Education - PME - Second Level Teaching

The Professional Master of Education is a two-year full-time initial teacher education programme designed to qualify post-primary teachers in the following disciplines:

• Business (Accounting, Business, Economics)
• Languages (French, German, Irish, Japanese, Spanish, English as a
second language (ESL can only be taken when studying a MFL)
• Mathematics
• Music
• Physical Education
• Science (Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
• Technological Education (Engineering, Technology, Construction
Studies, Design and Communication Graphics)
Students who meet Teaching Council requirements, may decide to
specialise in one or two disciplines as listed above. Please note that a minimum number of students are required before a discipline will run.

Programme Aims
The aims of the programme are to ensure that successful graduates:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the complex nature of
education and the education system.
• Display a high level of expertise in relation to their subject area and pedagogical approaches that maximise student development.
• Develop skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, reflection and selfevaluation.
• Use a variety of teaching and learning strategies to cater for a diverse range of learning needs.
• Integrate theories and principles of education in a teaching setting
• Conduct and apply research in a teaching context.
• Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong personal and professional
development using tools such as the professional portfolio and
reflective practice.
• Know and uphold the core values and professional commitments, which are set out in the Teaching Council's Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers.

Professional Master of Education: Business
This two year Level 9 qualification sets about generating a wide spectrum of capabilities for the modern business teacher. In addition to generating leadership of learning in any combination of the three core subject areas (Business, Accounting or Economics), competence and expertise is cultivated in Entrepreneurship Education/ Enterprise Education; Business input into Transition Year and LCVP/LCA learning areas; Project work in business topics, in line with curricular developments, coupled with capacity to promote learning using appropriate ICT pedagogical supports.

Professional Master of Education: Languages
The Languages stream of the PME programme is a two-year, full-time Level 9 programme that aims to be creative, innovative and consistent with good practice internationally. The programme is a required qualification for individuals wishing to work as post primary school teachers of languages in Ireland. It aims to develop competence and appropriate expertise, both disciplinary and pedagogical in the chosen subjects. Applicants shall normally be required to hold a minimum of an honours 2.2 Level 8 degree.

Professional Master of Education: Mathematics
This is a two-year full-time initial teacher education programme designed to train mathematics teachers for Irish post-primary schools. It facilitates an interactive and imaginative approach to teaching mathematics at post-primary level in order to enhance school students' mathematics learning and performance while deepening and enriching the prospective teachers' knowledge and understanding of mathematics. Applicants shall normally be required to hold a minimum of an honours 2.2 Level 8 degree.

Professional Master of Education: Music
The Music stream of the Professional Master of Education is taught at Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and is specially designed to meet the needs of graduates who wish to become teachers of music. This course will prepare you to teach music in innovative and creative ways and will introduce you to research in music education. PME Music students demonstrate the ability to adapt specialist knowledge to the music classroom and to plan appropriate courses in music education with a specific focus on effective teaching of composition, performance, improvisation and listening to music.

Professional Master of Education: Physical Education
The Physical Education pathway of the Professional Master of Education is a full-time two-year initial teacher education to prepare graduates for a professional teaching qualification in physical education. This course will prepare teachers skilled in designing instructionally aligned, evidence based physical education programs. PME Physical Education students will gain cutting edge knowledge regarding the content and implementation of Junior Cycle, Senior Cycle, and Leaving Certificate Physical Education.

Professional Master of Education: Science
The Science stream of the Professional Master of Education is a two-year full time programme designed to meet the needs of graduates who wish to become post-primary teachers of junior cycle science and one of: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Agricultural science to Leaving Certificate. Building on the Level 8 background of the graduate student, this programme promotes inquiry based learning as well as enhancing students understanding of contemporary issues relating to science and nature of science.

Professional Master of Education: Technological Education
The technology stream of the Professional Master of Education is a two-year full-time programme designed to meet the needs of graduates who wish to become post-primary teachers of technology subjects including; Engineering, Technology, Construction Studies, and Design & Communication Graphics. Building on the Level 8 background of the graduate student, this programme promotes an interactive and creative approach to becoming a teacher of technology subjects.

Year 1

Semester 1
•Becoming a Teacher: Identity and Agency,
•Understanding Learning
•Planning for School Placement
•Pedagogy modules*2

Semester 2
•School Placement 1
•Research Methods 1
•Pedagogy modules *2

Year 2

Semester 3
•School Placement 2
•Research Methods 2
•Understanding Schools

Semester 4
•Curriculum Policy and Reform History
•Policy & Contemporary Issues in Education
•Research and Practice Portfolio
•Teacher as Professional Practitioner
•Reporting Educational Research
•Pedagogy modules*2

Applicants must possess a relevant primary degree at 2.2 honours level or higher (Level 8 - National Qualifications Authority of Ireland or equivalent) or be about to graduate with such a degree. In line with Teaching Council and HEA protocol, when applying for a place on the Professional Master of Education programme, the PME Applicant is required to make a formal declaration, using a Subject Declaration Form, that he/she:

• 1. Holds/will hold, by the date of commencement of the PME programme, a level 8 honours degree.
• 2. Has studied the relevant number of ECTS credits in the relevant
subject area(s) as part of their degree (see the link in point (4) below).
• 3. Has studied higher level degree content related to the subject area(s) in year 3 or 4 of their degree.

• 4. Has covered, as part of their degree, the mandatory topics/subjects as set out in the Teaching Council subject requirements which can be found at: https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/pme/applying-in-2021-for-a place-on-a-professional-master-of-education-pme-.html

The Subject Declaration Form for each of the subjects you wish to teach must be fully completed and attached with your application to this programme.

Candidates may be required to attend an interview as part of the selection process.

English Language Requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of either prior successful completion of a degree qualification taught through the medium of English or meet one of the criteria (no longer than two years prior to application) as outlined on https://www.ul.ie/graduateschool/ english-language-requirements. Results in examinations other than those listed on this site may also be accepted as meeting our English language requirements. Contact the International Education Division for advice.

Fees
Fees are subject to change. Please check www.ul.ie/finance/fees.php

School Placement
Placements are organised by the School Placement Office (www.ul.ie/ schoolplacement). While every effort is made to place student teachers in their preferred geographical location no guarantee can be made that this will happen.

Garda Vetting
Successful completion of the Garda Vetting process is required. The University oversees the Garda Vetting Process.

You are required to submit a Police Clearance Certificate if you have lived abroad for more than 6 months since over 16 years of age. Please review the process here: https://ulsites.ul.ie/executive/student-vetting

Applicants must include

• Qualification transcripts and certificates

• English language qualification if English is not your first language

• Certified English translation of your qualification(s)/certificate(s) where the originals are in a language other than English.

• A copy of your birth certificate.

• Subject Declaration Form

• Form indicating which discipline(s) you are applying for

2 Years Full Time

Start Date: 09/Sep/2019

Please have the following documents ready to upload with your application: (please note your application will not be processed without these required documents)

Please ensure you complete pages 1-9 on the Subject Declaration Form.

•Fully and accurately completed 'Subject Declaration Form(s)' (available here) in those subjects you believe you will be qualified in.
•Form indicating which discipline(s) you are applying for -click here
•Qualification transcripts and awards/certificates
•English language qualification if English is not your first language
•Certified English translations of your transcripts/certificates where the originals are in a language other than English
•A copy of your birth certificate (long document)/passport