Overview
This is a course for people who are interested in becoming post-primary teachers in the areas of Home Economics and Technology. This course will enable you to register on graduation as a post primary teacher with the Teaching Council of Ireland.
The four-year programme will be delivered through a partnership of DCU and Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). The first two years of study will take place at the TUS Athlone campus, and the final two years at the DCU Institute of Education in Dublin. The unique approach taken in this course will enable you to become a confident and innovative home economics and technology teacher.
The BEd HET will qualify you to teach Home Economics and Technology subjects at post-primary level.
DCU People
Careers & Further Options
Careers
You will be eligible to register as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) and apply for employment as a teacher of Home Economics and Technology in post primary schools in Ireland. Teacher education graduates can also gain employment in industry, media, governmental, non-governmental and other settings.
DCU graduates are highly sought after by employers. Our Graduates work in environments ranging from large multinationals to SMEs, family businesses and start-ups across every sector.
DCU Careers Service has a number of learning and development initiatives in place for our students, giving them the skills they need for a successful career path.
Entry Requirements
General Entry Requirements
In addition to the general entry requirements for admission to the university the following entry requirements apply:
Minimum grade O3/H7 in Mathematics required
In addition to the general entry requirements for admission to the university the following entry requirements apply:
GCE A Level D or GCE AS Level C or GCSE B in Mathematics.
Please visit our Admissions webpage for details on course requirements or how to apply to DCU.
Please visit our QQI FET webpage for details on DCU courses, open days, campus tours or school visits.
To apply to DCU, please visit www.cao.ie.
No Entry Path
International candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to those outlined above. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. Click here for further information on international applications.
Course Structure
Across the 4 years of this course, you will gradually develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to become a passionate teacher and advocate for the Home Economics and Technology subjects. In Years 1 and 2, you will develop deep knowledge of and mastery of culinary, textiles and technology design skills. In Years 3 and 4, the focus will be on enhancing your understanding of teaching and learning, and honing your skills and practice as a teacher through sustained engagement in post-primary school settings. Throughout the delivery of this course, you will experience a learner-centred, supportive, open, dynamic and practical approach to the study of education.
Foundation and Professional Studies in Education
Over the 4 years of the course, you will develop your professional knowledge and practice for teaching the Home Economics and Technology subjects. The foundation and professional studies modules focus on developing your knowledge and understanding of philosophy, sociology, psychology, and history of education, as well as your competence in designing, delivering and assessing quality teaching and learning experiences in home economics and technology-related subjects at both junior and senior cycle levels.
Home Economics and Technology
The study of Home Economics and Technology education is exciting, engaging, and challenging. You will learn ways in which individuals and families manage their resources to meet physical, emotional, intellectual, social and economic needs, and develop competencies in culinary arts and textiles. You will also learn the principles of design thinking and designerly practices, and innovation in technology design. Within the Circular Home Enterprise module in the final year, you will advance your theoretical knowledge and practical application of food studies, consumer studies, and technology design through an entrepreneurial project that examines sustainability, creativity and inclusion in home and community settings.
School Placement
One of the most exciting and rewarding elements of the course is our hands-on approach to school placement. Across the 4 year course, you will be prepared for teaching practice in a range of learning environments and contexts, through engagement in micro-teaching, peer-teaching, team-teaching and observation of practice in post-primary school settings. In Year 3 and Year 4, the school placement component of this course will enable you to engage in direct teaching of post-primary learners, and also learn about and get involved in activities and initiatives with the wider school community outside of classroom teaching. You will enjoy strong support throughout your professional development from experienced placement tutors and school-based cooperating teachers.
In Year 1 of the programme all lectures take place on the Athlone campus of TUS. Modules are focused on developing your expertise in the Home Economics and Technology subjects. These include modules in food science, social studies, technology, design, graphics and electronics. You will also study two education focused modules, Education Theories 1 and History of Education in Ireland.
Education Theories 1 | Food Studies 1 - Science and Culinary Practice | Design Decisions 1 - Textiles and Crafts | Materials and Process Technology | Electronics | History of Education in Ireland | Food Studies 2 - Nutrition, Diet and Health | Graphicacy and Modelling | Mechanics and Process Technology | Social Studies 1 - Families in a Changing Society
In year 2 of the programmes, all lectures take place on the Athlone campus of TUS. The modules in Year 2 build on those from Year 1, and you will continue to develop your expertise in the Home Economics and Technology subjects. There is also a module in Microteaching, where you will begin to apply your learning in a classroom setting, with opportunities to teach your peers and school students. This module takes place in a dedicated Microteaching lab on TUS Athlone campus. You will also study a module in Technology Subjects pedagogy.
