Subjects & Career Choice

Another perspective worth considering when making subject choices is their relationship to career areas and college courses.  As a guideline, here are some pointers that you may find useful for a range of popular career areas:

Please note: These are guidlines based on popular choices, and do not indicate essential subject requirements!


Primary School Teaching
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Biology
  • History/Geography
  • Religion
  • Your favourite subject

Architecture
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Physics
  • Art
  • Design & Communication Graphics

Business
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Business/Accountancy
  • Economics
  • Your favourite subject

Nursing
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Biology
  • Chemistry/Agricultural Science
  • Home Economics - Scientific and Social
  • Your favourite subject

Physiotherapy
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Biology
  • Physics/Chemistry
  • Your favourite subject

Science
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Biology/Chemistry
  • Physics/Agricultural Science
  • Geography
  • Your favourite subject

Medicine
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Chemistry
  • Biology/Physics/Agricultural Science
  • Your favourite subject

Psychology
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Biology
  • Business/Economics
  • Your favourite subject

Engineering
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Physics
  • Chemistry/Engineering
  • Design & Communication Graphics
  • Applied Maths

Law
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Business
  • History/Classical Studies
  • Your favourite subject

Agricultural Science
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Agricultural Science
  • Business/Agricultural Economics
  • Biology
  • Your favourite subject

Veterinary
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Chemistry
  • Biology/Agricultural Science
  • Your favourite subject

Computer Science
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Physics
  • Design & Communication Graphics
  • Your favourite subject

Dentistry
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Chemistry
  • Biology/Physics
  • Your favourite subject

Social Science
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Geography
  • Religion
  • Your favourite subject

Hotel Management
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Business
  • Home Economics - Scientific and Social
  • Your favourite subject

Pharmacy
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Your favourite subject
Owen Hughes, Manufacturing Technician

What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?

Physics, Maths, Engineering, Technical Drawing. As well as English, Irish, and German.

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Donal Og Cusack, Automation/Energy Engineer

What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?

The STEM subjects I studied in school were what led me to have an interest in this area of work and if I could go back to my school days I would put an emphasis on studying these subjects more and maybe doing better in them.

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Brian Howard, Guidance Counsellor

What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?

For my Leaving Certificate I studied the three compulsory subjects: English, Irish and Maths. I had a great interest in science so I chose to do two science subjects - Biology and Chemistry. I wanted to keep as many options open as possible as I wasn't 100% sure what I wanted to do on leaving school so I chose one business subject - Economics and I chose a language - French, in order to keep all the universities open also.

In hindsight I think this was a good selection of subjects as it kept a lot of doors open while also allowing me to chose subjects I liked and did well in. I eventually went on to do a science degree so my 2 Leaving Certificate science subjects came in handy. Once I had my degree this allowed me to teach and subsequently do my postgraduate in Guidance Counselling.

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