Imagine a course the subject of which has its origins in the development and use of poisons, or in science-speak, toxicology. However, according to Dr Paul Tomkins, head of the school of science in Athlone Institute of Technology, the modern interpretation of toxicology is much wider. "It's really the study of the effects of any compound or agent: that would include radiation and its effects on living systems."

This year, AIT's new four-year ab initio degree will appear on the CAO list for the first time ever. Athlone IT, however, has been offering programmes in toxicology since the mid-1980's. In 1993, it introduced an add-on BSc. In 1996, the school of science, in partnership with the University of Ulster, developed and introduced the first taught MSc programme in toxicology in Ireland.

The attraction of toxicology as a subject, says Tomkins, is how versatile it is. He believes the type of students that might come on to the course would be those not quite sure what area of science they are really interested in.

"Because it is multi-disciplinary they will get exposed to virtually all the major areas, from analytical chemistry to molecular biology to environmental science to clinical aspects to physiology to pharmacology. They'll get bits of everything. In that sense it will be quite useful to those who think they have an interest in all things science, but aren't quite sure what area they will ultimately end up in."

Toxicology, he says, tends to be broken down into sub-disciplines - eco-toxicology, geno-toxicology, forensic toxicology, clinical toxicology etc. "There is a huge number of little sub-disciplines, which is kind of unusual. Therefore, as a discipline, it can accommodate people from a host of different backgrounds, which makes it very multidisciplinary."

The opportunities for graduates coming off the course are good, says Tomkins. Pharmachemical and other healthcare companies, contract research and testing companies, chemical companies, health services and a number of State departments and international agencies all employ toxicologists. Graduates of Athlone IT toxicology courses are employed in major healthcare companies, CROs, clinical trials, regulatory affairs, academia and a host of general laboratory and management positions.

"The actual demand for toxicologists in Ireland is steadily and slowly beginning to increase, because essentially it is a regulatory driven discipline. So as legislation demands goes up, people need more."

There will be a maximum of 25 places on the course and, says Tomkins, it is hard to know what the points may be. He says that although points for science courses have tended to be quite low in recent years, toxicology "tends to have a kind of clinical or medical connotation to it, which tends to drive the points slightly up".

Students will spend approximately 25 hours a week between the usual mix of lectures, tutorials, seminars and lab work. In the final year the amount of contact hours decreases to 20 because students have a long, substantial project to complete. The course also includes a substantial industry placement in third year.

In parallel with the growth of its training programmes, Athlone IT has developed extensive research programmes in toxicology and has attracted more than £2 million in research funding in this area over the three years alone.

The college, in conjunction with the polymer-engineering department, has established the Centre for Biopolymer and Biomolecular Research (CBBR) to pursue research in bio-materials, medical device toxicology, cell and molecular toxicology and drug discovery. The CBBR will move into a new dedicated research building in 2002.

Molecular toxicology has been strongly developed in Athlone in recent years and a natural consequence of this is the development of a new three-year national diploma in cell and molecular biology - which appears on the CAO list for the first time this year. The school of science in Athlone also offers certificate programmes in applied science, a national diploma in analytical chemistry and a BSc in applied chemistry. New programmes in chemistry are currently under development.