Subject Choice &
Career Options 2015
By
F. Farrell
Guidance Counsellor
Portmarnock Community School
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Agenda
 To examine the importance of choosing
the right subjects by looking at:
General college requirements
Specific course requirements
To explain the school’s programme in
relation to subject choice
To explain the procedure of subject choice
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Leaving Cert. subject choice in PCS.
Optional subjects: Four areas
 Business area (Accounting, Business,
Economics.)
 Sciences area (Physics, Biology, Chemistry,
Applied Maths, Geography).
 Technology area (Engineering, Construction
studies, Design and Communication Graphics).
 Humanities and Applied area (Art, Music, Ho
 me economics, History, etc).
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Leaving Certificate in PCS
 Core subjects
Irish* (excluding exempted students)
English
Maths*
*Irish and Maths are offered at Higher and
Ordinary levels. English is also offered at
Ordinary and Higher levels.
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Technical subjects – Junior Cert
 Materials Technology/Wood becomes Construction
Studies in the Senior Cycle.
 Technology becomes Engineering in the Senior Cycle.
 Technical Graphics is called Design and
Communication Graphics in the Senior Cycle.
 Students may choose to study any of the above subjects
to Leaving Cert level without having done them for the
Junior Cert. However, DCG may be particularly difficult
to pursue as the theory from JC is carried through and is
a substantial element in the overall programme.
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Career possibilities in the technical
areas:
Construction Studies (Architecture,
Building Services, Quantity Surveyor, etc.)
Engineering (Mechanical/production
engineering but a useful subject for all
areas of Engineering).
DCG (Engineering, Architecture, Product
Design, Draughtsperson).
F. Farrell PCS 2015
College Entry Requirements
 General College Requirements:
 Honours Degree requirements (LEVEL 8):
 Higher Cert/Ordinary Degree requirements -LEVELS 6/7:
 Specific Course Requirements i.e. Higher Level C1 English
for Journalism in DCU.
 Points - reflect demand of year in question!
 Interview/Portfolio/Performance/Fitness Test
 (Architecture, Theatre/Dance, Video production, Art
College).
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Subject Requirements
 Maths, English & Irish - most commonly required.
 A 3rd Language is generally required by the NUI colleges except for
engineering, nursing and science based courses.
 Most Business courses state a requirement in OL Maths - not a
business subject!
 An Art portfolio is required for most art related courses - Art itself may
not be required!
 A minimum of at least one science subject and/or Maths is generally
required for the following fields:
 Nursing, Medical/paramedical, Science, Engineering.
 Level 7 common science DIT – no lab science subject
required.
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Faculty Requirements (examples)
 A laboratory science subject is NO longer
required for Architecture in UCD but a foreign
language IS required. Suitability test/Portfolio
requirement for DIT.
 A modern language is required for Speech
Therapy.
 Honours Maths is required for all level 8
engineering degrees.
 One laboratory science subject for nursing and
generally two for medicine (except UCD/UCG).
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Examples of Course Requirements
 Medicine (UCC)
HC3 in Chemistry + HC3 in Physics or
Biology
 Computer Systems (UL, Level 8 degree)
B3 in ordinary level Maths/HC3 (TCD)
 Business Studies (UL, Level 8 degree)
C3 in ordinary level Maths
 Engineering courses (Level 8 degree)
Honours Maths (HC3), 1 science subject
• Note: Physics is a good indicator for engineering
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Science
 General Science level 8 DIT – HC3 in ONE lab. Science subject or Applied Maths
Plus OL B3 in Maths.
 Common science DCU level 8 – OL C3 in Maths plus OL C3/H D3 in ONE of
physics, biology or chemistry.
 Common Science in TCD – OL C3 Maths and TWO H C 3’s from physics, biology,
applied maths, geography.
 Common Science in UCD – OB3 Maths or HD3 plus OL B3 or HD3 in ONE of
biology, chemistry, physics, geography** (newly acceptable science subject for entry
to the sciences in UCD)
 Science in NUI Maynooth – OC3 Maths and OD3 in ONE of biology, physics
,chemistry.
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Engineering
 DIT level 8 engineering – common entry – HC3 in Maths and at least 1 OL D3 in
Physics, biology, construction studies, DCG, or applied maths.
 TCD level 8 engineering – common entry – HC3 in Maths but no science subject
requirement!
 UCD level 8 engineering – common entry – HC3 in Maths and HD3 in any of
biology, chemistry, physics.
 DCU level 8 engineering – common entry – HC3 in Maths or HC3 in Applied
Maths plus HD2 in Maths. No laboratory science subject required.
 NUI Maynooth level 8 – common engineering - HC3 in Maths plus OD3 in
biology, chemistry, physics or technology.
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Law
 Level 8 law course in the DIT – HC3 in Irish or English. No maths requirement
whatsoever.
 Level 8 law course in TCD - OD3 in English, OD3 in one other language (Irish,
French, Spanish etc) and a minimum of FD3 (Foundation level) in Maths.
 Level 8 law course in UCD – OD3 in English, OD3 Irish, OD3 other language. No
Maths requirement whatsoever.
