Your education questions answered.
In this column, over recent months, I have answered a series of questions concerning courses available in this State. I wish to provide three supplementary pieces of information.
(1) Human nutrition/dietetics
DIT Kevin Street offers a four-and-a- half-year course run in conjunction with Trinity College Dublin. Students are fully registered in both colleges and have student cards and full access to their facilities. It is the only course in the Republic that allows the graduate to practice clinical nutrition/dietetics, and the qualification is recognised in Britain and the US.
Graduates receive both a BSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from TCD,and a Diploma in Dietetics and Nutrition from DIT. The course includes a six-month clinical placement in a hospital and a 10-week research project.
(2) Third language requirement for NUI colleges
The National College of Art and Design is a recognised college of the National University of Ireland. Degrees are awarded by the NUI. Applicants must meet the matriculation requirements of the NUI, but the requirement for the third language has been altered in the case of NCAD to enable a student who presents art at Leaving Certificate level to meet the college entry requirements.
(3) Anthropology courses
There is a fully-fledged department of anthropology in NUI Maynooth, where it is an arts degree subject and a postgraduate subject. Over 300 students are currently taking anthropology as a first arts subject, with more than 100 continuing through to a BA.
My daughter got 310 points in her Leaving Cert last year and has decided to pursue a career in childcare. What is the best way to go about this?
There are a range of courses in early childhood studies available at degree level. The entry requirements are typically two C grades at Higher Level, plus four D grades on Ordinary-Level papers. The points requirements for these programmes were in the range of 355 to 470 in 2002. IT Carlow offers a four-year BA (CW105), which is also available at the institute's Wexford campus (CW120). UCC offers a three-year BA programme (CK111). The DIT offers a three-year BA (FT472). Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, is launching a new four-year BA in the current year (M1007).
As your daughter is somewhat short of the points requirements for any of these programmes she might consider a Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) course. Consult Qualifax at www.qualifax.ie to locate courses available in your locality.
The School of Practical Child Care, a private college, has recently introduced a new full-time day course, based at their Blackrock Campus in Co Dublin. Students with an Ordinary-Level Leaving Cert will be assessed for entry to this course based on interview and written assessment.
Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.
