Main menu:
Guidance & Counselling > Subject Options
St. Wolstan's Community School
Subject Choice for Leaving Cert 2013
Each student will study SEVEN subjects for the Leaving Certificate. Four of these are compulsory: English, Maths, Irish, a third language. (French/ Spanish/ German)
Students must choose THREE further subjects from the following available subjects:
Accounting / Art / Biology / Business Studies / Chemistry / Economics / Geography / History
Music / Physics / Home Economics/ Technology/ LCVP
How to Decide
When choosing your subjects for the Leaving Certificate you ought to remember that your ultimate aim is to:
(a) Choose subjects that interest you and that you will like studying.
(b) Choose subjects in which you can get the best possible results.
(c) Choose subjects that you will need in the future for entry into a college course or
career
It is NOT a good idea to choose a subject based on No. 3 alone. You have to have an interest and some ability in the subject also. Furthermore it is possible that you could change your mind about career and college courses over the coming years.
How It Will Work
Career Classes:
Students will spend three classes on subject choice. In these classes we will:
" Explain the Process and how it will work
" Carry out an Interest Questionnaire
" Look at the subject requirements for going to college.
Interest Questionnaire: To identify your career interest areas
Meeting with Guidance Counsellors
You will meet individually with your Guidance Counsellor. Appointment times will be put up in your base classroom and with your class captain.
Special Subject Classes. In January subject teachers will hold special classes to give explain what's involved in their subject for the Leaving Cert.
Your Own Research
You are asked to research the content of subjects by looking at text books, attending the special classes, talking to 5th and 6th year students and to teachers.
Information Night for Parents
This will take place on 25th January to inform your parents about subject choice
Making Your Choice
A Choice Form will be given out on Friday 28th January to be returned on the
Monday 4th February 2011, and on it you will rank your chosen subjects in order of preference from 1-4
All students may not get all of their first three options. We aim to give students at least two of your top three.
Leaving Cert Vocational Programme
Students who wish to do LCVP choose TWO optional Subjects from the list of available subjects. However the Department of Education requires that candidates for the LCVP must select two options from the following combinations:
1. Any 2 of Chemistry, Biology, Physics
2. Technology with Physics
3. Technology with Business or Accounting or Economics
4. Any 2 of Business, Accounting or Economics
5. Art, with Business or Accounting or Economics
6. Home Economics with Biology
7. Home Economics with Art
8. Home Economics with Business or Accounting or Economics
9. Music with Business or Accounting or Economics
NOTE
Students who submit their choice form beyond this date cannot be guaranteed their choices.
You cannot easily change your subject choices once they are submitted.
While you will be helped to make your decision, it is ultimately your decision so it is your responsibility to do your research.
Useful Websites
The following websites have devoted sections to choosing subjects for leaving cert as well as explanations of subjects and college requirements
Subject Choice for Leaving Cert. 2013
Specific Subject Requirements
There are three forms of college requirements
1. Matriculation or Minimum entry requirements
Eg: Trinity College: Six subjects; 3 HCs: Pass in English , Maths, Language
UCD: UCC: NUIG: NUIM Six subjects: 2 HCs: Pass in English, Maths, Irish. Other language
(Other language not required for Nursing: Maths not required for some courses such as Arts)
IT Tallaght: Six subjects 2HCs and passes in four other subjects, to include a language
2. Specific course requirements
3. CAO Points
FOR MANY UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE COURSES THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS. ANY SUBJECTS WILL DO.
This includes courses in Arts, Business, Computing, Law, Psychology, Design, Journalism, Social Science and many others. So students in many cases have are free to choose the subjects they like best and are best at.
The following are the EXCEPTIONS and are required for the most part at honours level.
Science refers to laboratory sciences ie biology/ physics / chemistry
Trinity College Dublin
Two science subjects are required for
Medicine: Dentistry; (chemistry specified in Cork)
Two sciences with pass maths or one science with honours maths, are required for:
Physiotherapy: Clinical speech: Medicinal Chemistry: Human Genetics: Earth sciences: Science (geography can count as a science for this course)
One science required for Occupational Therapy: Radiation Therapy:
Biology required for Human Health and Disease
Pharmacy requires chemistry and one other science (or geography).
One science subject required for Nursing: Dental Nursing/Hygiene: Engineering;
U.C.D
Veterinary medicine requires chemistry, however two science subjects are recommended.
One science is required for
Veterinary nursing: Engineering, Agriculture and all Science courses.
Medicine will require one science but two are recommended. Chemistry is required for the
5 year course. All other medical/therapy courses require one science.
All Other Universities
Medicine in Galway requires one science subject
Dentistry and Pharmacy in UCC require 2 sciences to include Chemistry.
Genetics in UCC requires Biology
Require one science subject for all science and engineering courses.
.
UK Universities
Most require Biology and chemistry for Medicine
Dublin Institute of Technology
Chemistry is required for and for Human Nutrition/Dietetics.
One science is required for all Science and Engineering courses.
Physics or chemistry for Optometry.
Other Institutes of Technology
One science required for all science and engineering courses.
Nursing
For all colleges one science (O / H) subject required. It doesn't have to be biology.
Beauty Therapy
Senior College Dun Laoghaire recommends a science or home economics while Crumlin college requires a science subject usually biology.
Art
Leaving Cert. Art is not essential to gain entrance to third level art and design courses but it is recommended as a portfolio of work has to be done.
Music
Leaving Cert music is not essential to gain entrance to music degrees but a certain level of ability is required as there are auditions and music tests.
Languages
While there are some language courses you can enter without having previously studied the language, generally speaking you will be required to have studied a particular language to Leaving Cert. in order to study it at third level.