Master of Education (with Home Economics)
CAO
AS001
Course code
Course Outline
The programme consists of three main components: Home Economics, Education and Biology.
The study of Home Economics includes the interrelated areas of Food Studies, Family Resource Management and Textiles, Fashion and Design with underpinning content which includes; Physics, Chemistry, Food Science, Microbiology and Design Studies which are integrated across all years of the course. At PME level students will extend their professional enquiry in Home Economics and Home Economics Education and will undertake a self-selected research Dissertation in Home Economics Education.
The Education component of the course provides students with both the foundation studies and professional studies in Initial Teacher Education (ITE). The foundation studies include: Psychology of Education; History and Policy of Education; Philosophy of Education; and Sociology of Education, incorporating Special Education and Development Education. Also addressed are Professional Studies, including Curriculum Studies, Pedagogic Studies/Teaching Methodologies, Information and Communication Technologies and Educational Research. School Placement and microteaching are integral components of the course and provide a unique interface between education and the subject disciplines. This allows student-teachers to establish the links between the theory, planning and practice of teaching and learning. Students complete their teaching practice in a variety of schools and educational settings.
Biology and related science modules extend overall years of the course with specialisation modules in the following areas: Biological Sciences (Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Zoology, Botany, Ecology, Molecular Biology and Environmental Biology) Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics), and Special Methodology of Science and Biology Teaching.
Year One
• Understanding Education
• General Pedagogics 1
• Subject-Specific Pedagogics 1
• School Placement 1
• Food Studies
• Introduction to Textiles and Design
• Family Resource Management
• Chemistry 1
• Botany
• Animal Diversity
• Human Anatomy and Physiology 1
Year Two
• Understanding Education
• Pedagogics for Practice 2
• School Placement 2
• Food Studies: Food Science and Nutrition
• Family Resource Management
• Physics 1
• Chemistry 2
• Human Anatomy and Physiology 2
• Physics 2
Year Three
• Understanding Education
• Pedagogics for Practice 3
• School Placement 3
• Food Microbiology
• Nutritional and Sensory Science
• Textiles, Fashion and Design
• Family Resource Management: Resource Management and Consumer Empowerment
• Ecology and Ecosystems
• Biochemistry 1
• Microbiology: Food and Water
• Molecular Biology: Nucleic Acids
Year Four
• Understanding Education
• Pedagogics for Practice 4
• School Placement 4
• Food Quality, Nutrition and Health
• Family Resource Management
• Home Economics Practice in Everyday Living
• Choose from one of the following:
- Nutritional Food Product Development
- Social, Personal and Health Education
- Textiles, Fashion and Design
- Interior Design
• Biochemistry 2: Metabolism
• Molecular Cell Biology
• Biochemistry 3: Biochemical Basis of Disease
• Environmental Biology
Year Five (PME)
• Sociological Perspectives in Education
• Dissertation Research Methods in Education
• Professional Preparation and Development: Home Economics
• Professional Preparation and Development: Biology
• School Placement in Home Economics and Biology
• Professional Inquiry in Home Economics and Home Economics Education
• Dissertation
Note: Modules in each year of the course are subject to change.
Further Education
Students with an honours degree have the option to pursue further studies at Postgraduate and PhD levels in Science/Science Education/Home Economics / Home Economics Education.
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
Graduates of this course are qualified to teach Junior Certificate Home Economics, Junior Certificate Science and Leaving Certificate Home Economics and Biology at higher level. Graduates are provided with a professional and academic qualification which enables them to also pursue careers in a wide range of fields including Education, Home Economics and Applied Science.
Who’s Suited to This Course
Learning Outcomes
Work Placement
School Placement is a core element of the teacher education course.
This critical part of initial teacher education is designed to give the student teacher an opportunity to learn about teaching, learning and assessment, to gain practice in teaching and to apply theory in a variety of teaching situations and school contexts.
Student teachers undertake School Placement on a block release basis in the spring term of every year of their BA/PME programme. The duration of School Placement for each year of the BA/PME is outlined below;
Year 1: 3 weeks in a Post-primary School setting
Year 2: 4 weeks in a Post-primary School setting
Year 3: 4 weeks in a Post-primary School setting
Year 4: 4 weeks in a Special Community and Further Education setting
Year 5: 10 weeks in a Post-primary School setting
Study Abroad
Related Student Organisations
Course Fees
Fees: EU
Fees: Tuition
Fees: Student Contribution
Fees: Student levy
Fees: Non EU
Secure online fee payments can be made HERE
Tuition: may be paid by the Irish Government if you qualify for the Free Fees Initiative.
Student Contribution: may be aided by the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant. For more, visit www.susi.ie
Fee for Year 5 (PME) is €4,000
Find out More
Admissions Officer
Sinéad O’Doherty
T: +353(0)71 9135640
E: admissions@stangelas.nuigalway.ie
What Our Students Say
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Clare Roberts | BAPME Home Economics and Biology (Teacher Ed)
One of the core aspects of my course was the combination of theoretical and practical knowledge which we applied each year during school placement. This allowed us to gain invaluable experience which prepared us for our lives as teachers upon graduating from St. Angela’s College.
