F. Farrell PCS 2014

Subject Choice & Career Options 2014

By

F. Farrell

Guidance Counsellor

Portmarnock Community School

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Agenda

To examine the importance of choosing the

right subjects by looking at:General college requirements

Specific course requirements

To explain the school’s programme in

relation to subject choice

To explain the procedure of subject choice

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Leaving Cert. subject choice in PCS.

Optional subjects: Four areas Business area (Accounting, Business,

Economics.) Sciences area (Physics, Biology, Chemistry,

Applied Maths, Geography). Technology area (Engineering, Construction

studies, Design and Communication Graphics). Humanities and Applied area (Art, Music, Home

Economics, History, etc).

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Leaving Certificate in PCS

Core subjectsIrish* (excluding exempted students)English Maths*

*Irish and Maths are offered at Higher and Ordinary levels. English is also offered at

Ordinary and Higher levels.

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Technical subjects – Junior Cert

Materials Technology/Wood becomes Construction Studies in the Senior Cycle.

Technology becomes Engineering in the Senior Cycle. Technical Graphics is called Design and

Communication Graphics in the Senior Cycle.

Students may choose to study any of the above subjects to Leaving Cert level without having done them for the Junior Cert. However, DCG may be particularly difficult to pursue as the theory from JC is carried through and is a substantial element in the overall programme.

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Career possibilities in the technical areas:

Construction Studies (Architecture, Building Services, Quantity Surveyor, etc.)

Engineering (Mechanical/production engineering but a useful subject for all areas of Engineering).

DCG (Engineering, Architecture, Product Design, Draughtsperson).

F. Farrell PCS 2014

College Entry Requirements

General College Requirements:

Honours Degree requirements (LEVEL 8):

Higher Cert/Ordinary Degree requirements -LEVELS 6/7:

Specific Course Requirements i.e. Higher Level B3 English

for Journalism in DCU.

Points - reflect demand of year in question!

Interview/Portfolio/Performance/Fitness Test

(Architecture, Theatre/Dance, Video production, Art

College).

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Subject Requirements

Maths, English & Irish - most commonly required.

A 3rd Language is generally required by the NUI colleges except for engineering, nursing and science based courses.

Most Business courses state a requirement in OL Maths - not a business subject!

An Art portfolio is required for most art related courses - Art itself may not be required!

A minimum of at least one science subject and/or Maths is generally required for the following fields:

Nursing, Medical/paramedical, Science, Engineering.

Level 7 common science DIT – no lab science subject required.

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Faculty Requirements (examples)

A laboratory science subject is NO longer required for Architecture in UCD but a foreign language IS required. Suitability test/Portfolio requirement for DIT.

A modern language is required for Speech Therapy.

Honours Maths is required for all level 8 engineering degrees.

One laboratory science subject for nursing and generally two for medicine (except UCD/UCG).

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Examples of Course Requirements

Medicine (UCC)HC3 in Chemistry + HC3 in Physics or

Biology Computer Systems (UL, Level 8 degree)

B3 in ordinary level Maths/HC3 (TCD) Business Studies (UL, Level 8 degree)

C3 in ordinary level Maths Engineering courses (Level 8 degree)

Honours Maths (HC3), 1 science subject • Note: Physics is a good indicator for engineering

Science

General Science level 8 DIT – HC3 in ONE lab. Science subject or Applied Maths Plus OL B3 in Maths.

Common science DCU level 8 – OL C3 in Maths plus OL C3/H D3 in ONE of physics, biology or chemistry.

Common Science in TCD – OL C3 Maths and TWO H C 3’s from physics, biology, applied maths, geography.

Common Science in UCD – OB3 Maths or HD3 plus OL B3 or HD3 in ONE of biology, chemistry, physics, geography** (newly acceptable science subject for entry to the sciences in UCD)

Science in NUI Maynooth – OC3 Maths and OD3 in ONE of biology, physics ,chemistry.

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Engineering

DIT level 8 engineering – common entry – HC3 in Maths and at least 1 OL D3 in Physics, biology, construction studies, DCG, or applied maths.

TCD level 8 engineering – common entry – HC3 in Maths but no science subject requirement!

UCD level 8 engineering – common entry – HC3 in Maths and HD3 in any of biology, chemistry, physics.

DCU level 8 engineering – common entry – HC3 in Maths or HC3 in Applied Maths plus HD2 in Maths. No laboratory science subject required.

NUI Maynooth level 8 – common engineering - HC3 in Maths plus OD3 in biology, chemistry, physics or technology.

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Law

Level 8 law course in the DIT – HC3 in Irish or English. No maths requirement whatsoever.

Level 8 law course in TCD - OD3 in English, OD3 in one other language (Irish, French, Spanish etc) and a minimum of FD3 (Foundation level) in Maths.

Level 8 law course in UCD – OD3 in English, OD3 Irish, OD3 other language. No Maths requirement whatsoever.

