Professional Master of Education (PME) in Post-Primary Education

Course details

The programme is accredited for the following 15 teaching subjects: Gaeilge, English, Modern Languages, History, Geography, CSPE, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Accounting, Business, Economics, Music and Agricultural Science.

The College reserves the right, based on applicant demand, to not offer every subject at every programme start date. Any application fees paid for programmes which subsequently are not offered will be refunded.

Learning Outcomes

• Upon successful completion of the programme, students will:
• Synthesise the professional knowledge, understanding, pedagogical skills and competence required to be an effective post-primary teacher in a constantly changing, turbulent and complex society to fulfil the role to the required professional standards and thus seek registration with the Teaching Council of Ireland
• Interpret the theoretical and conceptual tools necessary for developing creative and pedagogically sound approaches to teaching and learning in post-primary education and utilise these tools to generate effective assessment, teaching and learning strategies addressing the potentially complex and manifold educational needs of a diverse post-primary student population
• Establish a reflective and reflexive practitioner approach to lifelong learning as a post-primary teacher with specific emphasis on both personal and continuous professional development as promoted throughout this Initial Teacher Education programme
• Take significant responsibility for the work of individuals and groups in the participation in and implementation of school structures, self-evaluation, planning, legal and ethical imperatives, and inclusive education practices evidenced through competent reflective and reflexive practice in a variety of contexts
• Validate their competence in scheme of work and lesson preparation, teaching skills and evaluation capabilities by competently teaching two post-primary curricular subjects across a range of different post-primary programmes and differentiated to a range of different levels
• Integrate the skills and competencies necessary to holistically educate the young people in their care in a social-emotional learning environment and exercise a duty of care and a pastoral role in their professional lives
• Interpret and evaluate the complexity of adolescence and have particular cognisance of the adolescent in the post-primary school, employing appropriate classroom management strategies to ensure effective teaching and learning environments facilitating the realisation of the individuals potential of all post-primary students in their care
• Demonstrate proficiency in constructing and manipulating appropriate ICT tools enhancing teaching, learning and assessment strategies in both post-primary teaching subjects and in an integrated cross-curricular approach
• Critically evaluate and assess the reliability and validity of a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods and draw conclusions from such to adopt an evidence-based approach to inform an independent, critical and reflective professional investigation of an educational policy/mandate
• Interpret and apply appropriate ethical and legal obligations of the post-primary teacher
• Develop multifarious skills in collegiality and team-work and recognise the role of post-primary teachers as active and equal partners with school management, parents and the community in the development of a productive and positive environment of teaching and learning

The aim of the programme is to provide the teaching profession with highly competent, research proficient, critically reflective, analytical and evaluative post-primary practitioners who are able to act in and respond to a variety of complex situations and provide necessary leadership in their role.

The syllabus is divided into eight modules as follows:

• Module 1 Foundations of Education 1 (10 credits)
• Module 2 Core Teaching Methodologies (5 credits)
• Module 3 Teaching Subject Mastery (10 credits)
• Module 4 Teaching Methodologies (10 credits)
• Module 5 School Experience and Professional Practice 1, School Experience and Professional Practice 2, Behavioural Issues and Special Educational Needs (25 credits)
• Module 6 Foundations of Education 2 (15 credits)
• Module 7 Advanced School Experience and Professional Practice (25 credits)
• Module 8 Research Methods and Research Project (20 credits)