Overview

NFQ Level 8, Major Award

Note: This programme has been revised. Students who entered the programme prior to 2022/23 undertake the curriculum detailed below. Students who entered the programme from 2022/23 undertake the curriculum detailed here.

The BEd (Hons) (Sports Studies and Physical Education) is a four-year full-time programme leading to the BEd (Hons) Degree (Sports Studies and Physical Education).

During this four-year degree programme, students will study the following:

• The theory and practice of Physical Education, Sport and Physical Activity;
• The theory and practice of Second Level Education;
• A specialist subject from a designated range of subjects in Arts.

Note: The BEd (Hons) Sports Studies and Physical Education Degree has been fully accredited by the Teaching Council of Ireland (TCI) as providing appropriate qualifications for teaching of Physical Education and one of the following subjects: English, Irish, French, Mathematics (Mathematical Studies) and History.

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.

Work Placement/Study Placement

Each year will include placement in a school and/or a club.

First Year - Education (Sports Studies and Physical Education)

The BEd (Hons) Sports Studies and Physical Education programme has been revised. Students entering from 2022/23 will register on the revised programme outlined here.

Students repeating First Year in 2022/23 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.

Second Year - Education (Sports Studies and Physical Education) 

The BEd (Hons) Sports Studies and Physical Education programme has been revised. Students entering from 2022/23 will register on the revised programme outlined here.

Students repeating Second Year in 2023/24 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.

Third Year - Education (Sports Studies and Physical Education) (for 2023/24 only)

Only students who have passed the Second University Examination in Education (Sports Studies and Physical Education) and satisfied all other requirements specified will be permitted to register for Third Education (Sports Studies and Physical Education). Such students must attend the prescribed modules to the value of 70 credits.

Note for Irish and French students: the Teaching Council require that students must have verifiable residential experience (in France or Gaeltacht). In order to fulfill this requirement, students may opt to register for an additional 5 credit module, ED2319 Residency (in France or Gaeltacht), which is available to students taking this programme. The module is taken in addition to the prescribed programme requirements. Work towards this module can be undertaken in part in Semester 3 of years 1, 2 or 3 but must be completed in full in time for examination at the Summer Examination Board in the Fourth Year of the programme. Students who wish to take this module will register for it in Fourth Year.

Alternatively, students who choose not to register for ED2319 Residency (in France or Gaeltacht) will be expected to provide the Teaching Council with proof of their immersive educational experience (such as a letter from their landlord/employer) upon application to register as a Newly Qualified teacher.

Alternative Pathway for students not proceeding to Fourth Education (Sports Studies and Physical Education)
The Bachelor of Sports Studies (Hons) (BSpSt) is an alternative degree pathway for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for the placement module (ED3317 Placement 3 (10 credits)) in Year 3 of the BEd (Hons) Sports Studies and Physical Education programme, or who decide not to continue with their professional training in the BEd (Hons) Sports Studies and Physical Education programme. Such students may opt instead to register for the Bachelor of Sports Studies (Hons). These students would then progress to fourth year Bachelor of Sport Studies (Hons) where, on successful completion, they would graduate with a Bachelor of Sports Studies (Hons).

Note: Students who opt for this Pathway are not eligible for a professional teaching qualification.

Third Year - Bachelor of Sports Studies - for students who fail ED3317 Placement 3 and change their registration to the Bachelor of Sports Studies, or who decide during their Third Year not to continue with their professional training in the BEd (Hons) Sports Studies and Physical Education programme and instead to change their registration to the Bachelor of Sports Studies.

Fourth Year - Education (Sports Studies and Physical Education) (for 2023/24 and 2024/25 only)

Only students who have passed the Third University Examination in Education (Sports Studies and Physical Education) and satisfied all other requirements specified will be permitted to register for Fourth Education (Sports Studies and Physical Education). Such students must attend the prescribed modules to the value of 70 credits.

Note for Irish and French students: the Teaching Council require that students must have verifiable residential experience (in France or Gaeltacht). In order to fulfill this requirement, students may opt to register for an additional 5 credit module, ED2319 Residency (in France or Gaeltacht), which is available to students taking this programme. The module is taken in addition to the prescribed programme requirements. Work towards this module can be undertaken in part in Semester 3 of years 1, 2 or 3 but must be completed in full in time for examination at the Summer Examination Board in the Fourth Year of the programme. Students who wish to take this module will register for it in Fourth Year.

Alternatively, students who choose not to register for ED2319 will be expected to provide the Teaching Council with proof of their immersive educational experience (such as a letter from their landlord/employer) upon application to register as a Newly Qualified teacher.

Alternative Pathway for students not completing Fourth Education (Sports Studies and Physical Education)
The Bachelor of Sports Studies (Hons) (BSpSt) is an alternative degree pathway for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for the placement module ED4320 Placement 4, or who decide not to continue with their professional training in the BEd (Hons) Sports Studies and Physical Education programme. Such students may opt instead to register for the Bachelor of Sports Studies (Hons) (BSpSt), and to complete ED4314 Community Placement (20 credits) within the restrictions of the three year rule. After successfully completing this module these students will then graduate with a Bachelor of Sports Studies (Hons).

Note: Students who opt for this pathway are not eligible for a professional teaching qualification.

Fourth Year - Bachelor of Sports Studies - for students who fail ED4320 Placement 4 and/or ED4316 Placement 5 in Fourth Education (Sports Studies and Physical Education), or who decide during their Fourth Year not to continue with their professional training in the BEd (Hons) Sports Studies and Physical Education programme, will change their registration to the Bachelor of Sports Studies.

