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Drug & Medicinal Analysis OR Pharmaceutical & Forensic Analysis?

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  • 18-02-2013 7:52pm
    #1
    Classof2013
    Registered Users Posts: 54 ✭✭


    Which degree would people suggest? I'm really stuck for choice and I cannot make up my mind! My questions are:


    1) Which course would give me better job opportunities upon graduation?

    2) And finally, when would the final class usually be during the day? I would have to be home by half 3 for work in the evening.

    3) Do I need a science subject for my leaving cert in order to apply for either of these courses?

    Any help or answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated! :D


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    #2
    Stellaluna
    Registered Users Posts: 197 ✭✭Stellaluna


    The course requirements are generally 2 honours and four passes at leaving cert level including English and maths. A science subject is not necessary.

    The core of all the chemical analysis courses is basically the same. You do chemistry and instrumentation modules which will prepare you for analytical science based jobs. Drug and medicinal analysis has modules dealing with good manufacturing practice and working in a regulated environment with regard to the manufacture and testing of pharmaceutical products. Forensic and pharma has modules dealing with forensic toxicology and drug testing (e.g. Drugs in sport). Both are four year courses and have work placement in 3rd year. Really you should just choose the course with the specialist topics that interest you more - the analytical training will stand to you no matter what analytical science job you go for.

    Here are the links to the course pages on the LIT website, they give you most of the info about the courses and their modules as well as the kind of jobs you might go for:

    http://www.lit.ie/Courses/LC265

    http://www.lit.ie/Courses/LC266

    In answer to your question about contact hours - typically about 24 hours in a week, classes can be scheduled any time between 9am to 6pm. You may be lucky and finish by mid afternoon most days but there is no guarantee. (I had an instrumentation lab in 2nd yr that ran 'til six on a Friday). Bear in mind that practical lab sessions are mandatory - if you don't do enough practicals during the year you cannot pass the year. One of the advantages of the science courses in LIT is the emphasis on practical lab work - your time is split roughly 50/50 lectures to labs.

    Hope this helps - I'm 4th year chemical instrumentation and analytical methods. Incidentally the fourth year for my course is identical to the drug and medicinal analysis


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