Bachelor of Education in Graphics, Engineering and Technology Careers
Key information
As a teaching degree, graduates of this programme are eligible for appointments to all second-level schools (vocational, secondary, community and comprehensive schools) and for admission to the open register for Secondary Teachers. The graduates of the programme will be able to teach Engineering, Design and Communications Graphics and Technology.
Follow-on study
Graduates from the programme have the opportunity to pursue further study in the disciplines of Engineering or Education. There are a number of taught masters degree programmes in UL that can be taken up by graduates of the programme. In addition, graduates can register for higher degrees by research in either engineering or education that lead to masters or PhD qualifications.
Student profiles
Adam Brennan
Adam Brennan is a graduate of Education in Graphics, Engineering and Technology. He now teaches Engineering and Graphics at Heywood Community School, County Laois, and also provides Learning Support classes.
While working in the area of Special Educational Needs teaching, and having been introduced to the process of 3D printing at UL, Adam saw the potential to create 3D-printed sensory toys to help students with ADHD focus and regulate their emotions. The positive response from students inspired him to set up his own business, Sona Sensory.
Adam says: “The structure of the Bachelor of Education in Graphics, Engineering and Technology really helped us transition smoothly from being students to becoming teachers. The balance between theory and practical experience, especially the teaching placements, gave me confidence walking into a real classroom for the first time.
"This course is an excellent choice for anyone interested in Engineering and Design. Although it’s primarily a teaching degree, many graduates go on to build careers beyond education - including roles in engineering, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship. Personally, I’ve found that the fundamental skills developed through teaching - such as organisation, time management, and diligence translate seamlessly into running a business.”
Chloe Harnett
One of my favourite parts of this course is the hands-on learning experience that it offers. This course lets you further your own knowledge of engineering, from creating projects like simple candleholders to robotic sumo bot wrestlers and line followers. This course not only teaches you how to create and manufacture these projects yourself but also how to teach your students. I did not study graphics or DCG at post primary level and was worried that I may not be able to keep up in DCG modules however the teachers (and technicians) in both the engineering and DCG disciplines offer so much help that I have never felt worried about the subject or left behind, due to their help and support I now have the confidence to teach Graphics/DCG at junior and senior cycle level.
This course not only allows you to learn about different ways of teaching and learning but it also helps you to develop your own unique style of teaching. You also get the opportunity to go out and teach in a secondary school twice while studying this course, and the experience that you get in the classroom is like no other as you get to learn not only from other experienced teachers but also from the students themselves. One of the main things that I have learned from studying this course is that as a teacher you are developing every day.
Studying this course has helped me to develop not only my patience and knowledge but also my confidence.
David Callaghan
Since I was a teenager, I knew I wanted to be a teacher and felt that it was something I would be good at. I’ve always been passionate about helping people, from my peers in school to my local community - I always found the experience to be very rewarding. Despite this, I was quite nervous applying for this course, as I had never studied Graphics or DCG in secondary school. I was anxious that I wouldn’t understand what was going on and that I’d be “left behind” with no support.
This couldn’t be further from reality though. It was a learning curve, but I never felt like I was falling behind. From day one everyone was built up from the basics, and we each developed our skills from there. And now? I’m on my 4th Year placement where I am teaching 5th Years both DCG and Engineering.
This course has taught me skills I never dreamed of achieving: learning how to code, using CAD and CAM software, manufacturing projects with precision, developing teaching and learning strategies - They’ve all been invaluable to my development as a teacher.
Modules cover a wide range of content, from educational theory to practical learning. On a given day you could go from a DCG drawing lab to creating a teaching resource or coding your sumo robot - all to prepare you to walk into a classroom full of students as a master of your subject disciplines.