Level 8 law course NUI Maynooth – OD3 in English, Irish and another language. No maths requirement.

Level 8 law and society course (BCL) in DCU – OD3 in Irish or English BUT OD3 requirement in Maths.

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Architecture

OD3 in Maths for entry to Architecture in the DIT but NO modern language requirement. No science subject requirement either.

OD3 in Maths for entry to Architecture in UCD but candidates are required to have a pass also in Irish and another modern language. No science subject requirement for Architecture in UCD.

OD3 Maths for Landscape Architecture in UCD BUT no foreign language requirement. However a OD3 in a lab science subject is required.

UCD Landscape Architects are involved in enhancing, improving and conserving our natural and built environment, and transforming damaged and degraded places. This course is for you if you are creative and enjoy the challenge of design combined with an interest in both people and the environment. It requires a problem solving ability, combined with creativity and technical abilities.

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Physiotherapy

UCD requires a candidate to present a minimum of OL D3 in English, Irish, Maths and a foreign language in addition to a minimum of OL D3 in one of biology, chemistry, physics.

RCS requires has similar requirements but candidates must achieve a minimum of H B3 in one of biology, chemistry, physics.

TCD requires a student to present a OLD3 in one other language besides English (Irish, French etc) and a minimum of OLC3 in Maths in addition to 2 HC3’s from physics, chemistry, biology, Maths.

UL requires a candidate to present minimum of a OD3 in English, a OD3 in any other language (Irish, French) plus a minimum of OB3 in one of physics, chemistry, biology.

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Medicine

UCD requires a candidate to present a minimum of a OD3 in English, Irish, a foreign

language and Maths in addition to a minimum of a OD3 in one of biology, chemistry, physics.

TCD requires a candidate to present a minimum of OD3 in English, a OD3 in one other language (Irish, French etc), a minimum of FD3 (foundation level in Maths) in addition to 1 HB3 and 1 HC3 in physics, chemistry, biology. If you do not have physics, then a minimum of OC3 in Maths.

NUIG - same as for UCD.

UCC – The same as UCD/NUIG except that a HC3 is required in chemistry (subject specific) and in either physics or biology. ALL students wishing to do medicine must sit the HPAT in 6th year (Health Professionals Aptitude Test – 2.5 hours long)

F. Farrell PCS 2014

F. Farrell PCS 2014

IT Colleges ‘Ladder’ system

The IT Colleges offer a ‘ladder system’ in respect of all engineering degrees (amongst others).

A student can access all level 6 and level 7 degrees with pass maths in the Leaving Cert and can progress to level 8.

IT Blanchardstown allows students to do the Level 8 Mechatronics and Common engineering programmes with O.L. maths (5 year LEVEL 8 degree).

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Useful Subject Groupings in PCS

Home Economics and Business. Engineering with Physics or Construction

studies. A Science subject like Chemistry or

Physics with Applied Maths. Business with Modern languages.

F. Farrell PCS 2014

CAO Points system (guidelines)

A student may only count his/her six best subjects.

Only the points from one Leaving Certificate sitting can be used.

All Subjects except HL Maths equal in terms of points value. (25 bonus points for A1 to D3 in HL Maths).

Maximum attainment of 625 points. Minimum requirements = 2 HC3’s for example.

F. Farrell PCS 2014

HL Maths

HL Maths students are awarded an extra 25 points on attaining a grade D3 or better in their LC. .i.e previously 45 points for D3 now 70.

Whether a candidate attains a D3 or an A1 the extra points allocated remains the same.

The bonus points can only be counted for CAO purposes if Maths features in one of the 6 subjects used to calculate aggregate points score.

F. Farrell PCS 2014

What to research!

Check the relevant college/employer literaturecheck the overall college requirementscheck the course requirement

subjectgrades/level

Check the course content - this will highlight what subjects are predominant

Good websites include www.qualifax.ie; www.careersportal.ie;

www.careerdirections.ie

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Subject Choice - Guidelines

Pick the best senior cycle option for you!

Established Leaving CertificatePick the subjects you are most interested in.

Maximise your points.

Achieve grades specified by employers or colleges.

Pick the essential subjects for your hoped course or career.

Mistakes can be made in career decisions!

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Transition Year Subject Choice

Programme

1. The school’s programme outlined

2. Subject choice procedure

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Schools Programme

Senior Cycle Modules Career Classes Work Experience Programme Careers Exhibition Aptitude Tests (Dats) Interest Inventory Career Project Careers Interview

F. Farrell PCS 2014

Summary

Maximise your options for college:Maths, English, Irish, a modern European Language, 1

science subject.

Remember to research appropriate careers websitescollege/employer websites/literature

Important to check the grade/level required. Pick the subjects you are most interested in or have

an aptitude for! Remember a lot of courses do not require any

specific subjects!

F. Farrell PCS 2014

OPEN FORUM

Questions??