Overview

This is a 4-year teacher training degree, which will qualify second level teachers of Irish/Gaeilge and one other subject selected from Mathematical Studies, French, German, Italian or Spanish.

The BEd (Hons) Gaeilge programme has been revised. Students entering from 2023/24 will register on the revised programme outlined here.

Students repeating Second Year in 2024/25 will register on the revised programme and may be required to take new modules as prescribed by the participating Schools. Where a student has been granted exemptions due to having passed module(s) in an earlier attempt year, an exemption in any particular module is relevant to the repeat year only where that module is included in the current prescribed programme.

Garda Vetting

Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer on this programme will be subject to Garda Vetting as relevant. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared. Click here (http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/admissionspolicies/) to view UCC's Student Garda Vetting Policy.

Fitness to Practise

This programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found at https://www.ucc.ie/en/academicsecretariat/fitnesstopractise/

Teaching Council Language Proficiency Requirements

Note: The Teaching Council of Ireland requires aspiring language teachers registering with them to have achieved a language competency equivalent to B.2.2 CEFR (60% or higher). Additional supports may be offered by some modern language departments as available and on the basis of current departmental infrastructure. Where students have not achieved the required level of language competency in Irish/Gaeilge examinations in Third Year (60% or higher), they will be afforded the opportunity to do so during Fourth Year through an 'Advanced Plus' level Irish Language Evening Course, not-for-credit.

Third Year - Education (Gaeilge) (2024/25 only)

No student may register for Third Education (Gaeilge) until the Second University Examination in Education (Gaeilge) has been passed.

Note: The Teaching Council of Ireland requires aspiring language teachers registering with them to have achieved a language competency equivalent to B.2.2 CEFR (60% or higher). Additional supports may be offered by some modern language departments as available and on the basis of current departmental infrastructure. Where students have not achieved the required level of language competency in Irish/Gaeilge examinations in Third Year (60% or higher), they will be afforded the opportunity to do so during Fourth Year through an 'Advanced Plus' level Irish Language Evening Course, not-for-credit.

Students take 60 credits in the form of

1. 10 credits Irish/Gaeilge,
2. 15 credits of the second selected subject (Mathematical Studies, French, German, Italian or Spanish), and
3. 35 credits Education.

Fourth Year - Education (Gaeilge) (2024/25 and 2025/26)

No student may register for Fourth Education (Gaeilge) until the Third University Examination in Education (Gaeilge) has been passed.

Students take 55 credits of Education, comprising:

1. 30 credits Foundation and Professional Studies, and
2. 25 credits School Placement.

Plus 5 credits of the second selected subject (Mathematical Studies, French, German, Italian or Spanish).

Note: The Teaching Council of Ireland requires aspiring language teachers registering with them to have achieved a language competency equivalent to B.2.2 CEFR (60% or higher). Additional supports may be offered by some modern language departments as available and on the basis of current departmental infrastructure. Where students have not achieved the required level of language competency in Irish/Gaeilge examinations in Third Year (60% or higher), they will be afforded the opportunity to do so during Fourth Year through an ‘Advanced Plus’ level Irish Language Evening Course, not-for-credit.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Requirements

