Senior Cycle - Leaving Cert |
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The Leaving Certificate is the final examination offered by St. Michael's College. Generally a two year programme, students who take Transition Year will take the examinations three years after the Junior Cycle. With TY, the Leaving Cert is referred to at the "Senior Cycle". The uptake in Ireland is now in excess of 80% of the total number of students at second level education. In St. Michael's College, we are proud that our uptake is well in excess of that.
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About the subjects |
CoreHumanitiesLanguagesSciencePracticalBusiness |
Students must evaluate their future college requirements prior to choosing their subjects. For example, all third level institutions require a pass grade in Ordinary Level English. Irish is required for entry into the NUI universities (UCD, UCC, NUIG and Maynooth University). A Higher Level C3 is a minimum requirement for all Primary School Teaching courses.
An Ordinary Level pass grade is required in Maths for most courses and jobs. Limited courses mostly in the ITs may allow foundation grades. Engineering, Mathematical studies, Actuary, Financial Studies and some business courses require a Higher Level pass grade. Higher level mathematics students gain an additional 25 points in addition to their usual CAO tally. The humanities include History and Geography – two subjects that give students deeper understanding and insight into world around them. The two subjects have been two of the most popular subjects at Senior Cycle, with nearly 25% of students studying each. Both subjects focus on different varieties of modules which provide a varied and interesting course load. Analysis and interpretation are key skills encouraged and developed by the humanities. St. Michael's College offers French and German to Leaving Certificate. A pass grade in a foreign language is a requirement for UCD, UCC, NUIG, Maynooth, Army/Navy/Air Corps Officer Cadetships and entry into the Royal College of Surgeons. Students will need a science subject for anything in the engineering, medical, nursing, paramedical (radiography, physiotherapy, dietician, pharmacy,) or science areas. Most colleges are fairly flexible as to which science you choose. Certain courses specify a particular science subject eg hons chemistry for veterinary in UCD. Some courses may require two sciences e.g. medicine in UCC. The practical subjects include “hands on” subjects that involve working with tools, machinery and physical things like woods, metals and plastics. These subjects are work intensive and involve a lot of making and designing of products. Construction and engineering have a major project. The business subjects take you in the direction of the world of business and commerce. Business gives a good grounding in the principles of business but is not a requirement for any course in either an I.T. or at university. |
Subjects Lists
Below you will find the subject lists associated with studying in St. Michael's College. Students study three core subjects in addition to four chosen examination subjects. Students will continue their non-examination formation in Religion, PE and SPHE.
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CORE SUBJECTS (compulsory)
ENGLISH IRISH MATHEMATICS OTHER SUBJECTS (non-exam) RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PE SPHE |
LANGUAGES
FRENCH GERMAN HUMANITIES HISTORY GEOGRAPHY SCIENCES BIOLOGY CHEMISTRY PHYSICS AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE APPLIED MATHS |
PRACTICAL SUBJECTS
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING DESIGN & COMMUNICATION GRAPHICS (DCG) BUSINESS SUBJECTS ACCOUNTING BUSINESS ECONOMICS ARTISTIC ART |
