Teaching Biology

Konata

Almost half way through my degree course and I've decided I want to become a secondary school teacher. I've been researching the whole thing and I'm fairly certain that my degree (BSc Biomedical, Health & Life Sciences in UCD: https://myucd.ucd.ie/program.do?programID=21 ) will enable me to teach Biology and Junior Cert Science (taking it as a Bachelor of Medical Science). Is this correct? In hindsight I probably should've done General Science and been able to teach Chemistry aswell but I can't change that now.

Is just teaching Biology enough? I plan to do TEFL alongside the PGDE aswell if that'd be any help in getting a job in Ireland.

Also, all the Biology I'm studying is human biology. I never did biology for the LC but I know there's a plant component to the course - should I try and take an elective in Plant Biology sometime over my remaining 2 years? Or will it be covered in the PGDE?

Thanks for any help!

pathway33

If your degree is on the list of recognised qualifications on www.teachingcouncil.ie then you can teach whatever subject it says. If its not on the list then you need to submit your degree and some money for validation. Once you are qualified to teach biology you can top up on your chemistry credits through say the open university as long as the modules satisfy the teaching council.

If you are looking for a different second subject and are theologically minded then last year at least st patricks college maynooth had a 1 year part time 2 evenings a week i think h.dip in theology which qualified graduates to teach religion for up to i think 15 hours a week. The qualification to teach was on the basis that you were already a qualified teacher i think.

There's lots of teachers adding on extra subjects through distance learning e.g history or english through DCU's oscail programme.

Konata

pathway33 wrote: »

If your degree is on the list of recognised qualifications on www.teachingcouncil.ie then you can teach whatever subject it says. If its not on the list then you need to submit your degree and some money for validation. Once you are qualified to teach biology you can top up on your chemistry credits through say the open university as long as the modules satisfy the teaching council.

I checked that list before and it just lists Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Medical Science and since my degree is a BSc and listed under Medicine and Medical Sciencesn UCD, I'm presuming it's a Bachelor of Medical Science? Even if it's just a Bachelor of Science I'd still only be able to teach Biology. Would I still need to submit my degree for validation? Bit confused about the whole thing.

Thats interesting about topping up my chemistry credits - do you mean that I could study more chemistry after I've finished my degree and it would eventually permit me to teach Chemistry aswell?

pathway33

Hotaru wrote: »

Thats interesting about topping up my chemistry credits - do you mean that I could study more chemistry after I've finished my degree and it would eventually permit me to teach Chemistry aswell?

Yes. If you have a look at 'subject specific criteria (post-primary)' on www.teachingcouncil.ie for chemistry you need to have done it for 30% of a degree so thats either 55 or 75 credits depending on whether you are judged on a 180 or 240 credit degree.

Take the open university for example. They have lots of chemistry modules (although the credits are weighted differently). The important thing is to make sure you cover the breadth of the leaving cert syllabus with your third level chemistry modules.

WARNING: While the teaching council may advise you on the general direction your module choice should take, they will not guarantee you qualification to teach chemistry until you submit the syllabus you studied AFTER you passed your exams.

Note: If you ever move to the UK take the chance to do the OU distance learning courses while resident in a UK address as the British government subsidise UK addressees and the fees in Ireland are much higher.

pathway33

Hotaru wrote: »

I checked that list before and it just lists Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Medical Science and since my degree is a BSc and listed under Medicine and Medical Sciencesn UCD, I'm presuming it's a Bachelor of Medical Science? Even if it's just a Bachelor of Science I'd still only be able to teach Biology. Would I still need to submit my degree for validation?

Don't know to be honest. They might be picky on the exact title of your degree. Don't know.