SUBJECT CHOICE FOR LEAVING CERT 2012

1. SUBJECT CHOICE FOR LEAVING CERT 2012 St BricinsCollege Strictly intended for use by St Bricins Students All the information given on subject requirements is the most up to date available at this time (April 2011) and is based on www.qualifax.ie The information given on LCVP subject requirements is the most up to date available at this time (April 2011) and is based on DESC Circular 13/2009

2. Core Subjects • In this school you must take: • Irish (unless exempt) • English • Mathematics • That leaves you with a choice of four other subjects from the following list

3. How Do You Choose? • To choose the rest of your subjects first read through the information on the following pages. • Pay particular attention to the information on LCVP, on why you should do it and what subjects combinations you need. • Carefully read the information on colleges and courses that require French or Science subjects.

4. How Do You Choose Cont’d? • Consider what subjects you are good at? • What courses or careers are you interested in after you do your Leaving Cert? • What subjects do you need to get into those courses or careers? • What subjects would be useful if not necessary for such courses and careers? • What subjects do you like?

5. Choosing • Indicate your subject preference in order from 1 down to 11, in the table below. (Your top choice is No.1 etc.,) • We will try to give everyone as many of their top choices as possible but provision of a subject depends on a sufficient number of students choosing that subject as an option.

6. The Choices • The choices are: Art Biology Business Construction Studies Design & Communications Graphics Engineering French Geography History Home Economics (Social & Scientific) Physics & Chemistry

7. SAMPLE LEAVING CERTIFICATE SUBJECT CHOICE later than 21st April 2010

8. Choices Cont’d • Provision of a subject depends on a sufficient number of students choosing that subject as an option. • Return the completed sheet to the Principal on or before Tuesday, 3rdMay 2011.

9. Do I Need to Take French in My Leaving Cert • I want to go to University College Dublin(UCD), University College Cork(UCC), NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, Pontifical University Maynooth, Royal College of Surgeons, Shannon College of Hotel Management. • I want to do a course that requires French. • I want to join the Cadets

10. What Can I Do Without French • French is not required for entry to: • Nursing • DCU, Trinity College, University of Limerick, Primary Teacher Training • The Institutes of Technology e.g. Sligo • Most Engineering, Agriculture, Science or Actuarial Courses in NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, UCC and UCD (See Exceptions) • A pass in Polish, Lithuanian etc., at Leaving Cert can be substituted for French

11. Do I need a Science Subject • I want to do a course that requires a science subject (Engineering, Nursing, Forensics etc.,) • I want to do Science at College • I want to train as a primary teacher in the U.K. • I want to do Beauty Therapy etc., in Cavan Institute • There is a growing scarcity of qualified scientists

12. Why should I do LCVP? • The Leaving Cert Vocational Programme (LCVP) provides: • Enterprise Education • Careers Education • Work Experience • Interview Skills • Can be substituted for points instead of your subject with the lowest grade.

13. What do I need for LCVP? • For Leaving Cert Vocational Programme (LCVP) you need: • At least 5 Leaving Cert subjects including Irish unless exempted. • Two subjects from a list of Vocational Subject Groups (VSG’s). • Study either French or ab initioFrench to Leaving Cert (Modern Continental Language).

14. Vocational Subject Groupings 2011/2013

15. Science Subjects • BIOLOGY • Science of living things. • Very good for careers in science, sport, nursing, hairdressing and beauty care. • PHYSICS & CHEMISTRY • Science of chemicals, materials, heat, light, electricity and motion. • Very good for science, engineering, practical careers and apprenticeships e.g. fitting, plumbing and electrical etc.,

16. Art & Music ART Follows on from Junior Cert Art. Involves practical art work including the preparation of a portfolio plus the study of Art theory and the History of Art. Required for Arts – Visual and Design – Visual Communications in WIT and for Graphic Design in LYT. NCAD will accept Art or French. Almost all other Art & Design courses require a portfolio. Useful for Architecture, Media, Teaching etc., • MUSIC Musicianship, Music Theory, History, Composition & Appreciation. Leaving Cert music or an equivalent qualification are required for Arts with Music in NUIM, Education, Music & Religion Teaching in Mater Dei, Music Applied in DKIT and Music, Media and Performance Technology in UL. Most music courses require an ability to read music and play an instrument to a high level of proficiency which will be assessed at an audition.

17. Technology Subjects • ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY • Follows on from Metalwork. • Deals with all aspects of engineering technology, design, materials, processes and theory. • Very good for all Engineering, Design, Construction, practical careers and apprenticeships particularly in plumbing, fitting and electrical. • CONSTRUCTION • Follows on from Materials Technology wood. • Deals with all aspects of construction, building design and building theory and regulations. • Very good for all Construction, Engineering, Design, practical careers and apprenticeships. • DESIGN & COMMUNICATION GRAPHICS • Used to be known as Technical Drawing. • Follows on from Technical Graphics. • Very good for all Construction, Engineering, Design, practical careers and apprenticeships.

18. Business, Geography, History, Home Economics • Follow on from the Junior Courses of the same names very good for social, personal and academic development • Business: very good for all business careers and self-employed. • Geography: very good for all careers in social, travel, tourism, international trading, communications, policy-making or teaching. • Home Economics: very good subject for any career in food, hotel, catering, travel, tourism, social work, nursing or caring areas.

19. Further Information • For more detailed information on subjects please visit www.careersportal.ie and choose the link Leaving Cert Subject Choice in the section entitled World of Learning • Full syllabii for all LC Subjects can be found on the NCCA Website www.ncca.ie

20. Points & Courses • There are over 3,000 courses available at Third Level, 1,344 in the CAO system and 1,832 in Further Education • Here are a small sample of the best known CAO courses • Over 40% of all courses (540) had points requirements of less than 300 in 2010 • For a full listing of every Third Level and Further Education course in Ireland log onto www.qualifax.ie • For more information on careers log onto www.careersportal.ie

21. Sample Points & Courses 2009

23. For a full listing of every Third Level and Further Education course in Ireland log onto www.qualifax.ie For more information on careers log onto www.careersportal.ie

25. Important Information • All the information given on subject requirements is the most up to date available at this time (April 2011) and is based on www.qualifax.ie • The information given on LCVP subject requirements is the most up to date available at this time (April 2011) and is based on DESC Circular 13/2009

26. Exceptions