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!