Subject Choice 2015 Ms Schous Further

Subject Choice 2015 Ms Schous

Further Study Options FETAC Courses Traditional Leaving Certificate With or without Junior Certificate Transition Year Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme(LCVP) Institutes of Technology Higher Certs. Ord. Degrees Hons. Degrees Leaving Cert Applied University Honours Degrees

Subject Choices Irish English Maths Language ? ? ? ) ) ) 4 Core Subjects 3 Options

To qualify to do LCVP Students must take: A minimum of 5 Leaving Certificate subjects A continental language or a language module Irish (unless exempt) Two subjects from the following groupings

Vocational Subject Groupings Specified by the Department of Education Construction Studies; Engineering; Design and Communication Graphics; Technology - Any Two Physics and Construction Studies or Engineering or Technology or Design & Communication Graphics Agricultural Science and Chemistry or Physics/Chemistry Home Economics; Agricultural Science; Biology - Any Two Home Economics and Art - Design Option or Craft Option Accounting; Business; Economics - Any two Physics and Chemistry Biology and Chemistry or Physics/Chemistry Biology and Agricultural Science Art - Design Option or Craft Option and Design & Communication Graphics Engineering or Technology or Construction Studies or Design & Communication Graphics and Accounting or Business or Economics Home Economics and Accounting or Business or Economics Agricultural Science and Accounting or Business or Economics Art Design or Craftwork Option and Accounting or Business or Economics Music and Accounting or Business or Economics

LCVP Points available for LCVP Distinction (80 -100%) Merit (65 -79%) Pass(50 -64%) Note: 70 points 50 points 30 points C 1 grade on a Higher level Leaving Certificate subject gets 70 points A 1 grade on an Ordinary level subject gets 60 points

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS 2015 BUSINESS APPLIED SCIENCES Business Home Economics Accountancy Construction Studies Economics SCIENCE Biology Physics Chemistry Ag Science LANGUAGES French German Design and Communication Graphics SOCIAL STUDIES History Geography Music Art Home Economics

Information on Subjects Websites. www. ncca. ie www. careersportal. ie www. qualifax. ie Teachers.

Choose Wisely : Why is this important? Access to courses and Colleges. To maximise potential To prevent boredom! Keep in mind the following:

College Requirements • • • Entry Requirements. Course Requirements. Points Requirements.

Minimum Entry Requirements Institution Minimum grades NUI Colleges: UCD, NUIM, 2 HC 3 + 4 OD 3 NUIG, UCC. (RCSI, Shannon, NCAD) Required subjects OD 3 in English, Irish & Language. Trinity College Dublin 3 HC 3 + 3 OD 3 in Maths, English & another Language Dublin City University 2 HC 3 + 4 OD 3 in Maths, English or Irish University of Limerick 2 HC 3 + 4 OD 3 in Maths, English & Irish or another Lang. Institutes of Technology 2 HC 3 + 4 OD 3 in Maths, English or Irish (H. Degree) 5 OD 3 (O. Degree. or Higher Cert)

Colleges of Further Education ◦ LCFE …………. and other FETAC Colleges around the country. Entry Requirements ◦ 5 OD 3 in Leaving Certificate. Progression routes to IT’s and Universities. ◦ Note some courses have subject requirements e. g. Biology necessary for Beauty Therapy.

Examples of NUI Third Language Exceptions • • • In UCD a European language is not required for Engineering, Science or Agricultural Science. In NCAD (National College of Art & Design) Art counts as the third language. It is regarded as a visual language.

Specific Subject Requirements In addition to the Minimum Entry Requirements, additional subjects and grades may be required to gain entry to specific courses. For Example: • Engineering Degree Courses: HC 3 Maths • Veterinary Medicine: HC 3 Chemistry • Primary Teaching: HC 3 Irish

Other Subject Requirements Ø Mathematics Business Studies (DCU) – OC 3/HD 3 Optometry (DIT) - OB 3 Business (TCD) – OC/HD Science Many courses require any one science subject Some courses require 2 science subjects. Nursing – OD 3 in a Lab. Science. Chemistry Requirements Pharmacy, Human Nutrition, Veterinary Medicine, Medicine & Dentistry (UCC) – HC 3

Useful Subjects You can study Business in College without having it as a Leaving Certificate Subject. • • • You can study Art in College without having Leaving Cert Art. However you do need a Portfolio. Students should consider useful subjects for future careers. The majority of courses do not have subject requirements.

