Getting a second subject

gal'allthe'way

I only have a BA in History from Trintiy College, but I have my H.Dip (PDED) as of this year. Its just that any jobs being advertised need two subjects! Am I screwed...!

But, does anyone know if or how I can get a Geography qualification through part-time of distant education. TC arent very specific when asked.
Whats my best options!!

Thanks.

Crazyteacher

Open university has geography . Would you consider maths, Irish or language as an additional subject ? It's going to very difficult with history as you mentioned Dont forget to try further ed jobs, Meath vec is advertising at vecjobs.ie . They are looking for leaving cert history teachers under the tutor section.

gaeilgebeo

I would definitely choose a different subject to geography.
I have a friend with a history/geography combination. She's nearly 8 years qualified and still subbing and going from job to job with little hours.

RadioClash

Crazyteacher wrote: »

Open university has geography . Would you consider maths, Irish or language as an additional subject ? It's going to very difficult with history as you mentioned Dont forget to try further ed jobs, Meath vec is advertising at vecjobs.ie . They are looking for leaving cert history teachers under the tutor section.

This. Do yourself a diploma in French, German or Spanish if you have even a half decent level in any of these languages. You shouldn't find yourself out of work for long after that.

shtopthelights

RadioClash wrote: »

This. Do yourself a diploma in French, German or Spanish if you have even a half decent level in any of these languages. You shouldn't find yourself out of work for long after that.

I presume you'd be relying on the school to accept a diploma, as opposed to getting teaching council recognition, which one wouldn't get for a dip (AFAIK)?

From people's experiences, are schools prepared to employ people with a dip in place of a degree?

mimmi

Yup TC require you to show study over 3 years i.e 1st year, 2nd year etc. Although you only need 30% your of degree study in the subject, you need to demonstrate that spread.

With the OU, you can get that spread of modules, but dont expect the TC to give you an indication up-front that they will approve - they only do that when you have completed the study.

Dostoevsky

galalltheway wrote: »

I only have a BA in History from Trintiy College, but I have my H.Dip (PDED) as of this year. Its just that any jobs being advertised need two subjects! Am I screwed...!

But, does anyone know if or how I can get a Geography qualification through part-time of distant education. TC arent very specific when asked.
Whats my best options!!

Thanks.

This was how I found my solution to the same problem as you have. As others have suggested, I'd focus on languages rather than something like geography. I had to choose between economics and a language (Irish). Every single principal whom I spoke with said Irish is the future. There was no exception.

Rosita

I would advise anyone taking on a language to do so only if you have a decent facility with languages and will have opportunities to spend sufficient time in a native speaking environment. Very very difficult to swing that doing part-time study.

In the current competitive environment (where there are also unemployed Irish graduates by the way) you'd need to be getting a high standard and it'd be a pity to take on a subject/language at which you are not likely to be able to excel. A medicore mark after all that time investment would be a bummer and languages are not straightforward subjects by any means.

Also for those looking at the UCD route, be wary that this course has been in a serious state of flux for quite some time. Subjects can be pulled/not offered at the last minute/changed from year to year depending on demand. They can very easily turn around and tell people that they have to finish a course as a day student. I know for example last year that they changed the credits available in one subject at night which meant that some people had to do an extra year if they were not in a position to study the extra credits in the day simultaneously. So avoid putting all your eggs in that basket.

mimmi

Some helpful comments for you here gal'allthe'way, but to answer your original question, this is an example of 3 modules you can study with the OU that would relate to geography and span 3 university years/levels - what TC is looking for.

Level 1 - 60pts (30 ECTs)

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/u116.htm

Level 2 - 60pts (30 ECTs)
http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/dd205.htm

Level 3 - 60pts (30 ECTs)
http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/du311.htm

gal'allthe'way

sorry for the late replys, I just had eye laser surgery. But just lookng at the OU options, its the most creadible, but I dont want to end up in a situation whereby having completed the study and the TC refusing to recognoise it. Because they give no indication in advance of study. Which is unfair to teachers having paid their annual fee.

I wounder is distant study with the University of London hald and accepted in the same regard to the TC as Open University is?

mimmi

London Univeristy is a well established programme, cann't see why they TC would have any problem with it, so long as the study meets TCs specific requirements.

I just had a look at London University website - it's quite a different way of learning to OU, you dont get assigned a tutor, so you dont do assignments as you go along/get feedback on your worketc. LU is more preparing for exams by using on-line resources and the option of attending the odd study/summer schools in London.