Department of Applied Science
The Applied Science programmes at ITT Dublin are designed to offer you flexibility in your choice and your career path. You can choose to enter into 2nd, 3rd or 4th year programmes depending on your particular preference. The 2 year Higher Certificate (Level 6) programmes have 1 year add-on programmes that allow you to top up your qualifications to BSc (Level 7) and B.Sc. Honours (Level 8). Alternatively, you can start with a 3 year B.Sc. programme and then take a 1 year add-on to go to B.Sc. Honours.
In addition, all of the programmes are built on a common first year. Most of the programmes offer the option of choosing a biology or chemistry specialization for years 2, 3 and 4. This approach allows you to develop a deeper understanding of the sciences before having to commit to a particular specialization.
Bio- or Chemical Analysis - Making Your Choice
The designation in the CAO handbook for the Higher Certificates in Science is TA301 and the Bachelor Degrees is TA311. Both sets of programmes have a common first year programme. During first year students are introduced to the basic concepts of the biological, chemical and physical sciences. First year provides students with a fundamental knowledge and understanding of general science with extensive hands-on exposure to the basic practical skills needed to be able to work safely and effectively in a laboratory. This then permits the student to make a more informed choice the end of First Year about whether they wish to pursue the Higher Certificate or Bachelor Degree in Science (Applied Biology) or the Higher Certificate or Bachelor Degree in Science (Applied Chemistry) in their second year of study.
Do I need Science at Leaving Certificate? - NO
You do not have to have studied any of the sciences other than Mathematics at Leaving Certificate though it is advantageous if you have studied one or more. If not, don’t worry – you will not be alone and we offer a number of learning supports to help bring people up to a common standard.
How are the programmes delivered?
Small class sizes and significant tutorial support help ensure that students can successfully make the transition to third level education. We believe in teaching science by doing science. A major emphasis in all our science courses is hands-on practical training ensuring that students develop the skills necessary to work competently in industry and other laboratory environments.
All of our full-time courses in science are delivered over two semesters (September to January and February to May). There are examinations at the end of each semester but students do have the opportunity to accumulate a significant proportion of their marks through continuous assessment and practical assignments during semester.
What Are The Career Prospects For Graduates?
The biopharmaceutical industry sector in Ireland involves over 120 companies including 16 of the world’s top 20 companies and is the second most important sector in the Irish economy. The Irish biopharmaceutical industry is outperforming other sectors in the economy and continues to provide excellent opportunities for science graduates of all disciplines.
An example of a leading biopharmaceutical production and research facility is the Pfizer (formally Wyeth) Biotech Campus at Grange Castle in Clondalkin. It is one of the largest integrated biopharmaceutical production facilities in the world. It employs almost 1,300 people, 60 % of whom are science graduates. This is just one of several success stories in the Irish Biopharmaceutical sector.
The biopharmaceutical sector includes biotechnology, pharmaceutical, chemical and healthcare industries. The sector continues to require employees with specialist technical training and skills at all levels. One of the main reasons that these companies choose to locate in Ireland is our very high educational standards which provides a ready pool of highly educated workers. Between 60% and 70% of all those working in the sector are science graduates.
In response to the needs of the biopharmaceutical sector, we have developed a range of highly relevant courses aimed at meeting industry needs but still allowing graduates the flexibility to diversify into other areas like science teaching, forensic analysis, environmental analysis, quality assurance, microbiology, genetics, biotechnology, chemical sciences, and scientific research and development.
The Department of Science also has an active research and development profile. Areas of research include searching for new medicines, developing new methods for the detection of drugs and other chemicals and figuring out how bacteria cause disease and how to stop them. In addition, there is ongoing collaboration with industry on product development projects.
- Some Key Areas of Science Covered
Analysis in the Laboratory
Analysis is a key activity in every laboratory. It can be simple, for example analysing liquids or solids in order to identify the component elements. This can be the first step on the ladder to the more complex analyses associated with the production of pharmaceutical and health-care products, environmental monitoring, food and agri-production and forensic evidence.
Bioanalysis
In the science labs at ITT Dublin students are prepared for a future role as laboratory bio-analysts. They learn to detect and quantify all sorts of biological molecules from sugars and proteins, to DNA.
Chemical Analysts
Some students will qualify as chemical analysts whose job it will be to identify the chemical elements in samples. They gain experience with a variety of techniques such as atomic absorption spectroscopy and NMR.
Molecular Biology
DNA is the substance of life. Molecular biology involves the study of DNA and understanding how information is encoded in it. Manipulating DNA can bring enormous benefits in areas like vaccine production and the design of new therapies for human disease. Students learn and practice the skills of genetic engineering and DNA fingerprinting and become familiar with their applications.
Immunology
This is the study of how the body’s immune system works to protect us from infection and disease. Many of the new drugs now being developed and produced in Ireland for the treatment diseases like arthritis, psoriasis and eczema are derived from our understanding of immunology.
Sports Science and Health
Sports Science and Health apply scientific and medical principles to physical performance during sports and exercise. These two fields of healthcare are broad and can lead to many different educational and career opportunities in clinical, sports and academic settings.
Forensics
Forensic science means any science which is used as evidence in a court of law. It is also taken to mean scientific analysis and comparison used in the detection and investigation of crime. It is very important to be aware that many companies outside the state laboratories also carry out forensic analysis e.g. laboratories validating the pedigree of animals or testing for performance-altering drugs in animals or humans. Studying forensics equips the graduate with the analytical skills necessary to work in a range of industries in addition to forensics, including diagnostics, the agri-food sector and biopharmaceuticals.
TA301 - Higher Certificate in Science - Applied Biology
TA301 - Higher Certificate in Science - Applied Chemistry
TA314 - Bachelor of Science Degree - Pharmaceutical Science
TA315 - Bachelor Degree of Science – DNA and Forensic Science
TA316 - Bachelor Degree of Science – Sports Science and Health
TA321 - Honours Bachelor Degree - Pharmaceutical Science
TA 326 Honours Bachelor Degree of Science - DNA and Forensic Science
TA311 - Bachelor Degree of Science - Chemical Analysis
TA311 - Bachelor Degree of Science - Bioanalysis
TA327 - Honours Bachelor Degree of Science - Sports Science & Health
