Education - Professional Diploma in Education Prof Dip - PEC01

The Professional Diploma in Education in UCC is a one-year, full-time postgraduate practice-based teacher education course designed to qualify you as a post-primary teacher. It is recognised by the Teaching Council of Ireland for the purpose of registration as a post-primary teacher in Ireland. The PFDE combines school-based teaching practice with lectures and tutorials. It gives you the professional knowledge, skills, understanding and competences that you need to begin your teaching career. Your primary degree determines the subjects that you are eligible to teach. During the PFDE year, you will learn how to teach and become familiar with the diverse needs of learners, the curriculum and current issues in education. You will be encouraged to read and to reflect on your own practice. You will be supported by experienced classroom supervisors to develop a professional identity as a teacher.

The PFDE is a 60 credit course leading to a professional teaching qualification. It is organised in partnership with second-level schools, all located within a 50 km radius of Cork city.

At the end of the course, you will have acquired the professional knowledge, understanding and skills that you need to teach your subject or subjects in a second-level school. You will have gained practical experience in a school setting, and developed your ability to respond to the diverse and changing needs of students aged 12-18 years. You will have been challenged, encouraged and invited to question your beliefs and assumptions about the purpose of education, the nature of teaching and learning and the role of the teacher in the twenty-first century.

Compulsory Core Modules:

Ed 6301: Philosophy and History of Education (5 credits)

Ed 6302: Psychology and Sociology of Education (5 credits)

Ed 6303: Curriculum, Assessment and Technology (5 credits)

Ed 6304: Teaching Studies (5 credits)

Ed 6305: Reflective and Professional Practice (5 credits)

Ed 6306: Inclusive and Multicultural Education (5 credits)

Ed 6307: Teaching Practice (20 credits)You will also take two elective modules related to your teaching subjects:

Ed 6308: The Teaching of Business Studies (5 credits)

Ed 6309: The Teaching of Civic, Social and Political Education (5 credits)

Ed 6312: The Teaching of English (5 credits)

Ed 6313: Second Language Education 1 (French or German or Irish or Spanish)

Ed 6314: Second Language Education 2 (French or German or Irish or Spanish)

Ed 6315: The Teaching of Geography (5 credits)

Ed 6316: The Teaching of History (5 credits)

Ed 6317: The Teaching of Mathematics (5 credits)

Ed 6318: The Teaching of Music (5 credits)

Ed 6319: The Teaching of Religious Education (5 credits)

Ed 6320: The Teaching of Science (5 credits)

Fitness to Practise

Commencing with the 2013/2014 intake, this programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found here

There is a centralised system for a common application and selection procedure to the Professional Diploma in Education (NUI) programme, including University College Cork, University College Dublin, NUI Galway and NUI Maynooth.  The application system is available ONLINE only. 

Application for this programme is on-line at www.pac.ie/ucc. For full details of the application procedure click How to Apply.

All required documentation must be either uploaded to your online application, or sent in hard copy to The Postgraduate Applications Centre, 1, Courthouse Square, Galway, immediately after an application is made.

There is a centralised system for a common application and selection procedure to the Professional Diploma in Education  (NUI) programme, including University College Cork, University College Dublin, NUI Galway and NUI Maynooth.  The application system is available ONLINE only now.

Applications must be made online at www.pac.ie/pgde ; P.A.C. Course code applicable for University College Cork applications:  PEC01

Applicants experiencing any difficulties making an on-line application can contact P.A.C. directly at:

Postgraduate Applications Centre,
1 Courthouse Square,
Galway,
Ireland. 

Tel: +353 (0)91 549260
Fax: +353 (0)91 563056

When offered a place on the course by PAC, you will be asked to identify a school for teaching practice from the list provided. The list of approved schools will be available  from the School of Education  Website : www.ucc.ie/en/education.  An orientation seminar is held in late August, before teaching practice begins. You must teach at least six lessons per week, during the morning only. You are expected to participate in the life of the school. School placement lasts throughout the full school year. Lectures and tutorials start in mid-September, and are held from 2pm each day. You will be assigned to tutorial groups based on your teaching subjects and will have a personal supervisor for teaching practice.

The PFDE is marked by continuous assessment. This includes project work related to the various modules and a reflective portfolio. There is a strong emphasis on the integration and application of theory and practice. Teaching practice is assessed over a series of visits to your teaching practice school by your personal tutor and by another member of the PDE team. You must pass both the coursework and teaching practice modules in order to be awarded the PDE, with at least 40% in ED6307 (Teaching Practice) to pass, and a minimum of 50% in Teaching Practice for honours.

Dr Fiachra Long
Course Coordinator
T: +353 (0)21 490 2262;
E: flong@education.ucc.ie

Web Link :  http://www.ucc.ie/en/education/pgdeteaching/