Module List

Code	Title	Credits
Year 1
The BEd (Hons) Gaeilge programme has been revised. Students entering from 2023/24 will register on the revised programme outlined here.
Core Modules
Year 2
The BEd (Hons) Gaeilge programme has been revised. Students entering from 2023/24 will register on the revised programme outlined here.
Education
Year 3 (2024/25 only)
Students take 60 credits as follows – all listed Irish/Gaeilge modules (10 credits), 15 credits of modules from the second selected subject (Mathematical Studies, French, German, Italian or Spanish), and 35 credits of Education modules:
Irish/Gaeilge
GA3035	Gaeilge an Lae Inniu	5
GA3036	An Ghaeilge i gCló	5
Second Subject		15
Students undertaking Erasmus Placement in Third Year
All students taking a modern foreign language who successfully pass their second year examinations will spend Semester 2 of their third year in an approved foreign university, in the country of the student's chosen foreign language, where students take courses chosen in consultation with their academic co-ordinator (15 credits total).
French (15 credits in a partner university)
German (15 credits in a partner university)
Italian (not available in 2024/25)
Spanish (15 credits in a partner university)
Mathematical Studies
15 credits from the following:
AM1053	Introduction to Mathematical Modelling (5)
MS3001	Introduction to Abstract Algebra (5)
MS3016	Introduction to Analysis and Metric Spaces (5)
MS3017	Vector Spaces and Linear Algebra (5)
MS3020	Linear Predictive Modelling (5)
MS3021	Computational Data Analytics (5)
MS3022	Operations Research (5)
MS3023	Stochastic Decision Science (5)
Education
Students take 15 credits of Pedagogy, comprising 5 credits of Irish/Gaeilge and 10 credits of the second selected subject (Mathematical Studies, French, German, Italian or Spanish). Students also take 20 credits of School Placement.		35
Pedagogy
Irish/Gaeilge
ED3401	Teagasc, Foghlaim agus Measúnú na Gaeilge II (5)
ED3402	Teaching of Modern Languages II (10)
or ED3403	Teaching of Mathematics II (10)
School Placement
ED3404	School Placement (15)
ED4103	Conceptual Foundations in School Placement Research Portfolio A (5)
Year 4 (2024/25 and 2025/26 only)
Students take 55 credits of Education, comprising 30 credits Foundation and Professional Studies and 25 credits School Placement, and 5 credits of the second selected subject (Mathematical Studies, French, German, Italian or Spanish)
Core Modules
Foundation and Professional Studies
ED4104	Conceptual Foundations in the Philosophy and History of Education	5
ED4105	Conceptual Foundations in the Psychology and Sociology of Education	5
ED4106	Conceptual Foundations in Curriculum and Assessment	5
ED4107	Conceptual Foundations in Inclusive Education	5
ED4319	Oideolaíocht na Gaeilge	5
ED4336	Second Language Education – Modern Languages	5
or ED4334	The Teaching of Mathematics
School Placement
ED4108	Conceptual Foundations in School Placement Research Portfolio B	5
ED4401	School Placement	20
Second Subject		5
French
FR3103	Advanced use of French	5
German
GE3001	Advanced Integrated German Language Course for Teaching Purposes	5
Italian
IT3104	Lower Advanced Italian Language	5
Mathematical Studies
MS3015	Ordinary Differential Equations and Dynamical Systems	5
Spanish
HS3015	Third Year Spanish Language	5

¹

For students who have completed HS1101 First Year Spanish Language for Beginners

²

For students who have completed HS1102 First Year Spanish Language for Non-Beginners

Examinations

Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.

Programme Learning Outcomes

Programme Learning Outcomes for BEd (Hons) Gaeilge (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

1
1-1
Identify the key characteristics of excellent teaching in Irish and their other specialist subject and teach these subjects in an enthusiastic and inspirational manner.
1-2
2
Display proficiency in the area of grammar and syntax in the writing of Irish and, where another language is selected, in the writing of that other language.
1-3
3
Demonstrate fluency in spoken Irish and, where another language is selected, fluency in that other language also.
1-4
4
Articulate a comprehensive understanding of the poetry and prose literatures of Modern Irish and, where another language is selected, a comprehensive understanding of the poetry and prose literatures of that other language.
1-5
5
Recognise and apply the basic principles of classroom management and discipline.
1-6
6
Synthesise the various theories of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and apply these theories to develop comprehensive portfolios of lesson plans that are relevant to the curricula of their specialist subjects in the second-level classroom.
1-7
7
Critically evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching in the second-level school system and develop strategies and skills to enhance their own professional development.
1-8
8
Display a willingness to co-operate with members of the teaching staff in their assigned school during teaching placement.
1-9
9
Communicate effectively with the school community and with society at large in the area of the promotion of Irish and their second specialist subject.
1-10
10
Where Mathematical Studies is the chosen second subject: Apply their knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts, theories, principles and practical methods of the mathematical sciences to analyse and solve theoretical and practical problems.
1-11
11
Where Mathematical Studies is the chosen second subject: Give clear and organised written and verbal explanations of mathematical ideas.
1-12
12
Where Mathematical Studies is the chosen second subject: Extend course material to solve original problems.