Physical Education Sports Studies & Arts - Second Level Teaching
Our Physical Education, Sports Studies and Arts degree is a dynamic course that aims to produce creative educators in physical education, sport and physical activity settings. As well as qualifying to teach physical education, students will also graduate in a chosen specialist arts subject from one of the following: English, Gaeilge/Irish, Mathematics, French, or History.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 Years full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Cert entry requirements:
At Least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish. Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Other Language O6/H7
Additional Requirements
There are further subject-specific requirements for subjects on offer through the BA in Arts. You can find out details on subject-specific entry requirements in the Academic Programme Catalogue.
French
A Student will not normally be allowed to select French unless they have attained a pass standard in French in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent).
Mathematical Studies
From 2025/26 students will be required to achieve a minimum H4 in Mathematics in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent.
Fitness to Practise
This programme is subject to UCC's Fitness to Practise Policy.
Student Garda Vetting
All students on this programme will come into contact with the public and assume positions of trust through educational and training opportunities. To ensure the protection of the public, and to justify public trust and confidence, UCC is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake this programme.
Vetting is carried out by the Admissions Office in UCC under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 (the Acts) once a student has accepted their place on the programme. This involves a police check to establish whether the individual being vetted has had criminal convictions in the past or whether any criminal proceedings are pending. The Garda Siochána provide this information for students who have resided in Ireland for a period of six months or more (including permanent residence).
All students who have resided outside Ireland for a period of six months or more must furnish a Police Clearance Certificate from their country or countries of residence. This certificate should state that the student has had no convictions recorded against them while residing there.
Further information can be found on our Student Garda Vetting page.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
UCC awards the following points to the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Link Modules:
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
While Link Modules are counted for point scoring purposes they may not be counted as one of the six subjects to satisfy minimum entry requirements.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Careers / Further progression
Skills and Careers Information
Our graduates gain a range of transferable skills in planning, implementing and assessing learning across the lifespan – whether in schools, clubs or communities – specifically in the areas of sport, physical activity and physical education.
The course, through its school-university partnership, also provides career advice and preparation practice for interviews for all our students. Graduates are very well placed to begin a postgraduate course of study through our School of Education M.Ed, or cohort PhD routes also.
Further information
Approximate Available Places 5
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
Approximate Available Places Overall 50
Entry 2025
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2025 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2025 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2025 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2025 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2025 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2025 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2025. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2025, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2025 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2025 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2025 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Our Physical Education, Sports Studies and Arts degree is a dynamic course that aims to produce creative educators in physical education, sport and physical activity settings. As well as qualifying to teach physical education, students will also graduate in a chosen specialist arts subject from one of the following: English, Gaeilge/Irish, Mathematics, French, or History.
Graduates from this programme display independent, innovative thinking, and are agents of change in the areas of physical education, sport, and physical activity settings. Our staff are experts and research-informed practitioners in their discipline.
Teaching, coaching and community placements are available throughout the degree, and the programmes works in partnership with schools, clubs, and the community, allowing students to immerse themselves in teaching and coaching from the beginning.
The Physical Education, Sports Studies and Arts degree also operate a comprehensive well-being mentoring programme involving buddy mentoring, tutor mentoring, and teacher/coach mentors.
Placement or Study Abroad Information
- Year 2: School Placement teaching Physical Education
- Year 3: School Placement teaching chosen Arts subject
- Year 4: School Placement teaching PE and Arts subject (entire school year)
Note for Irish and French students: the Teaching Council requires that students must have verifiable residential experience (in France or Gaeltacht). In order to fulfill this requirement, students may opt to register for an additional 5-credit module, ED2319, which is available to students taking this programme. The module is taken in addition to the prescribed programme requirements. Work towards this module can be undertaken in part in Semester 3 of Years 1, 2 or 3 but must be completed in full in time for examination at the Summer Examination Board in the Fourth Year of the programme. Students who wish to take this module will register for it in Year 4.
Alternatively, students who choose not to register for ED2319 will be expected to provide the Teaching Council with proof of their residency (such as a letter from their landlord/employer) upon application to register as a Newly Qualified teacher.
Modules
Year 1
ED1308 Sport Psychology: Fundamentals & Application
ED1309 Motor Development and Learning for Skill Competence
ED1310 Introduction to Exercise Physiology, Diet, and Nutrition
ED1314 Curriculum-Based Physical Activities 1
ED1323 Curriculum-Based Physical Activities 2
ED1324 Pedagogical Foundations
ED1325 Curriculum and Pedagogical Coherence in Junior Cycles
AN1063 Anatomy of Exercise
DH1001 Digital Humanities: Theories & Concepts 1
Elective Modules
One Arts subject (15 credits) from the following: English, French, (a student will not normally be allowed to select French unless they have attained a pass standard in French in the Leaving Certificate examination [or equivalent]), Gaeilge/ Irish, History and Mathematics.
Please go to the individual subject pages for a list of first-year modules to find out more details.
Year 2
Exercise Prescription
Exercise Physiology
Practical Areas
Curriculum and Pedagogical Coherence 2
Placement
Creativity & Innovation in Physical Education
Sport and Physical Activity
Elective Modules
Arts subject continued from Year 1
Practical modules include dance, gymnastics, G.A.A., and rugby. Students will also complete their second placement in a school setting where they will observe, plan and teach physical education, under the guidance of a mentor (co-operating teacher).
Year 3
Skill Acquisition & Analysis
Sports Medicine
Curriculum & Assessment
Placement
Research Project Design
Inclusion: Policy and Practice in PE, Sport and Physical Activity
Disability: Pedagogical Approaches to Physical Education
Elective Modules
Coaching Science or Health
Students will also complete their third placement in a school setting where they will observe, plan and teach their chosen Arts subject, under the guidance of a mentor (co-operating teacher).
Year 4
Philosophy & History of Education
Professional Issues in Education
Approaches to Teaching & Assessment in Physical Education
Research Project; Placements
Historical & Philosophical Aspects of Physical Education
Elective Modules
Coaching Science or Health and one of the following:
The Teaching of Irish
The Teaching of English
Second Language Education - French
The Teaching of History
The Teaching of Mathematics
A large proportion of Year 4 will comprise school placement for the student, specifically teaching physical education and the selected specialist Arts subject for an entire school year. Students will then return to university for lectures, practicals and workshops in the afternoons.
Ms Marie Nash
sportsstudiesandphysicaleducation@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 3055
https://www.ucc.ie/en/education/