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 3 (for 2023/24 only)
Students take 70 credits as follows:
Core Modules
ED3304	Skill Acquisition and Analysis	5
ED3313	Curriculum and Assessment	5
ED3315	Sports Medicine	5
ED3317	Placement 3 1	10
ED3319	Research Project Design	5
ED3324	Inclusion in Education and Physical Education: Policy and Practice	5
ED3325	Adapted Physical Education, Sport and Physical Activity	5
Select one of the following:		10
ED3306 plus ED3307	Coaching Science 1 (5) plus Coaching Science 2 ()
ED3308 plus ED3309	Health 1: Understanding Health and Wellbeing (5) plus Health 2: Health Promotion ()
Plus 20 credits from the chosen Arts subject continued from Second Year		20
Year 4 (for 2023/24 and 2024/25 only)
Students take 70 credits as follows - all listed core modules (65 credits) and 5 credits of elective modules:
Core Modules
ED4104	Conceptual Foundations in the Philosophy and History of Education	5
ED4312	Professional Issues in Education	5
ED4313	Approaches to Teaching and Assessment in Physical Education	5
ED4315	Research Project	10
ED4316	Placement 5	10
ED4317	Historical and Philosophical Aspects of Physical Education and Sport	5
ED4320	Placement 4 2	20
ED4309	Health 3: Lifespan Health - Exercise, Ageing and Health	5
or ED4310	Coaching Science 3: Issues in Sports Coaching
Elective Modules
Students take 5 credits from the following:		5
ED4319	Oideolaíocht na Gaeilge ()
ED4328	The Teaching of English (5)
ED4331	The Teaching of History (5)
ED4334	The Teaching of Mathematics (5)
ED4336	Second Language Education – Modern Languages (5)

¹

The Bachelor of Sports Studies (Hons) (BSpSt) is an alternative degree pathway for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for the placement module (ED3317 Placement 3 (10 credits)) in Year 3 of the BEd (Hons) Sports Studies and Physical Education programme, or who decide not to continue with their professional training in the BEd (Hons) Sports Studies and Physical Education programme. Such students may opt instead to register for the Bachelor of Sports Studies (Hons). These students would then progress to fourth year Bachelor of Sport Studies (Hons) where, on successful completion, they would graduate with a Bachelor of Sports Studies (Hons).

Note: Students who opt for this Pathway are not eligible for a professional teaching qualification.

²

The Bachelor of Sports Studies (Hons) (BSpSt) is an alternative degree pathway for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for the placement module ED4320, or who decide not to continue with their professional training in the BEd (Hons) Sports Studies and Physical Education programme. Such students may opt instead to register for the Bachelor of Sports Studies (Hons) (BSpSt), and to complete ED4314 (20 credits) within the restrictions of the three year rule. After successfully completing this module these students will then graduate with a Bachelor of Sports Studies (Hons).

Note: Students who opt for this pathway are not eligible for a professional teaching qualification.

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) (Sports Studies and Physical Education) (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Thinking and Knowledge - Know, understand and critically evaluate evidence relating to relevant issues in education, the arts, physical activity, sport and coaching;
  
• Thinking and Knowledge - Know and understand and utilise research methodology, current research and current policy and practice;
  
• Thinking and Knowledge - Know, understand and practice innovative curriculum approaches, assessment tools and pedagogies to produce an effective learning environment.
  
• Doing and Skills - Value continued professional development as life-long learners to inform a critical analysis of individual needs and advance personal practice;
  
• Doing and Skills - Critically analyse curriculum policy, practice and contemporary debates in education and physical education to promote lifelong learning goals;
  
• Doing and Skills - Recognise and effectively utilise best practice to deliver teaching objectives and learning outcomes and create a stimulating learning environment.
  
• Feelings and Attitudes - Develop effective skills to embrace the future, problem solve and instigate change in a complex global environment;
  
• Feelings and Attitudes - Advocate for the teaching and coaching profession from a critically informed perspective.
  
• Transferable and Key Skills - Integrate the use of ICT and successful communication skills efficiently and effectively in teaching and learning;
  
• Transferable and Key Skills - Demonstrate a clear competency in numeracy and literacy skills in class and within assignments.

Programme Learning Outcomes

Programme Learning Outcomes for BEd (Hons) (Sports Studies and Physical Education) (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Thinking and Knowledge - Know, understand and critically evaluate evidence relating to relevant issues in education, the arts, physical activity, sport and coaching;
  
• Thinking and Knowledge - Know and understand and utilise research methodology, current research and current policy and practice;
  
• Thinking and Knowledge - Know, understand and practice innovative curriculum approaches, assessment tools and pedagogies to produce an effective learning environment.
  
• Doing and Skills - Value continued professional development as life-long learners to inform a critical analysis of individual needs and advance personal practice;
  
• Doing and Skills - Critically analyse curriculum policy, practice and contemporary debates in education and physical education to promote lifelong learning goals;
  
• Doing and Skills - Recognise and effectively utilise best practice to deliver teaching objectives and learning outcomes and create a stimulating learning environment.
  
• Feelings and Attitudes - Develop effective skills to embrace the future, problem solve and instigate change in a complex global environment;
  
• Feelings and Attitudes - Advocate for the teaching and coaching profession from a critically informed perspective.
  
• Transferable and Key Skills - Integrate the use of ICT and successful communication skills efficiently and effectively in teaching and learning;
  
• Transferable and Key Skills - Demonstrate a clear competency in numeracy and literacy skills in class and within assignments.