 Level 8 law course NUI Maynooth – OD3 in English, Irish and another language. No
maths requirement.
 Level 8 law and society course (BCL) in DCU – OD3 in Irish or English BUT OD3
requirement in Maths.
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Architecture
 OD3 in Maths for entry to Architecture in the DIT but NO modern language
requirement. No science subject requirement either.
 OD3 in Maths for entry to Architecture in UCD but candidates are required to have a
pass also in Irish and another modern language. No science subject requirement for
Architecture in UCD.
 OD3 Maths for Landscape Architecture in UCD BUT no foreign language
requirement. However a OD3 in a lab science subject is required.
 UCD Landscape Architects are involved in enhancing, improving and conserving
our natural and built environment, and transforming damaged and degraded places.
This course is for you if you are creative and enjoy the challenge of design combined
with an interest in both people and the environment. It requires a problem solving
ability, combined with creativity and technical abilities.
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Physiotherapy
 UCD requires a candidate to present a minimum of OL D3 in English, Irish, Maths
and a foreign language in addition to a minimum of OL D3 in one of biology,
chemistry, physics.
 RCS requires has similar requirements but candidates must achieve a minimum of
H B3 in one of biology, chemistry, physics.
 TCD requires a student to present a OLD3 in one other language besides English
(Irish, French etc) and a minimum of OLC3 in Maths in addition to 2 HC3’s from
physics, chemistry, biology, Maths.
 UL requires a candidate to present minimum of a OD3 in English, a OD3 in any other
language (Irish, French) plus a minimum of OB3 in one of physics, chemistry,
biology.
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Medicine
 UCD requires a candidate to present a minimum of a OD3 in English, Irish, a foreign
language and Maths in addition to a minimum of a OD3 in one of biology,
chemistry, physics.
 TCD requires a candidate to present a minimum of OD3 in English, a OD3 in one
other language (Irish, French etc), a minimum of FD3 (foundation level in Maths) in
addition to 1 HB3 and 1 HC3 in physics, chemistry, biology. If you do not have
physics, then a minimum of OC3 in Maths.
 NUIG - same as for UCD.
 UCC – The same as UCD/NUIG except that a HC3 is required in chemistry
(subject specific) and in either physics or biology. ALL students wishing to do
medicine must sit the HPAT in 6th year – 28 February 2015 - (Health
Professionals Aptitude Test – 2.5 hours long)
F. Farrell PCS 2015
IT Colleges ‘Ladder’ system
 The IT Colleges offer a ‘ladder system’ in
respect of all engineering degrees (amongst
others).
 A student can access all level 6 and level 7
degrees with pass maths in the Leaving Cert
and can progress to level 8.
 More and more universities/IT’s are encouraging
students to choose ‘common’ entry
science/engineering instead of a denominated
stream.
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Useful Subject Groupings in PCS
 Home Economics and Business.
 Engineering with Physics or Construction
studies.
 A Science subject like Chemistry or
Physics with Applied Maths.
 Business with Modern languages.
F. Farrell PCS 2015
CAO Points system (guidelines)
 A student may only count his/her six best
subjects.
 Only the points from one Leaving Certificate
sitting can be used.
 All Subjects except HL Maths equal in terms of
points value. (25 bonus points for A1 to D3 in
HL Maths).
 Maximum attainment of 625 points.
 Minimum requirements = 2 HC3’s for example.
F. Farrell PCS 2015
HL Maths
 HL Maths students are awarded an extra 25
points on attaining a grade D3 or better in their
LC. .i.e previously 45 points for D3 now 70.
Whether a candidate attains a D3 or an A1 the
extra points allocated remains the same.
The bonus points can only be counted for CAO
purposes if Maths features in one of the 6
subjects used to calculate aggregate points
score.
F. Farrell PCS 2015
What to research!
 Check the relevant college/employer
literature
 check the overall college requirements
 check the course requirement
 subject
 grades/level
 Check the course content  this will highlight what subjects are predominant
 Good websites include
 www.qualifax.ie; www.careersportal.ie;
www.careerdirections.ie
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Subject Choice - Guidelines
 Pick the best senior cycle option for you!
 Established Leaving Certificate
 Pick the subjects you are most interested in.
 Maximise your points.
 Achieve grades specified by employers or colleges.
 Pick the essential subjects for your hoped course or
career.
 Mistakes can be made in career decisions!
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Transition Year Subject Choice
Programme
1. The school’s programme outlined
2. Subject choice procedure
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Schools Programme








Senior Cycle Modules
Career Classes
Work Experience Programme
Careers Exhibition
Aptitude Tests (Dats)
Interest Inventory
Career Project
Careers Interview
F. Farrell PCS 2015
Summary
 Maximise your options for college:
 Maths, English, Irish, a modern European Language, 1
science subject.
 Remember to research
 appropriate careers websites
 college/employer websites/literature
 Important to check the grade/level required.
 Pick the subjects you are most interested in or have
an aptitude for!
 Remember a lot of courses do not require any
specific subjects! F. Farrell PCS 2015
OPEN FORUM
 Questions??
F. Farrell PCS 2015