Bachelor of Religious Education and English

Fully qualifies you to teach second level Religious Education and English in just four years. This course offers a streamlined track to a profession in post-primary teaching, qualifying you to teach RE and English to Honours Leaving Certificate Level.

In addition to teacher education, you’ll receive instruction in how to make the most of teamwork, leadership, communication and creativity. Your coursework will also cover Foundational and Professional Studies in Education; Theology, Religious Studies and Ethics; and English Literature. You’ll learn how to think intelligently, imaginatively, and independently about storytelling and song-making in civilization, from classical texts to contemporary pop culture.

Throughout the course you’ll cover four integrated areas:

• Foundational and Professional Studies in Education: We offer a student-friendly, supportive, open, dynamic and practical approach to the study of Education. The diverse, exciting, engaging, and challenging study of Education and Religious Education is reflected in the modules on offer.
• Teaching, Including School Placements: One of the most exciting and rewarding elements of the course is our hands-on approach to School Placement. Over the four years of the course, you’ll have an opportunity to gain valuable and extensive experience within a range of teaching and learning environments, including engagement in observation of practice, micro-teaching, peer-teaching, team-teaching and school-based placement (in both primary and post-primary sectors). You’ll be supported throughout your professional development by experienced School Placement tutors, school-based cooperating teachers and METIS (a custom-built web-based environment for School Placement).
• Theology, Religious Studies and Ethics: These elements provide a strong foundation for teaching Religious Education in second level schools and meet the subject criteria required by the Teaching Council. The specific subjects include: Ethics; Philosophy; Scripture; Systematic Theology; World Religions. You’ll be encouraged to critically engage with a wide range of topics and develop the skills to work in contexts of cultural and religious diversity.
• English: Studying English Literature provides you with the skills to think creatively and intelligently about the fundamental roles played by storytelling and song-making in civilization. You’ll engage with a wide range of literature and become familiar with the vital characteristics and contexts of drama, poetry, film and fiction. You’ll study style and substance—what literature describes, as well as how it does it. Our priority is developing your critical independence, enabling you to read and redirect on literary texts across traditions: from Greek tragedy to Breaking Bad; Jane Austen to Father Ted; Shakespeare to Kanye West.