University of Limerick’s Education and Health Sciences

The EHS Faculty is a unique national grouping of six academic departments that include disciplines concerned with education and health. The faculty of EHS have built a reputation for high-quality teaching and programme innovation and work hard to prepare excellent scientists and caring, competent, and critically reflective educators and health professionals who can work successfully with patients, clients, athletes, and post-primary students in an ever-changing multi-cultural society. Limerick strive to provide an optimal teaching and learning environment for their students by continuous reflection on their teaching and by sharing best practices.

About the Professional Masters of Education

The Professional Master of Education is a two-year full-time initial teacher education programme designed to qualify post-primary teachers in the following disciplines:

• Business (Accounting, Business, Economics)
• Languages (French, German, Irish, Japanese, Spanish, English as a second language (ESL can only be taken when studying a MFL)
• Mathematics
• Music
• Physical Education
• Science (Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
• Technological Education (Engineering, Technology, Construction Studies, Design and Communication Graphics)

Students who meet Teaching Council requirements may decide to specialize in one or two disciplines as listed above.

PROGRAMME AIMS

 The aims of the programme are to ensure those successful graduates:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the complex nature of education and the education system
• Display a high level of expertise in relation to their subject area and pedagogical approaches that maximize student development
• Develop skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, reflection and self-evaluation
• Use a variety of teaching and learning strategies to cater for a diverse range of learning needs
• Integrate theories and principles of education in a teaching setting
• Conduct and apply research in a teaching context
• Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong personal and professional development using tools such as the professional portfolio and reflective practice
• Know and uphold the core values and professional commitments, which are set out in the Teaching Council’s Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers

Entry requirements

Applicants must possess a relevant primary degree at 2.2 honours level or higher (Level 8 – National Qualifications Authority of Ireland or equivalent) or be about to graduate with such a degree. In line with Teaching Council and HEA protocol, when applying for a place on the Professional Master of Education programme, the PME Applicant is required to make a formal declaration, using a Subject Declaration Form, that he/she:

1. Holds/will hold, by the date of commencement of the PME programme, a level 8 honours degree
2. Has studied the relevant number of ECTS credits in the relevant subject area(s) as part of their degree
3. Has studied higher-level degree content related to the subject area(s) in year 3 or 4 of their degree
4. Has covered, as part of their degree, the mandatory topics/subjects as set out in the Teaching Council subject requirements
5. The Subject Declaration Form for each of the subjects you wish to teach must be fully completed and attached with your application to this course.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that his/her primary degree meets the requirements of the Teaching Council of Ireland for the purposes of teaching your chosen subject(s). Any successful application to join the course is subject to the individual applicant having established and declared for himself/herself that he/she has met this requirement.

Candidates may be required to attend an interview as part of the selection process.

Professional Recognition in Canada

Limerick’s Professional Masters of Education program is fully recognized and accredited by the Teaching Council of Ireland for the purpose of registration as a professional post-primary teacher in Ireland and the EU.

Graduates of the University of Limerick’s Professional Masters of Education teacher training program are eligible to apply for licensing in Canada, however, it is critical students understand the requirements needed to complete this process before licensing will be granted. KOM Consultants understand the process and requirements needed to enter the teaching profession in Canada. Contact KOM for more information.

All students applying directly through KOM will be supported with the latest information on the accreditation process.