Most people, when they think of St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin, think teacher education. They're only partly right. Nowadays, along with masters' in children's literature, theatre studies, French, history and modern Irish, St Pat's offers an undergraduate humanities degree.
The BA in humanities was introduced eight years ago when St Pat's became a designated college of DCU. At the time, the college made the decision to reserve up to 30 per cent of the 120 places on the course for mature students.
The course offers a range of electives including in first year, bio-science, English, Irish, history, French, maths, music, geography, religious studies and human development. Human development includes psychology, philosophy and sociology. First-year students study three subjects. In second and third year, meanwhile, students pursue two subjects of their choice, (excluding bioscience).
Continuous assessment accounts for 35 per cent of the final mark. All students are required to do a dissertation and complete mid-term and final exams.
Research and project work are major elements of the courses. "It's very challenging," says Darren Kelly. "People are stretched. Mature students push the standards up."
For candidates entering via the traditional CAO route, minimum entry requirements include two grade C3s at higher level and four grade D3s at ordinary level. Last year's cut off points were 380 - but not all candidates were offered places.
If you're over 23 years of age, you can gain admission to the course by satisfying the college that you have the ability to complete the course and will benefit from it. Mature applicants are interviewed, sit a short aptitude test and write an essay. Candidates who lack a Leaving Cert have usually taken access or Open University courses. "We try to judge the level of motivation," explains Cora Cregan, who is co-ordinator of St Pat's adult education unit. "You can teach anyone with average intelligence anything if they have the motivation."
Some 9 per cent of mature students achieve first class honours - compared with only 2 per cent of school-leavers. This, believes 31-year-old student Darren Kelly, who is in his final year, raises questions about the validity of the Leaving Cert as a qualification. "It doesn't give a fair picture of ability," he says.
Kelly left school with a "poor" pass Leaving Cert, but won a scholarship to spend a year at a high school in the US. Here, he was rated an honours scholar. Growing up in Coolock, going to college had never entered his head. When asked why he hadn't gone to third level in Ireland, Kelly replied "I wasn't allowed to - because I'm from Coolock."
According to Dr Brenna Clarke, head of the mature student committee, the overall dropout rate on the humanities programme is only 5 per cent. Among the mature students, however, it's almost negligible.
Kelly points to the extensive student support system at St Pat's. "I was also offered a place at UCD, but I chose St Pats because it's small and has good support mechanisms," he says. These include personal tutors, study workshops, induction courses for mature students and writing workshops.
According to Cregan, two-thirds of the course's graduates stay in education. Of these, 40 per cent go into teacher training and one-fifth go on to further postgraduate study. Mature students who pursue careers tend to work at executive level in administration or financial services.
For most mature students, going to college is less about getting a better job and more about doing something they feel they have missed out on, Kelly says. "People are doing it for themselves and loving it."
The deadline for applications from mature students has been extended to April 23rd. Contact St Patrick's College, Dublin 9, or telephone (01) 884 2000.
