Home Economics


The Home Economics syllabus (social and scientific) provides students with knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes necessary for managing their own lives, for further and higher education and work. The learning experiences in home economics develop flexibility and adaptability in students, prepare them for a consumer-oriented society and provide a learning foundation for a wide range of careers in food, textiles, science, design, social studies and tourism.

The subject is an applied subject combining theory with practice. It is concerned with the management of resources (material and human) to meet the physical, emotional, intellectual, social and economic needs of individuals and families. The study of home economics emphasises the interdependent relationships that exist between individuals, families and their immediate and distant environments.



Career Possibilities

This subject provides a good foundation in careers including Health, Education, Tourism, Clothing and Design and the Food industry.

It would be advisable for students opting for Leaving Certificate Home Economics to have completed the Junior Certificate course.  Some of the areas covered on the Junior Cert Home Economics course are continued at Leaving Certificate level.

Much of the course is theory based – students are often under the illusion that “it’s all cooking” and find it quite a shock when they realise even the Practical Section has to be written up and presented – because there is no Practical Examination as at Junior Cert. Level.

It is a wide course, covering many life skills.  I find students enjoy the subject but they must be willing to learn and to undertake quite a substantial theoretical subject.

There is both an Honours and Ordinary level within the subject.  Students’ can opt to take the written exam at Higher or Ordinary level, however the Coursework Journal is at a general level and is corrected as such.

There is also a link with some other subjects, namely Biology, Business Studies and even Building Construction – again, this cross-curricular advantage is helpful when choosing subjects.