COLLEGE CHOICE/Brian Mooney: For the purpose of this article I am going to define communications courses as those leading to careers in child care, teaching at all levels, journalism and broadcasting.
As a teacher of 27 years standing at both second and third level, having had two books published, written regularly for The Irish Times and done my share of television and radio broadcasting, I can write with some knowledge of this area of work.
As evidenced by my own career, communications skills are easily transferred across the spectrum of teaching, journalism and broadcasting.
Communicators transmit messages. Good ones know their audience and do so effectively.
Job security is not the lot of most communicators. In teaching today, it is not uncommon to spend six to eight years in temporary or part time jobs prior to securing a permanent post. Primary school teachers fare better in this regard as there seems to be a permanent shortage of teachers in this sector since the short-sighted government decision to close Carysfort in the mid-80s.
Journalists and communication graduates may end up working shift work for many years or, as in the case of the Taoiseach's younger daughter, get a $1 million advance on their first literary effort.
These are the rules of the communication game, but if you have it in your blood, these limitations will not deter you.
Primary School Teaching
Last year the number of students listing an education course (mainly primary teaching) as their first preference in the CAO rose to 4,754, from 4,403 in 2002 and 4,126 in 2001.
The qualification needed is a Bachelor of Education. If you are lucky enough to come from a Gaeltacht region, up to 10 per cent of primary places are reserved for such candidates each year.
Degrees are offered in St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin; Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, Dublin 9; Mary Immaculate College, Limerick; Froebel College, Sion Hill, Dublin, and the Church of Ireland College, Rathmines. The last two colleges offer their degrees in conjunction with Trinity College, Dublin.
The B.Ed., as it is known, takes three years, although if you want an honours degree it takes four. The points for these courses can be high, so be warned. If you get the points, you still have to jump through another hoop. You must have a C3 or better in higher level Irish for entry to these colleges. The Church of Ireland College in Rathmines requires you to have higher level Irish. It says it will accept a D grade, but only if there are not enough applicants with a C3 or better. Early Childhood Education
For those interested in working with really young children, a number of degrees in Early Childhood Studies/Education, are offered in Mary Immaculate, NUI Cork, IT Carlow and the DIT. Points requirements in 2003 varied from 350-390.
Secondary Teaching
Those interested in secondary teaching, normally take a primary degree in arts, science, or business, followed by a Higher Diploma in Education, entry to which is by no means automatic.
Alternatively candidates may opt to study a specialist degree, such as (LM 090) Physical Education in UL. There is movement ability test in mid August and must be passed to be considered. Some 480 points were required in 2003.
You could also consider religious education with English, history or music at Mater Dei. Points requirement in 2003 were between 365 and 370.
Home Economics with Irish or economics or religious education or biology at St Angela's, Sligo, is also available.
Following the Minister for Education's decision to close the Home Economics College at Sion Hill, the NUI have agreed to waive the foreign language requirement for entry to Home Economics at St Angela's in 2004, 2005 and 2006. From 2007 onwards, students will require a foreign language for entry.
Journalism
For such a precarious career, the entry requirements are very high.
Dublin City University and DIT Aungier Street offer degrees in journalism over four years. The entry points requirements were 465 in the DIT and 490 in DCU in 2003. The degrees are extremely comprehensive, covering media technology, reading media, news reporting, law, features writing, the Irish political system, radio journalism and the ethics of journalism.
Work placements in national and provincial newspapers and in radio and television are built into the third and fourth year of the degree.
Those looking to emulate the Taoiseach's daughter could consider the fee-paying Griffith College Dublin which offers a three year journalism and media communication degree (GD450). The entry points required in 2003 were 280.
Communications
There is one specific communications degree offered by DCU (DC131). Graduates are given a deep understanding of the role of communications in domestic and international settings and will be qualified to pursue careers in the media, IT, advertising, marketing, public relations and community and public service. Entry to this course is very competitive, with 480 point's required in 2003.
Brian Mooney's column on CAO options will appear daily in the run-up to the February 1st deadline.
You can e-mail Brian Mooney on bmooney@irish-times.ie
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