What is Ethical & Multidenominational Education?
Ethical Education involves exploring different worldviews and beliefs, considering ethical dilemmas and the process of ethical decision making. Ethical Education invites students and teachers to engage with issues and problems facing society and aims to develop the skills of critical thinking, discussion and debate.
In multidenominational education institutes, all students are treated with care and equal treatment regardless of their socio-economic, cultural or religious background.
What 3rd level courses are available?
Universities and colleges in Ireland are offering courses in Ethical & Multidenominational Education in the following subject areas:
- Professional Diploma in Education (Ethical & Multidenominational Education) – Explore the theory and practice of multi-denominational and ethical education, democracy and education as well as investigating pluralist pedagogy in the curriculum.
- Ethics in Real Life – A short course about ethics and decision-making, relevant to everyone.
- Certificate in Religious Studies – The aim of the programme is to equip teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills to teach religious education in Catholic primary schools.
- MEd in Religious Education – A study of religious literacy, identity and imagination; promoting creative and critical thinking; offering a space for questioning and reflection; and fostering spiritual development, respect, openness, empathy and justice. It provides a space for dialogue and encounters between faith traditions and people of different belief traditions.
Studying Ethical & Multidenominational Education
There are many courses in Ethical & Multidenominational Education that may take place over a few days, weeks or even 1 year to 4 years depending on the course and modules selected. There are also part-time courses and night courses available so you can be sure to fit in your studies no matter what your schedule is like.
Courses will cover theory work through lectures, assignments, tutorials and taught modules. Assessments will take place on a continuous basis with written examinations and practical assignments combined in order to achieve a qualification. You could also consider work experience or a work shadow in the industry. Arrange to visit schools to observe and talk to teachers, relevant work or volunteer experience is a good way of demonstrating a genuine interest in the field and is regarded favourably by employers.
Work Experience will not only give you the opportunity to obtain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the industry, it will also give you a chance to do some essential networking with other industry professionals and gain valuable contacts for the future.
Career options
After completing an Ethical & Multidenominational Education course you will be able to get started in a career that requires a passion to inspire young minds and a commitment to ensuring that every child achieves their potential.
As an educator, you will develop schemes of work and lesson plans in line with curriculum objectives. You’ll facilitate learning by establishing a relationship with pupils, keeping your learning resources organised and creating a positive learning environment in the classroom.
Your role is to develop and foster the appropriate skills and social abilities to enable the optimum development of children, according to age, ability and aptitude.
You’ll assess and record progress and prepare pupils for national tests. You will link pupils’ knowledge to earlier learning and develop ways to encourage it further, challenging and inspiring pupils to help them deepen their knowledge and understanding.
Working hours will depend on whether you are self-employed, employed by a company with set business hours or if you are contracted to various businesses or companies. Hours vary between schools but are usually from 8.30 am until 3.30 pm or 4 pm. Most teachers are in school before the school day starts and remain after school is finished.
Teaching posts are available in all areas, although there are more jobs in towns and cities than in rural areas. There may be occasional trips with pupils, or staff development opportunities, which involve staying away from home and/or overseas travel.
Related jobs include:
- Higher education lecturer
- Primary school teacher
- Education Officer
- Secondary school teacher
- Advice worker
- Counsellor
- Civil Service administrator
- Community development worker
- International aid/development worker
- Mediator
- Newspaper journalist
- Police officer
- Youth worker
Further study
After completing a course in Ethical & Multidenominational Education you may choose to pursue further study in a specialist field to increase your knowledge base and skill set. Postgraduate study can also be used as a means to change career focus or to gain professional qualifications required to practise in certain career areas such as art, community, drama, modern languages, music or sport.
FAQ
What is the importance of Ethical & Multidenominational Education?
Morality, ethics and values are central to social and spiritual development. Discussing moral and ethical issues will prepare students to question and participate in debates and discussions in and outside the school environment. It is important that students become aware of the issues that face society; their personal position in relation to these issues and that they are equipped with the knowledge and ability to think critically and evaluate the possible societal responses to these issues.
Where can I study Ethical & Multidenominational Education?
Explore your options here
Did You Know?
- Morality refers to the rightness or wrongness of an action, while Ethics refers to a study of judgments of value, of good and evil, right and wrong, desirable and undesirable.
- Relativism is the view that there is no absolute knowledge, that truth is different for each individual, social group or historic period, and is therefore relative to the circumstances of the knowing subject.
- Ethics is part of the study of religion. In religion, people often learn what is good or bad from what they believe about God (or gods).
- A non-denominational church is a Christian church that holds no connection with the recognized denominations and mainline churches such as the Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran, or Methodist churches. Church denominations are larger organizations that hold a particular identity, set of beliefs, and traditions. In denominational churches, the broader organization may set forth directives on leadership structures, membership, and dogma. In non-denominational churches, each church makes decisions on various parts of church life for itself.
- Over the coming decades (2010 to 2050), about 40 million people are projected to switch to Christianity, while 106 million are projected to leave, with most joining the ranks of the religiously unaffiliated.
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