Portmarnock Community School
Parents Information Evening
Implications of Subject Choice
Bill Core
Guidance Counsellor
Agenda
Welcome / Introductions To examine the importance of Effective
Subject Choice by looking at: Higher Education System - NFQ General college requirements Specific course requirements
To explain the procedure of subject choice Questions & ( hopefully !) Answers
Subject Choice
Important Decision for each student
Some students fail to realise the significance because the L.C. seems so far away
National Framework Of Qualifications
The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)
Have you seen this ‘fan’ diagram before?
New National Framework of Qualifications
Why? – Compare qualifications internationally/job mobility
Levels 1 –10 Junior Cert = Level 3 Leaving Cert = Level 4 / 5
Higher Cert = Level 6 (2 years)Ordinary Degree = Level 7 (3 years)Honours Degree = Level 8 (3/4 years)
Education & Training Levels
10 HETAC Doctorate
9 HETAC Masters
8 HETAC Degree (Hons)
7 HETAC Degree (Ord.)
6 FETAC L6 Higher Certificate
5 FETAC / SEC Leaving Cert
4 FETAC / SEC Leaving Cert
3 SEC Junior Cert
2
1
HND
Universities - Only Offer Level 8 Honours Degrees TCD UCD DCU NUI, Maynooth UCC NUI Glaway UL *UU & Queens
Institutes of Technology (IT’s) Offer a wide variety of courses at different levels:
Higher Certificate Level 6 (2 years) Ordinary Degree Level 7 (3 years) Honours Degree Level 8 (3/4/5 years)
Athlone Blanchardstown Carlow Cork Dublin Dundalk Dun Laoghaire Galway Letterkenny Limerick Sligo Tallaght Tralee Waterford
Other Colleges Some Examples National College of Art and Design Independent College All Hallows American College Dublin Dublin Business School Shannon College of Hotel Management St Patricks Teacher Training College Mater Dei
Requirements for Higher Education
General Matriculation Requirements
Course Specific Subject requirements
Points
General Matriculation Requirements
Six subjects for Degree level, 2 or 3 at Honours level - Universities
Five subjects at Ordinary level for Higher Certificate/Ordinary Degree to include Maths and Irish or English – Institutes of Technology
Matriculation / Minimum Entry Requirements Cont’d
Maths, English & Irish - most commonly required.
Some require a Third LanguageOf the 45 3rd Level Colleges available through the CAO
system – 7 require students to have a Third Language:
1. UCD 2. NUIG 3. UCC 4. NUI Maynooth
5. Shannon College of Hotel Management
6. Royal College of Surgeons
7. St. Angels College Sligo
Language very useful in today’s world!
Exceptions to Language Rule
If exempt from Irish or languages in school
Engineering & science courses at NUI Maynooth & Science at UCD
Nursing
NCAD - Art accepted in lieu of language
Other Universities TCD & UL – Maths, English and Irish or a
third language.
DCU – Maths and either English or Irish
IMPORTANT– Wide variety of Degree & other courses available that do not require a third language as long as you have Maths & English or Irish
Course specific requirements Many Honours. Engineering/Computer
Science Degrees need Higher Maths Language Courses require an Honours in
your chosen language Courses in Science, Medicine (this includes
Physiotherapy, Dentistry, Veterinary, Pharmacy, etc.), Nursing, Architecture and some Engineering courses require 1 or 2 sciences
Honours Chemistry is required for some Medicine & Human Nutrition courses
Course Entry Requirements
The Sciences: Chemistry:
Veterinary & Medicine in UCD Pharmacy in UCC and Trinity Dietician in DIT Dentistry and Medicine in UCC
Physics: Electronic & Electrical Engineering UCC Theoretical Physics UCD & Trinity
Biology: Some Medicine / Veterinary courses Some Hairdressing and Beautician courses
Course Entry Requirements - Sciences Two Science:
Many Medical, Paramedical & Science related courses in Trinity – Geography recognised as Science for some courses but not Physiotherapy.
Pharmacy, Medicine and Dentistry in UCC. One science subject is required for the
following fields: Home Economics teaching, Nursing, Medical,
Paramedical, Science, Sports Science and Engineering.
Examples of Specific Course Requirements
Medicine (UCC) HC in Chemistry + HC in Physics or Biology
Music (NUI Maynooth) C3 in higher level Music (HC3)
Physiotherapy (RCSI) B3 in a science subject
Engineering degrees L8 Honours Maths (HC3), 1 science subject
Note: Physics is a good indicator for engineering
Other courses have no specific requirements Business subjects are not required for any
Business, Commerce or Accountancy courses
Technical Graphics (Now called Design and Communication Graphics) is not an essential requirement for Architecture, Architectural Technician, Engineering or Construction courses
Art is not an essential subject for Art College, but a portfolio is
Points System All subjects count equally for entry to
college or university
Points are calculated from the student’s six best results in one sitting of the Leaving Certificate, maximum 600 points
Entry given to those with the highest points for competitive courses
Procedure for Subject Choice in PCS
Students take four optional exam subjects An initial form is completed They state the five subjects that they wish
to take in genuine order of preference Every effort is made to facilitate students. If the combination is unavailable they are
given their fifth preference
Note: Limited Resources influence level of choices available!
How can you help?
Encourage your child to keep all their options open
Encourage them to be pro-active in their research
Encourage discussion with them
Its important to: Choose subjects they like Choose subjects they are good at Choose subjects they must have if they
have a career or course in mind Choose subjects which would be useful
for a particular career Choose a broad range of subjects e.g. a
language, a science subject, a business subject, a humanities / Arts subject
Resources
www.qualifax.ie www.cao.ie www.careerdirections.ie www.portmarnockcommunit
yschool.ie See the Guidance section
ESRI/FAS Forecast
Youth population will decline Strong demand for higher level skills Decline in traditional manufacturing Growth in ICT/Pharmaceuticals Increase in services sector, traded
services
Employment Opportunities Business, finance, accounting skills Backoffice – design, sales & marketing Ageing population – healthcare &
pharmaceuticals Languages Software Development/ICT Leisure, tourism & recreational Built environment – surveying, environment &
auctioneering Financial services/Compliance officers Childcare
Guidance in Portmarnock Community School Opportunity to gain work experience in 4th year Aptitude Assessments / Interest Inventories in 4th year –
discover your strengths Information evening on Subject Choice Information session on Subject Choice to students 40 min weekly Career class in 5th / 6th year Introduction to the world of College and Work Careers Project Internet Research Guest speakers from College & Business Careers & College videos College Open days Applying to College Interviewing techniques Career interviews in 5th/6th year
Summary
Check any essential subjects Choose subjects they like and
enjoy Make a balanced choice e.g.
Irish, English, Maths, Language, Science + 2/3 other subjects
Keep their options open
**** REMEMBER ****
If you take nothing else away from tonight remember -
There are consequences to not taking a European Language
There are consequences to not taking a Science subject
The World is their Oyster!