Overview

This full-time degree programme is of four years duration and enables you to become a fully qualified science teacher of two specialist subjects within these four years. Training takes place in UCC's state-of-the-art Eureka Centre for Inquiry-Based Education in Science and Mathematics and also in the science laboratories of the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science.

The course is designed to ensure that it is compliant with all requirements of the Teaching Council as specified in the relevant Teaching Council documentation: https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/news-events/latest-news/curricular-subject-requirements.pdf

On completion of the programme you will be fully qualified to teach your two specialist subjects to Leaving Certificate standard.  The total number of credits studied in each subject area over the four years of the programme is summarised in the following table:

On entering the programme, students choose one of the following five routes:

Route 1: Biology + Chemistry

Route 2: Physics + Mathematics

Route 3: Computer Science + Mathematics

Route 4: Chemistry + Mathematics

Route 5: Computer Science + Chemistry

In Year 1 all students study 10 credits of Education and a total of 50 credits of their two specialist subjects. In this year you will study the foundations of your two specialist science subjects and will receive an introduction to science teaching and science education.

In Year 2 all students study 20 credits of their first specialist science subject, 20 credits of their second specialist subject and 20 credits of Education. You will study your two specialist subjects in more details and will spend some time on School Placement (minimum of 3 hours per week over 10 weeks)  in a local secondary school. Your School Placement will be fitted in around your UCC lectures and laboratory practical sessions. 

In Year 3 all students study 30 credits of Education and a total of 30 credits of their specialist science subjects. You will continue studying your two specialist subjects in more details and will spend some time on School Placement (minimum of 3 hours per week over 10 weeks)  in a local secondary school. Your School Placement will be fitted in around your UCC lectures and laboratory practical sessions. 

In Year 4, all modules are education modules, with increased time spent on School Placement (minimum of 4 hours per week from August to May) and also time spent at lectures and laboratory practical sessions at UCC.

Course Practicalities

Year 1: A mixture of lectures, laboratory practical sessions, seminars and microteaching sessions.

Years 2, 3, & 4: A mixture of lectures, laboratory practical sessions, and School Placement in local secondary schools. Your workload will consist of studying lecture notes, writing up practical laboratory notes, and preparing lesson plans for the lessons that you teach in school. Your School Placement is fitted in around your normal lectures in UCC.

Assessment

Written exams take place before Christmas and in May. Not all modules will have formal examinations. Many modules use other types of assessment. In Year 1, the assessment methods consist mainly of written examinations and continuous assessment of laboratory practical work. In years 2 and 3, the assessment consists of written examinations, continuous assessments (including laboratory practical work and other means of assessment), and School Placement. Your School Placement will be supervised by a member of staff of UCC's School of Education. In year 4, the entire year is assessed mainly by means of continuous assessment involving project work, laboratory practical work, and supervision of School Placement.

Who teaches this course

Teaching is carried out by staff drawn from the following:

School of Education

Department of Physics

School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology

School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science (BEES)

School of Chemistry

School of Computer Science and Information Technology

School of Mathematical Sciences

School of Microbiology

Direct Entry into Third Year BEd (Hons) Science Education

This entry route is designed for graduates of Physics or Chemistry or Biology or Agricultural Science or Computer Studies who wish to teach their specialist subject(s) to the highest standard at secondary school level. Applicants who hold a degree (at least NFQ Level 7) in Physics or Chemistry or Biology or Agricultural Science or Computer Studies which satisfies the requirements of the Teaching Council for recognition to teach the subject to the highest level in secondary school or an equivalent qualification may enter this programme in Third Year and take ED2101, ED2102, ED3101 and ED3102 in Third Year before proceeding to Fourth Year. Students who enter the programme via this route must pass ED2101, ED2102, ED3101 and ED3102 in Third Year before proceeding to Fourth Year. To facilitate Direct Entry applications, all Education lectures are delivered in the evening.

