Program Overview

Forensic & Pharmaceutical Science – BSc (Hons)

Course Overview

The BSc (Hons) in Forensic & Pharmaceutical Science is a unique interdisciplinary course providing students with a detailed knowledge and understanding of the sciences in areas of forensics, pharmaceutical and analytical techniques. This course thus produces graduates who are highly employable in a broad range of sectors. Students gain valuable hands-on experience in the methodology and techniques at the forefront of these major sectors and develop transferable skills including problem solving, communicating, and defending scientific data, evidence interpretation, time management and team building.

This unique course will provide students with critical skills in key areas including, for example, crime scene investigation, forensic evidence examination and interpretation, drugs in sport, biomolecular forensics, analytical techniques, drug development & manufacture, pharmaceutical technology, biopharmaceuticals, statistical analysis, validation & regulatory affairs.

Accreditation

This programme is accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Science.

Entry Requirements

• Leaving Certificate: A minimum of 2 H5 & 4 O6/H7 grades in six Leaving Certificate subjects, including Mathematics and English or Irish.
• Mature Applicants: Candidates applying as mature applicants may be required to attend an interview and may be requested to take an aptitude test to prove their suitability for a place on this programme.
• International Applicants: International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process. Applications for September start should be made by 1st June at the latest to ensure visas are processed in time.

Course Modules

Year 1

• Biology (15 credits)
  • This module is an introduction to the fundamental principles and concepts underlying how biological systems function.
• Chemistry (15 credits)
  • This module is an introduction to the fundamentals of modern chemistry.
• Crime Scene Investigation & Scientific Practice (10 credits)
  • This module introduces students to the principles of forensic and laboratory science.
• Introductory Physics Concepts (10 credits)
  • This algebra-based physics module is designed to introduce students to the concepts in fundamental physics.
• Science Mathematics (10 credits)
  • This mathematics module will provide students with the necessary mathematical skills, problem solving skills and computer application proficiency required by the analytical scientist.

Year 2 – Semester 1

• Pharmaceutical Microbiology (5 credits)
  • This module will provide an understanding of the fundamental knowledge and skills of microbiology pertaining to classification, culture and control of microorganisms in the pharmaceutical environment and products of pharmaceutical industries.
• Forensics: Analytical Techniques (5 credits)
  • This module introduces students to the different analytical techniques used in forensic investigations.
• Inorganic & Physical Chemistry I (5 credits)
  • This module builds upon learnings from Chemistry in Year 1 with a closer look at Inorganic chemistry and physical chemistry specifically.
• Instrumental Analysis I (5 credits)
  • Learners are given a grounding in spectroscopic and chromatographic methods and are introduced to instruments.
• Introduction to Pharmaceutical Science I (5 credits)
  • This module covers aspects of organic chemistry theory such as alkanes, stereochemistry and reactivity.
• Introduction to Statistics (5 credits)
  • This module introduces basic statistical concepts.

Year 2 – Semester 2

• Instrumental Analysis II (5 credits)
  • This module builds on the theory and skills developed in the Instrumental Analysis I module.
• Biochemistry (5 credits)
  • This module provides the learner with the basic concepts and theories of biochemistry and relevance to pharmaceutical, industrial and biotechnological associated sciences.
• Forensics: Biological & Physical Evidence (5 credits)
  • This module introduces students to the different types of evidence that may be encountered in forensic investigations.
• Inorganic & Physical Chemistry II (5 credits)
  • Building upon the Semester 1 module, this module will examine the groups of the periodic table in greater detail including group trends and usage of compounds.
• Introduction to Pharmaceutical Science II (5 credits)
  • This module develops further on aspects of organic chemistry theory such as functional group chemistry.
• Statistical Process Control (5 credits)
  • This module introduces students to important quality control concepts.

Year 3 – Semester 1

• Forensic Toxicology & Drug Analysis (10 credits)
  • This course provides an insight into the overlapping sciences of forensic and biochemical toxicology combined with drug analysis.
• Instrumental Analysis (5 credits)
  • This module builds on the chromatographic, spectrophotometric and electrochemical instruments and techniques developed in second year.
• Molecular & Immunobiology (5 credits)
  • This module will provide students with the theoretical knowledge in molecular biology and the practical skills in molecular techniques used in areas of diagnostics and biopharmaceuticals.
• Pharmaceutical Technology (5 credits)
  • This module follows on from Introduction to Pharmaceutical Science I and II with a further exploration of function group chemistry and application of theory in lab practicals.
• Quality Assurance (5 credits)
  • This module seeks to enhance the learners knowledge of working within regulated scientific environments with a focus on fundamental concepts of quality assurance.

Year 3 – Semester 2

• Work Placement (30 credits)
  • This module is an exciting opportunity for students to get paid placement with science companies in Ireland or internationally.

Year 4 – Semester 1

• Advanced Forensic Techniques (5 credits)
  • This module provides an advanced exploration of the analysis and interpretation of evidence encountered in forensic investigations.
• Advanced Pharmaceutical Technologies (5 credits)
  • This module covers several aspects of pharmaceutical technology.
• Biopharmaceuticals (5 credits)
  • This subject provides an overview of the evolution of pharmaceuticals to biopharmaceuticals.
• Drugs in Sport I (5 credits)
  • This module investigates the use of drugs in both human and animal sport and concentrates on methods for the detection of doping.
• Instrumental Analysis I (5 credits)
  • This module is divided into Instrumental Chromatography and Spectroscopy.

Year 4 – Semester 2

• Advances in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (5 credits)
  • This module builds on Advanced Pharmaceutical Technologies from semester 1.
• Biomolecular Forensics (5 credits)
  • This module aims to provide students with detailed knowledge in the theoretical and practical aspects of forensic DNA analysis.
• Drugs in Sport II (5 credits)
  • This module builds on the semester 1 module.
• Instrumental Analysis II (5 credits)
  • This module is a continuation of the previous module from Semester 1.
• Interpretation & Evaluation of Forensic Evidence (5 credits)
  • This module provides an advanced exploration of the analysis and interpretation of evidence encountered in forensic investigations.
• Research project (10 credits)
  • This module is very exciting in that it gives students the opportunity to examine and research a topic of interest or indeed work on a project related to their previous years’ work experience.

Career Opportunities

For graduates that wish to proceed immediately to employment, career prospects are diverse – with graduates holding public and private sector jobs in state labs, forensic laboratories, healthcare, the pharmaceutical industry, analyst labs and more. The employment record of our graduates within Ireland has been excellent and our graduates have also obtained positions in the UK, USA and Australia.

Further Study

Successful graduates of this programme are eligible for Level 9 and 10 postgraduate programmes within TUS or elsewhere.