1. Dr Brian Murphy PME Course Co-ordinator
Post-primary teacher education in UCC: The School of Education Professional Master of Education (PME) Course
Dr Brian Murphy
PME Course Co-ordinator

2. You might be Somebody who…
Has a passion for your subject specialism(s)
Feels the desire to share and explore this passion and enthusiasm with adolescents/young people
Enjoys interacting daily with a variety of young people
Keen to foster learning and help to engender key values in young people of all abilities
Relishes the possibility of making a real difference in young people’s lives
If so we’d love you to consider our UCC School of Education PME programme…

3. The UCC School of Education PME…
Replaces ‘the Dip’, HDip, HDE, PGDE, PDE… (1 year courses)
Is a two year full-time course (120 credits) began August 2014
At Masters level (Level 9); Professional Maters

4. The UCC School of Education PME course
A postgraduate professional teacher education course designed to qualify graduates as post-primary teachers
Fully recognised and accredited by the Teaching Council of Ireland for the purpose of registration as a post-primary teacher in Ireland
Offered by a the UCC School of Education, nationally renowned centre of excellence in teacher education
New, ground-breaking, innovative, exciting… continuing the our 114 year tradition in preparing teachers…

5. Comments from the External Examiner about the UCC PME
“As indicated, the Professional Master of Education is a high quality programme in initial teacher education…this is down to the dedication, hard work and professionalism of the staff…”

6. Entry Requirements
You must have (or expect to have by the starting date of the course) a primary degree that the Teaching Council of Ireland recognises as qualifying you to teach at least one subject in a post-primary school
If you are in any doubt about what whether your degree is recognised for teaching purposes or what subjects it allows you to be eventually registered to teach, you should check directly with the Teaching Council at
Applications for the PME must be made through the Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC)

7. Application Requirement for all teacher education courses (SDFs)
PME applicants must complete subject self-declaration form(s) as part of the application process on PAC
Without fully completed subject self-declaration form(s), your application cannot be processed
Subject Declaration Form allows you to match your degree (and other qualifications if applicable) against the Teaching Council’s specific curricular teaching subject requirements
Completed declaration form will be forwarded to the Teaching Council, who will advise if you meet the requirements for registration set out in the Teaching Council registration regulations
Based on this declaration form and your transcripts of undergraduate examination results, the Teaching Council will confirm if, following successful completion of the PME, you will be eligible to register as a teacher and which curricular subject(s) will be recorded on the Register of Teachers.
Any material errors or misleading declarations made on this form may result in the withdrawal of an offer of a place

8. Important Dates for 2018 entry (www.pac.ie)
Type of application
Fee
Application Closing Date
Documentation Closing Date
Standard Applications
€80
1st December 2017
8th December 2017
Late Applications
€120
16th February 2018
24th February 2018

9. Entry Processes
Late application date does not effect your chances of being offered a place in any way. No difference between early and late applications.
Competitive entry where points are awarded for degree results and additional postgraduate qualifications and relevant professional experience
Successful candidates are offered places conditionally but taking up that place and commencing the course is dependent on securing a required teaching placement in one of the School of Education’s co-operating post-primary schools
All candidates are vetted through the Garda Vetting system

10. Important features of the UCC course
2 year-long continuous school placements in two different schools (one school in Year 1 and a contrasting school in Year 2) so no block release
In school in the mornings or on certain days combined with afternoon/days on campus for lectures and tutorials on teaching, learning and educational research, which develop student teachers’ requisite professional knowledge and understandings
Student teachers are supported in their development by experienced cooperating teachers in our cooperating schools and visited and tutored by specialist School of Education staff

11. PME1: 60 credits
School Placement activity 30 credits, consisting of school and classroom experience (20 credits) and a research and professional experiences portfolio (10 credits)
2 subject methodologies (2x5credits) make up 10 credits
Foundation Studies 20 credits – (including Philosophy, History, Psychology and Sociology of Education; Inclusive Education and Curriculum and Assessment)

12. UCC PME supports pedagogy courses in the following school subjects
Irish
English
Mathematics
French
German
Spanish
History
Geography
Science
Business Studies
Music
Religious Education
CSPE
Cross curricular (for those students who don’t have a 2nd teaching subject)

13. PME2: 60 credits
School Placement-related activity 20 credits, consisting of school and classroom experience (30 credits) and a collaborative seminar looking at contemporary issues in Irish schools (5 credits) and a module on Literacy and Numeracy development in the post-primary classroom (5 credits)
Foundational Themes in Education is 5 credits
Specialist subject pedagogy makes up 5 credits
Professional Research Paper in Education is 10 credits

14. School Placement
Two separate mentored and supervised school placements (one in PME1 and one in PME2) in one of our cooperating post-primary schools (normally within a specified radius of UCC)
Required to choose a school from the list
Students are required to spend a minimum number of class periods and hours teaching a class or classes in one or more approved subjects in PME1 and PME2
Additional required hours of observation, co-teaching planning, preparation, reflection, research tasks…

15. PME Assessment
School placement in PME1 and PME2 is assessed over a series of visits to the placement school by allocated placement tutors
Assessment for PME lectures is generally by continuous assessment or project work related to the various modules
Strong emphasis on the integration and application of theory and practice throughout all assignments

16. Our supports for PME students
Specialist Placement tutor for every student
Small group tutorials
Specialised Placement Coordinator for PME1 & PME2
PME subject methodology groups
PME Staff-student committee
Specialised programme administrator

17. Do be aware of…
Your dual role and responsibilities and the demands of being a student-teacher and a student on a professional studies course
The VERY full-time nature of the course and its demands
The travel that may be involved
The associated costs (fees, accommodation, travel…)
But remembering how rewarding it can be…

18. Other key PME data
Ample opportunities for PME graduates for employment in Irish schools (shortage) and graduates are also well equipped to begin a teaching career abroad
Number of places 120+
Fees for published as PME 1: €6,000 PME2: €4,800 (Total: €10,800)
Enquiries may be directed in the first instance to Ms. Myrhen Creedon, Executive Assistant, School of Education, UCC. Tel