Adding another teaching subject in one year?

ToasterSparks

Hi all,

I'm applying for the PGDE in 2011. I have a Commerce degree, and an Economics masters degree. I am eligible to teach economics, business and accounting.

I'm wondering if I could do a postgrad course this year that will allow me to teach another subject? I really like Maths - is there a one-year postgrad course that will make me eligible to teach this?

Weighing up all my options, any help appreciated.

Powerhouse

ToasterSparks wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm applying for the PGDE in 2011. I have a Commerce degree, and an Economics masters degree. I am eligible to teach economics, business and accounting.

I'm wondering if I could do a postgrad course this year that will allow me to teach another subject? I really like Maths - is there a one-year postgrad course that will make me eligible to teach this?

You become eligible to teach a subject only by studying it to degree level - i.e. it comprises 30% + of your degree - so a one-year post-grad course is of no consequence in that regard.

Have you confirmed with the Teaching Council that your degree allows you to teach all three subjects you have mentioned? If you have taken particular specialisations in subject areas in you final year this might have implications for the other areas in terms of teaching potential. It would be unusual I would think for a Business degree to enable someone to teach three subjects to Leaving Cert but I could be quite wrong on that.

I know all trhree subjects are mentioned in the PAC literature but that might be potential subjects depending on specialisations.

ToasterSparks

Powerhouse wrote: »

You become eligible to teach a subject only by studying it to degree level - i.e. it comprises 30% + of your degree - so a one-year post-grad course is of no consequence in that regard.

Have you confirmed with the Teaching Council that your degree allows you to teach all three subjects you have mentioned? If you have taken particular specialisations in subject areas in you final year this might have implications for the other areas in terms of teaching potential. It would be unusual I would think for a Business degree to enable someone to teach three subjects to Leaving Cert but I could be quite wrong on that.

I know all trhree subjects are mentioned in the PAC literature but that might be potential subjects depending on specialisations.

Oh, really? There were no stipulations on the literature for my course (like there are for others). I'd assume Business is a given, and I've done more than enough modules in Finance, Accounting and Economics to cover the other two. But thanks for the heads-up.

spurious

Don't assume anything with the Teaching Council. They've been known to say yes and then no.

Avery

Heya

I'm in a similar enough position in that I study some maths courses as part of an Economics degree, but not enough to teach it essentially.

I noticed this course in UCD. You need to have done a certain number of math's credits in your degree before.

http://www.ucd.ie/graduatestudies/prospectivestudents/taughtprogrammes/empstaught/higherdiplomainmathematicalstudies/

It seems to tick all the right boxes, but I would be very wary about it without contacting the Teaching Council first to ensure you aren't wasting your time.

sitstill

This might be worth looking at:

http://www.maths.nuim.ie/postgrad/pgprogramdescriptions.shtml#HDMS

Its a Higher Diploma in Mathematical Studies at NUIM which takes one year, but the website says to check with the Teaching Council as to whether they accept it.

Another idea is this:

http://www.maynoothcollege.ie/courses/diplomas/hdiptheo.shtml

A Higher Diploma in Theological Studies at St Patricks College, Maynooth (NUIM). It is recognised by the TC and a colleague of mine is currently teaching RE having done this course.

ToasterSparks

Thanks guys, lots of useful information there.

Powerhouse

The UCD Maths Diploma, or rather the claims that go with it, are interesting as it mentions being "eligible" to teach at second-level afterwards. This is quite a serious thing to claim give that all public utterances on such eligibility across the subjects from the teaching council would disgree with the idea that a Diploma can do this (with the exception of a few subjkects like SPHE etc.).

It would be interesting to see if UCD have something to back up the claim, or more specifically what they understand by the term "eligible". Do they mean merely that in their opinion you'd have adequate knowledge or that they have actual demonstrable confirmation of this change in policy by the TC. It is all the more interesting at a time when people are complaining about unqualified Maths teachers. I would be wary of taking such claims at face value given the way the TC operates.