Home Economics - Professional Diploma in Education - Sligo St. Angela's

It is a 90 ECTs part-time programme with a strong practical and theoretical focus. At the end of this two-year programme, students will have acquired a deep understanding of Home Economics as a discipline and a field of practice and will have gained the pedagogical content knowledge required to be effective and confident teachers of Home Economics.

This programme was designed and approved in line with the Teaching Council's curricular subject registration requirements (Nov., 2020). Upon successful completion of the programme, graduates will be able to apply to the Teaching Council of Ireland for full registration as a teacher of Home Economics. Following completion of this programme in 2020, past graduates of the Professional Diploma are now enjoying teaching roles in Home Economics.

During this programme, you will study a range of modules considering learning and teaching alongside theoretical perspectives and practical skills relating to the Home Economics discipline across the core aspects of Food Studies, Textiles, Fashion and Design, Family Resource Management and wider.

The programme modules are designed to develop the integration of theoretical, practical and conceptual dimensions of teaching and learning in Home Economics.

The practical aspects of teaching and learning Home Economics are integrated into the subject discipline modules and are studied in-depth in Home Economics Subject Specific Pedagogy in year 2. The 10 ECT Home Economics Education module at the end of year 2 provides students with the opportunity to apply theory to practice, in a supported learning environment.

Who's Suited to This Programme
This programme in the School of Home Economics, St. Angela's College supports you to study your passion for Home Economics alongside your working and personal life. You will have the opportunity to work with and learn from a large team of academic experts in the field at the National Centre of Excellence for Home Economics.

Career-focused Qualification
This Professional Diploma offers you the opportunity of immediate employment upon graduation as a post primary teacher of Home Economics, a subject discipline that is amongst the most sought after currently for teacher supply. This programme includes 15 ECT credits of specialist Home Economics pedagogy, microteaching and school placement enabling participants to apply theoretical discipline knowledge in a supportive, specialised environment.

Strong Track Record of Specialist Teaching and Learning
St. Angela's College has provided Home Economics teacher education for 70 years and is renowned for its high-quality learning experience. The School of Home Economics and aligned National Centre of Excellence in Home Economics have a large, expert team of Home Economists with specialist knowledge who, along with our colleagues from the School of Education, will work with you in small groups, creating a positive learner-centred environment.

Research Informed Practice
A distinctive feature of the School of Home Economics is the associated National Centre of Excellence in Home Economics, a teaching and research centre aligned with the School. The Centre offers programmes in Home Economics up to level 10 NQF, PhD level. This ensures that we can provide you with exposure to a consistently high level of cutting-edge teaching and research to support your development as a Home Economics teacher.

Extensive and Active Professional Network in the Field of Home Economics Nationally and Internationally
As a long established provider of teacher education, St. Anglela's College have developed close links with a large network of post primary schools, education and further education centres throughout the country and can assist you in securing a placement teaching opportunity.

The School of Home Economics works closely with professional organisations in the field; the Irish Association of Teachers of Home Economics and the International Federation of Home Economics. The College is delighted to host the International Federation for Home Economics, IFHE World Congress in Summer 2024. This event is the largest conference for the Home Economics discipline in the world, normally attended by over 2,000 delegates.

Enthusiastic Student Body
You will be a part of an enthusiastic and energising learning environment with a student body of circa 1600. St. Angela's College is an established and renowned provider of teacher education in Home Economics with over 600 initial teacher education students studying Home Economics here currently as well as additional students of the discipline on our other Home Economics degree programmes.

Excellent Specialist Labs Facilities and Academic Supports
On campus face-to-face, practical sessions will be held in our state-of-the-art Home Economics labs which provide ideal conditions for putting knowledge into practice. Examples include food laboratories, textiles, fashion and design labs, science labs, sensory analysis and microteaching suites. Lecture sessions will take place in modern lecture theatres and classrooms and students will have full access to the McKeown Library and Academic Writing Centre.

Work Placement
The programme provides for a dedicated 10 ECT credit Home Economics Education module in Year 2 of the programme which includes a School Placement component, guided by the Teaching Council's (TC) Policy on the Continuum of Teacher Education, and the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers.

Year 1

Semester 1

Food Studies 10
Introduction to Textiles and Design 5
Family Resource Management and Consumer Empowerment 5
Philosophical Perspectives of Home Economics 5

Semester 2
Food Microbiology, Processing and Preservation 5
Food Studies: Food Science and Nutrition 10
Family Resource Management: The Family 5
Family Resource Management:
The Family Home - Interior and Textiles Design 5

Year 2

Semester 1
Textiles, Fashion and Design 5
Nutritional and Sensory Sciences 5
Home Economics Practice in Everyday Life 5
Home Economics Specific Pedagogy (including Microteaching) 5

Semester 2
Home Economics Education(including School Placement) 10
Food Quality, Nutrition and Health 5
Family Resource Management:
Family and Society 5

Scheduling

Year 1, Semester 1
Weekly on Fridays: 15/09/23 -15/12/2023, excluding October midterm

Year 1, Semester 2
Weekly on Fridays: 19/01/24 -10/05/24, plus 1-week block (12th February to 16th February 2023)

Year 2, Semester 1
Weekly on Fridays: 2024-2025 dates TBC, excluding October midterm

Year 2, Semester 2
Weekly on Fridays: 2023-2024 dates TBC, plus 1-week block (17th February to 21st February 2025)

*No additional online lecture delivery in addition to the above times

*The above schedule is provisional and may be subject to revision in line with finalised academic calendar dates

Applicants must be fully registered as a teacher with the Teaching Council of Ireland at the time of application and hold a level 8 Honours Degree including a recognised post primary teaching qualification. Proof of full current registration as a post-primary teacher (Route 2) is required with application
This can be a Professional Master of Education (PME) teacher education qualification in a recognised subject or a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in a recognised subject (or equivalent).

Applicants who have a shortfall in their registration status as a Home Economics teacher with the Teaching Council of Ireland may also apply for the Professional Diploma in Education in Home Economics programme. Please provide full details of the identified shortfall on your application.

Please complete the Professional Diploma in Education in Home Economics Application 2023-2024
and submit it to the College (in hard copy / scanned soft copy including relevant all transcripts and results as one file).

Application Closing Date: 31st March 2023
Following the closing date, applications will be reviewed, and candidates may be called for an interview (virtual) with programme places confirmed shortly thereafter.

Applications Forms (hard copy / scanned soft copy)to be submitted to:
Ms Niamh Finnegan,
School of Home Economics Administrator,
Professional Diploma in Education in Home Economics,
School of Home Economics,
St. Angela's College,
Lough Gill,
Co Sligo

T: +353 (0)71 9135650 (ext. 650)
E: homeeconomics@stangelas.ie

Participants may be eligible for a fee refund under the Teacher Fee Refund Scheme, Department of Education which provides funding towards the cost of course and examination fees incurred by Primary and Post-Primary teachers on successful completion of in-career development courses approved by the Department and school authorities (subject to eligibility criteria). The Scheme is administered by the Marino Institute of Education. See: Circular 0001/2022 and update to Circular 0015/2021

Two years, part-time, on-campus in St. Angela's College (AY 2023-2025). The part-time scheduling of this programme allows you to qualify as a Home Economics teacher while maintaining your current teaching position, with the support of your school.

Further Education
Professional Diploma in Education graduates may pursue further study opportunities with St. Angela's College or Atlantic Technological University in a range of areas related to Home Economics / Education.

Career Opportunities
This is a professional programme which offers you the opportunity of immediate employment upon graduation as a post primary teacher of Home Economics.