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Learning, Society, & Religious Education

About

The Department of Learning, Society, and Religious Education (LSRE) represents a range of diverse and complementary disciplines within the field of education. In line with Catholic tradition and mission statement of Mary Immaculate College, the department is committed to enhancing the role of education in helping individuals to reach their potential and in creating a just and compassionate society.

The department seeks to foster the personal and spiritual development of its students and to encourage them to be active citizens.

To that end, we value and promote constructive and critical inquiry and seek to promote this inquiry through our teaching and research. We welcome any inquiries about the work of the department and particularly welcome any interest in our research agenda or in engaging in postgraduate research within the department.

Department Mission Statement

The Department of Learning, Society, and Religious Education (LSRE) represents a range of diverse and complementary disciplines within the field of education. The exploration of key issues in education concerning human flourishing is of primary significance. Central to our work are the questions of how religious beliefs and traditions, spiritualities, equality, active citizenship, social justice, relationships in education, pedagogies, the governance of education, the history and status of childhood, children’s rights, wellbeing, gender issues, amongst others, all contribute to learning how we can share our planet and live well together. We nurture interdisciplinary, interinstitutional and international relationships in teaching, learning, research and service to the community in a spirit of creativity, enjoyment, collegiality and academic freedom.

 M Ed in Education for Sustainability & Global Citizenship
M.Ed for Sustainability and Global Citizenship
This NEW 2-year, part-time programme provides the skills to assume leadership in a variety of roles
M Ed in Leadership in Wellbeing in Education
M Ed in Leadership in Wellbeing in Education
This 2-year, part-time programme provides the skills to assume leadership in a variety of roles
Contact
Head of Department
Dr Maurice Harmon
+353 61 774720

Subject Overview

See below for a list of modules in the Bachelor of Education and Professional Master's in Education (PME) programme:

EDU156: Ethics, Religions, and Beliefs
EDU216: Social Studies A: Teaching History, Geography and Global Education in Primary Schools

EDU268: Social Studies B: Teaching History, Geography and Global Education in Primary Schools

EDU255: Christian Religious Education 2
EDU351: Schools and Society 1: Philosophical, Sociological, and Historical Perspectives
EDU258: Schools and Society 2: Philosophical, Sociological, and Historical Perspectives
EDU351: Schools and Society 3: Philosophical, Sociological, and Historical Perspectives
EDU451: Schools and Society 4: Philosophical, Sociological, and Historical Perspectives on Education
EDE366: DEIS 1: Teaching in a DEIS School
EDE361: DEIS 2: Working with Families
CRE300: DEIS 3: Evidence-Based and Innovative Programmes in DEIS Contexts
EDU450: The Spirituality of the Teacher and the child
EDU451: SPHE in a Combination of Contexts
EDE370: Geo-Literacy: A Strategy for Teaching Primary Geography
EDE370: Intercultural Education in the Primary Classroom
CRE300: Certificate in RE Christology and Social Justice
EDU452: Policy and Leadership in Education
EDE427: Education for Sustainability
PME616: Liturgy and Ritual for Primary School Children
PME618: Relationships and Sexuality Education: An aspect of SPHE
EDU207: Social, Personal, Health, and Physical Education 1
EDU257: Social, Personal, Health, and Physical Education 2
EDE317: Exploring Resources for Teaching Global Education
EDU205: Christian Religious Education 1
EDU255: Christian Religious Education 2 
EDU206: Religious Education in Multi-Denominational Schools 1
EDU256: Religious Education in Multi-Denominational Schools 2
CRE100: Christian Revelation
CRE200: Certificate in Religious Education: Scripture and Spirituality
CRE300: Christology and Social Justice
CRE400: Church Sacrament and Interfaith Dialogue
CRE600: God, Faith, Creed and Trinity
CRE601: Jesus Christ and Scripture
CRE602: Prayer Sacraments and Liturgy
EDE312: Sharing Faith in Religious Education
PME607: Research Methods 1
PME619: Research Methods 2
PME628: Research Methods 3
PME618: Leadership and Policy
EDE201: Education in Contemporary Irish Society

Staff

Dr Maurice Harmon

BD (Maynooth); MA (Fordham); EdD (DCU) & Adv Dip in Law & Education (KI)
Head of Department & Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: +353 61 774720
  • Email: Maurice.Harmon@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: JHN215

Dr Angela Canny

BSocSc (Hons) (UCD), MSocSc (Sociology) (UCD) & PhD (University of Warwick)
Acting Dean of Education & Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: +353 61 204598
  • Email: Angela.Canny@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: 311

Dr Ruth Bourke

BA (UL), MEd (UL), PhD (UL)
Transforming Education through Dialogue (TED) Project Coordinator/Assistant Professor
  • Phone: +353 61 774715
  • Email: Ruth.Bourke@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: JHN101

Dr AnneMarie Brosnan

B Ed (MIC) & PhD (MIC)
Lecturer (History of Education)
  • Phone: +353 61 204384
  • Email: Annemarie.Brosnan@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: R119

Dr Treasa Campbell


Acting Head of Department of Learning, Society and Religious Education
  • Email: Treasa.Campbell@mic.ul.ie

Dr Fiona Dineen

B Ed; MA MusEd; MA (UL) & Ed D (LHU)
Lecturer
  • Phone: +353 61 204930
  • Email: Fiona.Dineen@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: R124

Research

Departmental Assistantship

The Department of Learning, Society, and Religious Education (LSRE) is currently inviting applications from post-graduate students (MA by research and thesis or PhD) for the post of departmental assistant. This innovative, multi-disciplinary department provides opportunities to work with staff members and engage in a large variety of tasks and projects thereby enhancing the overall research experience and developing new skills. Staff research interests include: Global Education and Citizenship, Religious Education, Wellbeing in Education, Education Policy and Working in DEIS schools. Examples of work experience include the planning and provision of tutorials, organisation of materials, and assistance with organisation of events. The departmental assistants will be encouraged to attend training sessions provided by the RGSO and the Learning Enhancement and Academic Development (LEAD) centre.

A Departmental Assistantship award currently provides for a stipend of €6,900.00 per annum (AY2024/25) along with a full fee waiver in Years 1, 2 & 3 for PhD students. Where a DA Awardee enters a 4th year of studies, a full fee waiver is provided, but no stipend is payable in Year 4 and no duties are required in Year 4. MA (research and thesis) students who receive a DA Award are entitled to a stipend of €6,900.00 (AY2024/25) with a full fee waiver for a two year period.

For more information about a Departmental Assistant (DA) Award please click here.

To download the DA Award application form (word) please click here.

To download the DA Award application form (pdf) please click here.

Completed application forms should be submitted to Dr Treasa Campbell, Acting HoD, Dept. of LSRE by 5 June 2024.

CPD Trip to University of Oxford

In January 2020, members of MIC's Department of Learning, Society, & Religious Education took part in a CPD trip to the University of Oxford.

You can see some photos of the CPD trip here.

  • About
  • Subject Overview
  • Staff
  • Research