Points Requirements The points system is used to select students for a course at college. Students must meet the College Requirements and subject Entry Requirements first. • Points are awarded for each Grade achieved in the Leaving Certificate. • A student’s points total is calculated from his/her six best subjects. • Maximum points is 625. www. qualifax has updated details on requirements for each course. •

Points allocated for Leaving Cert Subjects

What should I do now? Research the course content and exam structure of subjects • Discuss options with son / daughter. • Find out if the careers that they are interested in, have particular subject requirements. • Encourage your son / daughter to talk to subject teachers. • Keep in mind future career plans, but not essential at this stage! Career theorists estimate age 18 -19 years is the best age for career choice. ! • If they are unsure, keep options open. Choose a balanced range of subjects. ie a language, a science subject and 2 others.

What else can I do? Complete an interest test on Careers Portal or Qualifax. If I have no interest in Science I will never be a Scientist. !!!!!

Career and Subject Decisions. Consider the following: • Ability • Aptitude • Interest • Personality

Transition Year The Transition Year (TY) is a one-year programme taken after Junior Cycle and before the two-year Leaving Certificate programme.

Decision Checklist Have I selected subjects/ Path that I like and enjoy? Have I chosen subjects that I have an aptitude for? Have I considered potential career options? Is this my decision and not my friends? Am I happy to study these subjects for 5 class periods for the next two years? Have I selected a balance of learning, reasoning and practical subjects that suit my personality, interests, abilities and aptitudes. ?

A very small number of students will not get their first 4 choices. These Students will be offered their fifth choice. If in need of Guidance, then……….

Guidance Appointments Individual Appointments are offered to all students with the Guidance Counsellor as required. To discuss Course Choice. To discuss Subject Options.

LCA – What is it? The Leaving Certificate Applied is a distinct, self-contained two-year programme aimed at preparing students for adult and working life. The programme puts an emphasis on forms of achievement and excellence, which the established Leaving Certificate has not recognised in the past.

WHO WOULD BENEFIT MOST FROM THE LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED? The Leaving Certificate Applied is intended to meet the needs of those students who are not adequately catered for by other Leaving Certificate programmes or who choose not to opt for such programmes.

WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF THE LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED? The advantage of Leaving Certificate Applied is that it focuses on the talents of each individual student and helps students apply what they learn in the real world. The two-year programme consists of four half-year blocks called Sessions and achievements are credited in each of these Sessions.

WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF THE LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED CONTINUED……? What’s different about The Leaving Certificate Applied is that students are examined on their work as they go along. The programme is divided into half year blocks called ‘sessions’ of which there are four over the two year programme. Students are assessed on their work in January and May of each year when a session ends

Subject Choice Active Leisure Studies Craft and Design Engineering English and Communication Gaeilge Chumarsáideach Graphics and Construction Studies Science Hotel Catering and Tourism Social Education Information and Communications Technology (Voc Specialism) Technology Information and Communications Technology (mandatory) Vocational Preparation and Guidance Leisure and Recreation Mathematical Applications Modern Languages

Final Examinations Candidates are required to take Final examinations in the following subjects: English and Communication Mathematical Applications Social Education Gaeilge Modern European Language i. e. French or German 2 subjects from the Vocational Specialism Group: Graphics and Construction Studies Craft and Design Engineering Technology Information and Communication Technology (Mandatory) Active Leisure Studies The written examinations will generally be held in the same period as other Leaving Certificate examinations

DO LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED STUDENTS RECEIVE A LEAVING CERTIFICATE? Yes. Students who successfully complete the programme will receive a Leaving Certificate from the State Examinations Commission. THE LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED ASSESSMENT TAKES PLACE OVER THE TWO YEARS UNDER THREE HEADINGS: 1. Satisfactory Completion of Modules 2. Performance of Student Tasks 3. Performance in the Terminal Examinations. All credits awarded will be recorded on the Leaving Certificate Applied parchment.