Job Discussion Forums

[DMPT]

Do you know if it is possible to study for a PGCE with a basic BA Degree, or does it have to be an Hons degree?

I'm returning home (to Ireland) to study soon and the degree I am most interesting in is only a 3 year BA, without the option of a 4th to gain an hons BA.

I could be interested in going for the PGCE at a later stage but am not sure if it is possible if you don't hold an hons Degree.

Does anybody here know if it's a requirement?

Thanks.[/i]

[naturegirl321]

I think, but I could be wrong that if you stay within your studies, then you can do a PGCE, if you change majors, then you have to do a PGDE.

So if you studied music and want to teach science, you have to do the PGDE.

[DMPT]

Ok thanks.

It's a degree in 'Early Childhood Care and Education'. Which is mainly focused on social care and nursery schools/creches etc. and not the education side of things, and doesn't qualify you to work as a teacher outside of those systems. I'd be planning on returning to Asia to work in the International Schools and would probably be interested in going for a PGCE to top it off.

However, wasn't sure if it's possible without holding an honors degree.

[naturegirl321]

I think you could do it/ But better check with the school. For international schools, you usually need 2 years teaching experience.

[nickpellatt]

It is, but places may be limited or competition may be fierce. I am doing a plain old BA with the OU, and their website etc states holders of an honours degree will have an advantage in gaining a place, but it isnt essential. Yet. With BAs becoming more common...honours degrees are likely to be needed at some stage.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

You should just research PGCE granting universities in Ireland, and check what's required. I can tell you that it IS possible to do a one year B.Ed (the same thing as a PGCE) in Ontario, Canada with a three year university degree. However, almost nobody actually gets into that kind of program with a three year degree because of the competition. A four year degree is a much better postion to start from.

Also in Ontario, Canada, you can do two three year degrees minus the electives and you walk away with one four year degree (it's called an honours double major). It's very common, and actually, it's what I have. However, if you decide to do that kind of thing and you know that what you want to do is a PGCE, then you should definately do a second major in another teachable (so a double major in English and Math for example) To fo a PGCE to teach at the senior division, two teachables is often required anyway (a teachable is a subject that is you could teach at a school, so it's therefore one that there is a regular curriculum for in high schools or whichever division) so it speeds things up to go that route. otherwise, many people end up spending a year after university getting the courses in a second teachable.

Note: Early Childhood care and Education is normally about working in nusery schools, day care centres. If it doesn't qualify you to work in the regular school setting (as you said it doesn't) then it won't qualify for a regular teacher's licence. And without that, then you don't usually qualify for work in international schools.

[Marcoregano]

I'm not 100% sure, but I'd be very surprised if you need to have an Hons degree in order to take a PGCE. Fairly sure any first degree will be enough - the authorities in Ireland and the UK generally need teachers, and are as accomodating as possible...

[Chirimolla]

I'm not sure about Ireland, but in the UK it would be worth investigating school centred initial teacher training (SCITT) or one of the other employment based teacher training routes. Check out

http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/thetrainingprocess/typesofcourse/postgraduate.aspx

Also, if your degree was 3 years (with option of 4th for honours) universities may consider it equivalent to a UK/Ireland 3 year honours degree. But then again, they might not.

[Madame J]