Technology Subjects Pedagogy 1 | Food Studies 3 - Farm to Fork | Design Decisions 2 - Textiles and Production | Social Studies 2 - Family Law and Child Protection | Advance Process Technology | Micro-teaching and Teaching Preparation | Food Studies 4 - Microbiology and Preservation Methods | Design Decisions 3 - Sustainable Living and Consumption | ICT and Connected Devices | Manufacturing Systems | Applied Control | Design Realisation
In year 3 of the programme your studies move to the DCU Institute of Education, on the St. Patricks’ Campus of Dublin City University. The focus in Semester 1 of Year 3 is on developing your pedagogy and education expertise to prepare you to apply your learning from Year 1 and year 2 in the classroom. Modules include preparation for school placement, including 1 week observation in schools, and home economics subject pedagogy. You will also begin to develop your skills as a classroom researcher in a module focusing on developing a research perspective. In Semester 2 of Year 3 you will spend 12 weeks on professional placement in a school setting, where you will plan and teach the Home Economics and Technology subjects to students at Junior and Senior Cycle level.
Education Theories 2 (Psychology, Philosophy and Sociology) | Introduction to Inclusive Education | Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship | Social Studies 3 - Social Policy Perspectives in Home Economics | Pedagogy 2: Home Economics | Design for Manufacture | Developing a Research Perspective | School Placement
In the final year of the programme, study continues in Semester 1 in DCU Institute of Education. Building on your experiences from lectures and professional placement in Year 3, you will undertake one week observation at the outset and study contemporary education modules in greater depth across the semester. The modules in Semester 1 of Year 4 aim to further develop your expertise as a teacher of Home Economics and Technology subjects, and to prepare you for your future career as a teacher. In Semester 2 of Year 4 you will spend 14 weeks on professional placement in a school setting, where you will plan and teach the HET subjects to students.
Curriculum, Policy and Assessment | Teacher Studies and Teacher as Professional | Circular Home Enterprise | Extended Research Project | Advanced School Placement
Fees and Funding
How To Apply
Apply through the Central Applications Office (www.cao.ie) by 1st February or the 1st May
To apply for this programme:
Candidates should apply directly here. Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application.
Please provide
- Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation, if applicable.
- If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements. Please see link http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis up to 1st July. All Non-EU candidates are advised to apply early, as places are limited.
If you are applying for mature entry to the Bachelor of Education in Technology, Engineering and Graphics, you must apply through the CAO (www.cao.ie) by 1st February.
For further information and for special application procedures for mature students, please click here
Please see Application Procedures or E-mail ugadmissions@dcu.ie.
Candidates required to apply through the CAO can apply online at www.cao.ie
Life On Campus
At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.
DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.
They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.
Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.
DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.
Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.
For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.
The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
DCU St Patrick's Campus
FAQs
What courses are offered by the DCU Institute of Education?
DCU Institute of Education brings together students of education and provides a rich menu of undergraduate courses across all sectors from early childhood, to primary and post-primary and further and higher education. We offer a range of taught and research postgraduate courses at doctoral, masters, diploma and certificate level and have a distinguished record in providing continuing professional development.
Is there Garda vetting for students who study DCU Institute of Education courses?
Garda vetting is required for all students who have unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults as part of their studies at DCU. Applicants must successfully pass the Garda vetting process in order to complete the registration process.
What are the potential teaching pathways for primary, post-primary and further education and training offered by DCU?
Primary Teaching Pathways
Undergraduate*
Postgraduate**
- Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) - DC970
* Please ensure that you consult minimum entry requirements and CAO points for all undergraduate programmes
** Please ensure that you consult minimum entry requirements for all postgraduate programmes
Post-Primary Teaching Pathways
Undergraduate*
-
Bachelor of Religious Education & English or History or Music - DC010 | DC011 | DC012
-
Bachelor of Education in Gaeilge and French or German or Spanish - DC013
-
Bachelor of Education in Technology, Engineering and Graphics - DC015
-
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Science Education - DC203
-
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Physical Education with Biology - DC205
-
Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with Mathematics - DC206
Postgraduate**
- Professional Master of Education (Post-Primary Teaching) - DC905
* Please ensure that you consult minimum entry requirements and CAO points for all undergraduate programmes
** Please ensure that you consult minimum entry requirements for all postgraduate programmes
Further Education and Training Teaching Pathways
Undergraduate*
- BSc (Hons) in Education and Training (Further, Adult and Continuing Education) - DC235
* Please ensure that you consult minimum entry requirements and CAO points for all undergraduate programmes