Applications must be submitted to the Undergraduate Admissions Office, West Wing, UCC. All applications are assessed by the Programme Director to ensure the applicant satisfies the requirements of the Teaching Council for recognition to teach that subject. In cases where large numbers of applications are received, interviews may be used as part of the selection process.

Optional Additional Modules (fee applies)

Students may opt to register for an additional 5 credit module ED1103 (Pedagogical aspects of teaching science through the Irish language) in addition to their 60 core credits in First Year, Second Year, Third Year and Fourth Year. 

Please note that a fee is applicable for taking a 5 additional credit module. This module is offered subject to the availability of staff and resources, and to the attainment of a minimum viable group size, normally six.

A student may not select an optional additional module that clashes with the timetable of any module in the student's core 60 credits of study.

Students must obtain advance approval from the Module Co-ordinator to register for this additional module. To do so, students should submit a signed Student Application Form to the Module Co-ordinator.

This optional additional module will not contribute to end of year results nor will this module contribute to the final degree award. However, marks achieved in this module will appear on the student's transcript.

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 to view UCC's Student Garda Vetting Policy.

Fitness to Practise

This programme is subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found here.

Programme Requirements

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

Programme Requirements

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Students must have a minimum grade of H3 in Leaving Certificate Mathematics to enter this route.

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) Science Education (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)

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

• Identify the key characteristics of excellent teaching in science as related to subject knowledge and pedagogy and engage in research of these areas.
• Apply the scientific knowledge and pedagogical skills gained in the programme to prepare lesson plans and schemes of work of the highest standard.
• Recognise and apply the basic principles of managing a learning environment.
• Develop comprehensive portfolios of teaching, learning and assessment that are relevant to the science curricula in schools.
• Evaluate the various theories of Teaching and Learning and apply these theories to assist in the creation of effective and inspiring science lessons.
• Critically evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching of science subjects in the second-level school system.
• Display a willingness to co-operate with members of the teaching staff in their assigned school.
• Foster an interest in science and a sense of enthusiasm for science subjects in their pupils.
• Synthesise the key components of laboratory organisation and management and perform laboratory work in a safe and efficient manner.
• Communicate effectively with the school community and with society at large in the area of science education.

*** Only for Incoming First Years and Repeat First Years 2024/2025 ***
*** Click here for Marks and Standards for all other years ***

Marks and Standards

These Marks and Standards should be read in conjunction with the Programme Requirements and the Book of Modules.

Fitness to Practise

All students on programmes subject to Fitness to Practise in UCC will be required to comply with the Fitness to Practise Policy and meet the relevant Fitness to Practise standards, in order to progress to the next year of his/her/their programme. Click here for a list of programmes subject to the Fitness to Practise Policy.

Marks and Credits

Students are required to take modules to the value of 60 credits.
Total Marks for year: 1200.

First Year - Pass and Progression Criteria

To pass first year and progress to second year, students must have satisfied the Fitness to Practise requirements and must achieve:

1. An aggregate mark of 40% across all modules, and
2. A pass mark in modules to the value of 60 credits.

Award of Honours in the Degree Award

An honours classification is awarded for the final degree using the final year examination results and marks carried forward from first, second and third year.

Honours will be awarded as follows:

1. First Class Honours: ≥ 70%
2. Second Class Honours, Grade I: ≥ 60% and <70%
3. Second Class Honours, Grade II: ≥ 50% and <60%
4. Pass: ≥ 40% and <50%

Award of Honours when a student undertakes Study Abroad
When students study abroad as part of his/her/their degree programme, the calculation of the final degree award is based on modules in the Book of Modules only.

Examination Boards

• Provisional marks for Semester 1 examinations are released in January/February of each year. These marks are subject to approval at the University Examination Board.
• Marks for all modules taken in Semester 1 and 2, including those wholly assessed by Continuous Assessment, will be presented to the University Examination Board at the end of Semester 2.

