Religious Studies

Introduction
The part-time Certificate in Religious Studies prepares primary teachers to teach in Catholic schools in accordance with the requirements of the Council for Catechetics of the Irish Episcopal Conference. In making appointments, Catholic school management boards will normally require the CRS as a condition of employment. As well as being recognised as a qualification to teach Religious Education in Irish Catholic primary schools,the CRS is also accepted by some of the Catholic elementary school systems in the UK, North America and Australia.

Programme
The aim of the programme is to equip teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills to teach religious education in Catholic primary schools.

Course Life
Staff on the programme are at the forefront of key developments in Catholic primary school religious education and have been involved in the writing of the RE curriculum and programmes for Catholic primary schools in Ireland.

Delivery of the programme has been tailored to suit students' needs which have been identified since the inception of the programme over a decade ago. The timetable has been arranged on a student-friendly basis.

Many graduates of the programme have been successful in receiving some reimbursement of fees by applying to the DES Refund of Fees Scheme.

Feedback from students has been very positive overall. The majority of students allude to some initial reluctance, scepticism and apathy which they say was allayed or transformed, as they pursued their studies on the programme.

Requirements
General Entry Requirements
Entry to the part time Certificate in Religious Studies is open to any teacher with a recognised qualification (Level 8, Pass Degree / Third Class degree from Ireland or elsewhere) to teach in a primary school in Ireland.

To apply for this programme:

All applicants should apply through https://dcuie.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/.

All Applicants must submit:

Confirmation of your Teaching Council registration. If however your Teaching Council registration has expired or you are awaiting confirmation of same, you must submit certified academic transcripts for each and every year of study.

Personal Statement of 250 words maximum outlining your reasons for applying

Application Deadlines

Closing Date for EU applications is 4th July 2022
Closing Date for non EU applications is 1st July 2022

If you require a study visa and are a non EU student, you are not eligible to apply for part-time programmes as study visas are only granted for full-time programmes.

Queries

Queries from EU applicants should be directed to postgraduateadmissions@dcu.ie.

Queries from non EU applicants should be directed to international.office@dcu.ie.

1 year part-time.

Careers
Teachers applying for positions in Catholic primary schools in Ireland are required to hold a qualification equipping them to teach religion according to the tenets of the Catholic faith. The Certificate in Religious Studies (CRS) offered by DCU meets the requirements of the Irish Episcopal Conference in this regard and graduates have been successful in obtaining positions in Catholic primary schools.