CARRIGALINE
COMMUNITY SCHOOL
SENIOR OPTIONS
2014 - 2016
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
• Choosing Subjects at Senior Cycle and the Link to
Studying at Third Level
• Subjects at Senior Cycle
• How the Subject Choice Process Works and the
Application Form
CHOOSING SUBJECTS
FOR SENIOR CYCLE
PATH THROUGH CCS
Applied
1 Yr
2 Yr
3 Yr
5 Yr
6 Yr
5 Yr
6 Yr
4 Yr
Established
QUESTIONS
• Should I do Transition Year (4th Year)?
• Should I go to 5th Year?
• If 5th Year, should I do LCA or Established?
• If Established LC, what subjects?
JUNIOR CERTIFICATE
• Core Subjects
• 2 Options
CORE SUBJECTS AT LEAVING CERT
•Gaeilge
•English
•Mathematics
Core + 4 Option Subjects
Other non-exam subjects:
Guidance
ICT
SPHE
Physical Education
Religion
CHOOSING A SUBJECT...
• 2nd Year Options:
Because you like it
CHOOSING A SUBJECT…
•5th Year Options:
Because you like it
Because you need it
THIRD LEVEL CHOICES
Option
University (UCC)
Qualification
NFQ Level
Hons Degree
8
Institute of
Hons Degree
Technology (CIT) Ord Degree
Higher Cert
8
7
6
Further College Fetac
of Education
Qualification
5 (one year course)
6 (two year course)
(Cork College of
Commerce )
SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS UNIVERSITY
 Minimum Entry Requirements – University
•
Level 8 (honours degree programmes) require a
minimum of 6 subjects to include 2 subjects at HC3
and a minimum of 4 subjects at OD3.
•
NUI’s (UCC) demand passes in English, Irish, Maths
SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS UNIVERSITY
 Minimum Entry Requirements - University
• Third language required for Arts, Social
Science, Medicine and Health, Law and
Business courses
• Third language is not required for Science,
Engineering and Nursing courses in UCC
SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS –
INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY
 Basic Entry Requirements – Institutes of Technology
•
Level 8 courses:
• at least two Leaving Certificate subjects at
Grade C3 minimum (Higher Level) and
• a further four subjects at Grade D3 minimum
(Ordinary or Higher Level).
• The 6 subjects must include Mathematics and
either English or Irish. Plus other course specific
requirements (eg maths etc).
•
Level 6/ 7 courses:
• a minimum of 5 subjects at least at grade D3 to
include Irish or English and Maths.
SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS AT THIRD LEVEL
• Colleges set subject requirements for certain courses:
• A science degree usually requires a science subject at
Leaving Cert – Science Degree in UCC requires a HC3
in one science subject
• Most engineering degree courses demand higher level
Maths
• HC3 in Chemistry and Biology/Physics for Dentistry,
Medicine and Pharmacy in UCC
• HC3 in Chemistry needed for Veterinary in UCD
• HC3 in Irish for Primary Teaching courses
LANGUAGES
• Specific language requirements for language
based courses
• Commerce International UCC requires HC1 in a foreign
language
• Law and French UCC requires HC1 in French
• Law and Irish UCC required HC1 in Irish
• Speech and Language UCC requires HC3 in language other
than English
• Third language is not required for Science, Engineering,
Food Science & Nursing courses in UCC.
SCIENCES
• If you want to study Science at third level
you need to have a science subject.
• Many of the medical courses such as
Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry require
Chemistry and either Physics or Biology.
FURTHER EDUCATION COLLEGES
• Some specific subject requirements for courses in
Further Education Colleges –
• Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa,
• Cork College of Commerce
• St Johns College
RESEARCH
•
•
•
•
•
Check college prospectuses
www.careersportal.ie
www.qualifax.ie
www.ucc.ie
www.cit.ie
SUBJECTS AVAILABLE AT
SENIOR CYCLE
SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Accounting
Art
Biology
Business
Chemistry
Construction Studies
Economics
Engineering
• French
• Geography
• German
• History
• Music
• Physics
• Home Economics
• DCG (Technical
Graphics)
SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERT
Business
• Accounting
• Economics
• Business
Creative
• Art
• Music
Science
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
Languages
• French
• German
Humanities
• Geography
• History
Social
• Home Economics
Practical
• DCG (Technical Graphics)
• Construction Studies
• Engineering
THE ‘SAFE’ RANGE
• Gaeilge
• English
• Mathematics
• Language
• Science subject
Plus 2 others
HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT SUBJECTS
• Do….
• Select subjects you enjoy
• Select subjects you are good at and performed well in at
Junior Cert
• Do Not…..
• Select a subject because friends are doing it
• Pick a subject because you get on with a particular teacher
THE PROCESS
• Students select their subjects and complete the
application form
• They select their top 6 subjects in order of preference
• Students have a free choice
• There are no restrictions on subject selection
• We then create subject pools based on the
requirements of all the students.
• The majority (98%) of students receive their top 4
choices.
TYPICAL SUBJECT POOLS
• Accounting/ French/ French/ German/Physics/Home
Economics/Geography
• Physics/Business/ Art/ DCG/ Biology/Biology/
Geography
• Home Economics/Business/Geography/Economics/
• Engineering/Music/ Construction/ French/French
• Chemistry/Construction/Accounting/History/Biology/
Biology/French/French
SUBJECT CHOICE – FINAL TIPS
• Before you take the plunge…..
• Seek advice from older students, siblings
• Look up subject textbooks
• Talk to subject teachers
• Choose subjects you like and are good at
• Check college requirements
• Do some research - check web sites:
• www.careersportal.ie
• www.qualifax.ie
• Speak with Guidance Counsellor
NEXT STEPS…….
• Choice to take TY, LCA or Est. Leaving Cert
• 5th Yr Subjects listed in order of preference from 1-6
• Signed by both parent and student
• Closing Dates: Friday
• Discussion of choices
February 14th
Guidance and Counselling Dept. C.C.S