Supplemental Examinations and Assessment

• Students who fail to achieve the progression standard for the year at the Summer Examination Board must complete Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment for those specific module(s), where there is provision to do so.
• Please refer to the Book of Modules for requirements governing the Supplemental Examination and Assessment for individual modules. Note: For some modules there is no Supplemental Examination and Assessment.
• The marks achieved in the Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment of a repeat module are considered at the Autumn Examination Board.
• The actual mark achieved by the candidate in the Supplemental or Repeat Year Examination will be recorded on the student record (Academic Transcript).
• The maximum mark that will be taken into account for aggregation and progression purposes is a pass level, unless the student has been granted a cap waiver or deferral by the University Mitigation Committee, or a University Examination Board, or has been approved to defer the previous attempt by the University Mitigation Committee.
• At the Autumn Examination Board, marks from all passed modules approved at the Summer Examination Board are carried forward and are combined with the marks achieved in Supplemental Examinations and/or Assessments. The pass and progression criteria are applied to the aggregate mark achieved.

Note: The mark achieved at the last examination/assessment attempt is the mark that is included in the calculation of the aggregate mark for pass and progression purposes.

Study Abroad

• When students study abroad as part of his/her/their degree programme, they will be assessed by his/her/their host university.
• To pass the study abroad period and progress to the subsequent year, a student must achieve a pass standard as applied by the host institution.
• A Pass/Fail judgement will be presented to the UCC Examination Boards:
  • At the Summer Examination Board for students spending Semester 1 abroad.
  • At the Autumn/Winter Examination Board for students spending the full academic year abroad or Semester 2 only.
• For students failing to achieve a pass mark, Supplemental Assessment will be prescribed by the School in UCC, and these results will be presented at a Winter Examination Board.

Exemptions

All passed modules carry an exemption, which is limited to a period of five academic years (or two in the case of Computer Science modules) subsequent to the award of the exemption.

Repeat Year Examinations

Students repeating the year may do so choosing one of the following mechanisms:

1. Students retain module exemptions, if any, and must repeat all failed/absent modules, including those modules where the failing mark previously achieved was greater than the level of compensation (≥ 30%) but who failed to achieve the progression standard for the year (see above). The pass and progression criteria are then applied to the combination of full marks achieved in modules passed at the first attempt, plus capped marks achieved in modules in the Repeat Year Examinations.​

Note: For students selecting different modules not previously taken, there are no restrictions on the marks awarded for those modules at the first attempt in a repeat year. The selection of different modules by the student means that the student foregoes any previous marks achieved in the original modules (including previously passed modules).

2. Students may forego all module exemptions achieved and repeat the year choosing modules to the value of the full 60 credits. In determining pass and progression, there is no restriction on the marks awarded for modules taken at the first attempt of the Repeat Year. Modules taken at the subsequent Supplemental Examination and Assessment are capped at the pass mark.

Subject to capacity, all students - whether they have failed or passed - are allowed to choose this second option, in an attempt to improve his/her/their grade.

Students repeating the final year are eligible for the award of Honours in the first Repeat Year only. Final year students wishing to repeat the year with a view to improving his/her/their degree result may do so only if they have not been conferred.

Three Year Rule

Students must pass/progress within three academic years of the date of first registration for a year, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme.

Terms and Definitions

Programme Description

• The programme description is outlined in the Programme Requirements tab.

Module Descriptions/Assessment

• Module descriptions, including the pass standard for a module, special requirements to pass a module, and assessment elements and their weightings, are contained in the Book of Modules.

Marks and Credits

• A maximum of 100 marks may be awarded for every five credits of a programme.
• Some modules are assessed on a Pass/Fail basis only, i.e. marks are not awarded.

Pass and Progression

• Progression is defined as the permission granted to a student to register in the subsequent academic year for the next set of modules within his/her/their programme of study.
• Compensation is defined as the process by which a student, who fails to satisfy some of the regulations for credit in a specific module, is nevertheless recommended for credit to be awarded on the grounds that the failure is offset by his/her/their performance in the other modules on his/her/their programme of study.