Doing teaching with Maynooth's 'Irrelevant Subject + Arts' type degrees

dory

Hello people,

After dabbling in adult and further education for a few years I've decided to go about getting the PGDE. Not necessarily to go into secondary teaching, but I think it would be useful for me anyway (work in educational development abroad too).

My problem is I have one of those degrees from NUI Maynooth in which you do a subject irrelevant to teaching, and then an arts degree. So in the end my degree is 50% Irish. And I did completely the same arts course as someone doing Arts through the regular arts course.

My problem is that my degree, BA in Media is not on the recognised list. But arts in Maynooth obviously is. I really don't want to have to pay €200 to have the same course assessed. So, I'm wondering, has anyone done one of these NUI Maynooth courses; Media, Politics, Anthropology (I know they're pretty new) and have you had to have your course assessed?

Also, for the purpose of this PGDE will I need to do another subject? I only want to teach Irish.

Thanks!

Avery

If you have Politics to full degree level, you can be registered to teach CSPE as far as I know.

In reality, you could take it as your second subject along with Irish even if you don't have it to full degree level, but there would be a problem actually being registered for it.

dory

Avery wrote: »

If you have Politics to full degree level, you can be registered to teach CSPE as far as I know.

In reality, you could take it as your second subject along with Irish even if you don't have it to full degree level, but there would be a problem actually being registered for it.

What? I already have a degree. Sorry if I was not clear enough. I want to know if anyone else has done such a degree and been able to register with it, without having to have it separately checked.

For example - if my degree was Media through Irish or something, with Irish classes, then I would fully expect to have to have it checked out to see if I can teach.
But, my degree is a joint honours - Media and Irish. And I did exactly the same classes as someone taking an Irish and something else degree. The only difference between me and that other person is the name and code of our degree course.

Hope I'm clearer.

gaeilgebeo

dory wrote: »

What? I already have a degree. Sorry if I was not clear enough. I want to know if anyone else has done such a degree and been able to register with it, without having to have it separately checked.

For example - if my degree was Media through Irish or something, with Irish classes, then I would fully expect to have to have it checked out to see if I can teach.
But, my degree is a joint honours - Media and Irish. And I did exactly the same classes as someone taking an Irish and something else degree. The only difference between me and that other person is the name and code of our degree course.

Hope I'm clearer.

Dory,if your degree in Irish is to 3rd year with all modules completed then I wouldn't worry about a second subject. Just do Irish. You will still be highly employable.

dory

gaeilgebeo wrote: »

Dory,if your degree in Irish is to 3rd year with all modules completed then I wouldn't worry about a second subject. Just do Irish. You will still be highly employable.

I know that, and thank you. My degree was 50% Irish whole way through.

My problem is that it says on the application form that I have to have done a degree that is on the recognized list. And mine isn't. Although I have the same courses done as others who have this Irish degree. And I've heard of other people doing teaching after these courses, I'm just wondering how they sidestepped these road blockages!!

Miss Lockhart

dory wrote: »

I know that, and thank you. My degree was 50% Irish whole way through.

My problem is that it says on the application form that I have to have done a degree that is on the recognized list. And mine isn't. Although I have the same courses done as others who have this Irish degree. And I've heard of other people doing teaching after these courses, I'm just wondering how they sidestepped these road blockages!!

There's no way around it. If it's not on the list you have to pay the €200 and submit the documents to have it assessed.

The fact is the TC could have already assessed and approved your degree a hundred times. It won't go on the list though until NUIM pay a much higher fee and submit the documents. I know for a fact they have assessed and approved my degree at least 6 times - but it's not on the list.

It's a wonder colleges don't do this more often as it would increase the attractiveness of many courses if they were already on the TC list.

dory

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

There's no way around it. If it's not on the list you have to pay the €200 and submit the documents to have it assessed.

The fact is the TC could have already assessed and approved your degree a hundred times. It won't go on the list though until NUIM pay a much higher fee and submit the documents. I know for a fact they have assessed and approved my degree at least 6 times - but it's not on the list.

It's a wonder colleges don't do this more often as it would increase the attractiveness of many courses if they were already on the TC list.

Ok, so easier question this time. Can I just forget about this inconvenience for a while and do the PDGE? I live abroad in a country with a very awkward postal service and I would really like to not have to do this now.

Can I do the course, and then later apply for my degree to be recognized? I know I'm taking a chance but I'm willing to take that chance.

delta_bravo

Yes you can do it but you may be wasting €7000

dory

delta_bravo wrote: »

Yes you can do it but you may be wasting €7000

Ah yea, well I think I'm fairly happy taking my chances with an honours degree that consists of 50% Irish arts courses. Just want to know if in theory I can do this because having my degree assessed would be very difficult right now.

EDIT: Getting this on my application;

Are you the holder of a Degree OR in the final year of an Eligible Degree, mentioned on the list of Degrees recognised by the Teaching Council OR
has the Teaching Council assessed your qualifications and determined that they meet the degree registration requirements? Yes No

Specify qualification code which has been allocated to your recognised Degree. Click here for the list of recognised degrees by the Teaching Council.
OR
State if the Teaching Council has confirmed that your qualifications meets registration requirements and if that degree is not listed with an accompanying code, then
you must submit a copy of the Teaching Council decision letter to PAC. Please tick box to confirm this.

CRAP! So this means I have to have my degree assessed before I apply. Anyone know how long that takes? I have only one copy of my transcripts with me. Didn't think I'd need another one.

dory

Woohoo!! I've skirted around the TC. They say I clearly have a joint honours degree, and one of them honours is Irish so I'm fine.

Now just have to convince PAC to accept my application.

gaeilgebeo

dory wrote: »

Woohoo!! I've skirted around the TC. They say I clearly have a joint honours degree, and one of them honours is Irish so I'm fine.

Now just have to convince PAC to accept my application.

That's great news Dory.
Go n-éirí leat.

seachto7

Interested to know how long the assessment takes. Do I need to get it cleared before I complete the application.

The reason I ask is:

I studied European Studies (French and Irish), but on the PAC site, European Studies is down as a recognised course, but it only mentions French,Spanish,German,History.

So it seems I am clear to choose the French option. I studied Irish as long as French, but don't have this option on the PAC site...?

So it would seem it's going to cost me €200 to do this....