Home Economics Teaching (Bachelor of Education)

This four-year concurrent Bachelor of Education (Honours) programme at ATU St Angela's College in Sligo prepares you to become a qualified Home Economics teacher in Irish post-primary schools. You study the subject discipline in depth — covering food science, nutrition, textiles, consumer studies, and resource management — alongside professional education modules in pedagogy, curriculum design, and inclusive teaching practice. A significant portion of each year is spent on school placement, where you teach Home Economics under the guidance of experienced mentors. Your week typically balances lectures and practical laboratory sessions with education seminars and reflective teaching practice. As Ireland's only concurrent Home Economics teaching degree, this programme holds a unique position in initial teacher education and is fully registered with the Teaching Council.

Entry is through the CAO and typically requires a minimum of six subjects in the Leaving Certificate, including English and Irish at Ordinary level or above. Higher Level Mathematics and a science subject such as Biology or Chemistry are advantageous, and Home Economics at Leaving Certificate level is beneficial though not always compulsory. CAO points are generally moderate to high given the programme's specialist nature and limited places. Applicants who have completed a relevant QQI Level 5 or Level 6 FET award may apply through the QQI/FET progression route, subject to ATU's minimum entry requirements. Mature applicants aged 23 or over on 1 January of the year of entry may apply through the mature student pathway, and the HEAR and DARE access schemes are available for eligible students.

Demand for qualified Home Economics teachers in Ireland remains relatively steady, as the subject is offered in the majority of post-primary schools and features on both Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate syllabi. Graduates register with the Teaching Council and are eligible to apply for permanent and fixed-term teaching posts through the standard post-primary recruitment process. The shortage of specialists in certain regions, particularly outside Dublin, can improve employment prospects for newly qualified teachers. Some graduates pursue postgraduate study in education leadership or specialist areas such as nutrition or textile design.