B. Ed subject choices help

Ramones

Hi,

I'm hoping, to be offered a place as a mature student on the Bachelor Education Degree this September. Looking at the breakdown of the course over the 3 years I see that students must study 2 academic subjects in addition to Gaeilge.

** If ** offered a place I'm thinking I may go with Geography and/or History but I'm intrigued by the idea of Philosophy. Can anyone tell me what the Philosophy module entails? I was handy at Geography back in the day at school and I quite enjoyed it but I fear that taking on Geography and History may be biting off more than I can chew.

Does anyone have recommendations for combinations of subject choices and how soon into the year must you choose your subjects?

Thanks for any help.

CB

Fast_Mover

Which college..Mary I or St.Pats?

Ramones

Mary I

Ramones

Postal offer arrived today from Mary I!

Fast_Mover

Congrats!:)

Well I'm just qualified out of the place since my final results yesterday! Whooo..:D
In 1st year I picked History and German..then continued German on into 2nd/3rd yr.
History is grand out in 1st year..Hardly went to any lectures and got on well in it. If I remember correctly the assessment that I had in 1st yr was an essay and an in-class exam..and then the second semester was three essays. Have friends who kept it on into 2nd/3rd yr and thought it was grand I think.
Two of my good friends did Geography from 1st-3rd yr..they seemed to be always doing work for it..seems like hard enough stuff.

Ramones

Thanks for that and congratulations too!

Like your sig by the way :-)

Is there a message board/forum specificically for Mary I anywhere that you are aware of?

Fast_Mover

Thanks x2!

Nope, no Mary I message board/forum I'm afraid.
Perhaps educationposts.ie message board might we worth a trip?

I don't know if it makes a difference to you now or not..but say if you carry on Gaelige, German or Maths to 3rd year you get a degree in it. With the others you don't. If you want your degree in them you have to go back for another semester and complete it. Silly stuff. Don't know why we even do an arts subjects, it takes up most of our hours and it's not like we do anything with it!! Personal development my hole..Grrrr.../rant

Ramones

Just sent you a PM.

Thanks

Colin

patrickoneill0

Hi Ramone,

I also got the "calling" letter of acceptance the other day, and was thinking of doing French and Maths/History. I did French in first year of college, and spent a year studying there, and did maths all the way through my degree, though I do not like the thought of doing computer programming again... I enjoyed history, but only did it up to the Junior Cert. Any ideas guys???

Insect Overlord

Ramones wrote: »

Hi,

I'm hoping, to be offered a place as a mature student on the Bachelor Education Degree this September. Looking at the breakdown of the course over the 3 years I see that students must study 2 academic subjects in addition to Gaeilge.

** If ** offered a place I'm thinking I may go with Geography and/or History but I'm intrigued by the idea of Philosophy. Can anyone tell me what the Philosophy module entails? I was handy at Geography back in the day at school and I quite enjoyed it but I fear that taking on Geography and History may be biting off more than I can chew.

Does anyone have recommendations for combinations of subject choices and how soon into the year must you choose your subjects?

Thanks for any help.

CB

Hi Ramones,

I've just finished 1st Year in Mary I, and was one of about 50 that took Philosophy for the year. The first semester was designed as a general introduction to some of the more prevalent themes of Philosophy. 6 famous philosophers were covered. I found it quite interesting and there was no real trouble in grasping the ideas under discussion.

Unfortunately, the second semester proved far more troublesome (well, the first section of it anyway.) We went back to the Ancient Greeks and their various concepts of Ethics, with contemporary ideas and arguments thrown in here and there. There was much more background reading involved and even then there was a shortage of available texts. Basically, most if not all of us got completely lost!

While the second section of Semester 2 was far more positive, the Greek section left a lot of us with a negative view of Philosophy. Which is a pity really, because it's a very interesting subject. If you've got the time and dedication to carry out the recommended reading, then it's worth doing for 1st Year.

Sorry if this adds to your subject-choice confusion!

An Fhile

Ramones

Cheers for that An Fhile.

That is exactly the type of answer I was looking for. From what your saying I think I may have had a very romantic idea on the subject

I may just go with something more tangible such as History and Geography.

How are you finding the course overall? Tough? Ggood? Enjoyable?

Its been 21 years since I studied at any kind of level so this is a big adventure waiting for me come September please God Irish LC results pending

CB

mishka2008

dont know if it helps but i have just finished the B.Ed in Mary i! i did Irish, Maths and German in first year! maths is fairly hard but if you did honours maths for the leaving you have some chance at understanding it! i had done pass so was fairly lost! irish in first year is very like leaving cert irish with the poems, stories etc but gets harder in 2nd year when you're dealing with long novels and old 17th century irish! german in first year is manageable enough if you have it from leaving cert! no exams its all essays etc! best of luck with the three years!