SENIOR OPTIONS2014 - 2016

CARRIGALINECOMMUNITY SCHOOL

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

1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr

5 Yr

5 Yr

6 Yr

6 Yr

Applied

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 SubjectsCore + 4 Option Subjects

Other non-exam subjects:

Guidance Physical EducationICT ReligionSPHE

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 Qualification NFQ Level

University (UCC) Hons Degree 8

Institute of Technology (CIT)

Hons Degree

Ord Degree

Higher Cert

8

7

6

Further College of Education (Cork College of Commerce )

Fetac Qualification

5 (one year course)

6 (two year course)

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•BusinessCreative•Art•MusicScience•Biology•Chemistry•Physics

Languages•French•GermanHumanities•Geography•HistorySocial•Home EconomicsPractical•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 February 14th

• Discussion of choices

Guidance and Counselling Dept. C.C.S