利莫利克大學

Why Study Technology and Education in Materials and Engineering Technology at UL?

This degree with specialism in the teaching of Metalwork and Technology, is designed to produce graduates with technological and engineering skills to satisfy the needs of the Irish second level school system in relation to teaching Metalwork, Technical Graphics and Technology at Junior Cycle, and the subjects Technology, Engineering and Design & Communication Graphics at Leaving Certificate.

Course Structure

The programme is four years in duration, and is organised into streams in the following subject areas:

• Education
• Manufacturing Technology
• Technical Graphics
• Design
• Electronics and Information Technologies
• Materials and Engineering Sciences

The material in each stream has been carefully selected to be relevant to the requirements of the Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate syllabi in the Technology subjects. An element of design is incorporated throughout, with emphasis on design-based activities and independent learning as the course progresses. Pedagogy, the theory of teaching, is incorporated throughout the programme.

Year 1

The first year concentrates on developing essential knowledge and skills in the key areas of Education, Manufacturing Technology, and Technical Graphics, in addition to the related areas of Mathematics, Materials Science, Electrotechnology.

Year 2

The start of year 2 sees preparation for Teaching Practice and introduces the concept of Design. Semester four features six weeks of Teaching Practice preceded by four weeks preparation.

Year 3

The areas of Materials Technology, Electronics, Automation as well as advanced topics in Manufacturing Technology and Technical Graphics are the focus of Year 3. There is a particular emphasis on design based learning and problem solving as well as the management of these activities in schools. Education & Society is also explored.

Year 4

In the fourth year of the programme, you will further develop your teaching skills and apply your knowledge and skills in a final year project. Semester seven includes ten weeks of teaching practice. The final semester deals with advanced topics in education and technology. Your final year project will be completed during this semester also.

Career Prospects

As a teaching degree, graduates of this programme are eligible for appointments to all second level schools (vocational, secondary, community and comprehensive schools) and for admission to the open register for Secondary Teachers. The graduates of the programme will be able to teach Engineering, Design and Communications Graphics & Technology.

Follow-On Study

Graduates from the programme have the opportunity to pursue further study in the disciplines of Engineering or Education. There are a number of taught masters degree programmes in UL that can be taken up by graduates of the programme. In addition, graduates can register for higher degrees by research in either engineering or education that lead to masters or PhD qualifications.