Professional Diploma (Education)—PDE

The Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) is a postgraduate university programme in education which is recognised by the Teaching Council as a suitable qualification in teacher training and for registration as a post-primary teacher in Ireland. This one-year, full-time programme is wide-ranging and equips student teachers with the theoretical and conceptual tools and skills necessary for developing creative and flexible approaches to teaching and learning at post-primary level.

The main programme modules are:

• Educational Sciences
• Professional Studies in Education
• Professional Development
• Teaching Practice
• Subject Methodologies

The PDE in NUI, Galway has the following components:

1. Educational Sciences:  Psychology of Teaching & Learning (incl. Special Education Needs), Adolescence, Diversity & Social Justice, History & Structure of Irish Education, Philosophy of Education.

2. Professional Studies of Education: Teaching and Learning, Curriculum & Assessment, ICT in Education, Catering for Diversity.

3. Subject Methodologies: Subject and specialist methodologies.

4. Professional Development: Teacher as a professional, School as a Learning Organisation, Reflective Practice, Educational technologies (incl. general resources development).

5. Teaching Practice: Practical Teaching in the School Context . 

Assessment for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education is by continuous assessment with a strong emphasis on integration and application. Assessment tasks are closely aligned to the learning outcomes of each course and in addition, they are designed to promote and reward the student teacher’s capacity to integrate theory and practice. Students are expected to apply learning from each of the elements of the programme with their own personal experience on teaching practice in a reflective and critical manner.