Arson, DNA fingerprinting, giving evidence in court and drugs in sports are unusual and exciting elements of a new science degree beginning in Limerick Institute of Technology in September 2002.

The degree, a BSc in pharmaceutical and forensic analysis, is the first of its kind in Ireland, and its developers are confident that there will be many high-calibre applicants.

"The degree is attractive across the board, and should interest people studying Leaving Cert biology as well as those doing chemistry," said course director William Fitzgerald, a lecturer in Limerick's IT's department of applied science.

"It's not a traditional four-year chemistry course, as it's very interdisciplinary." In the first year, students will study forensics and scientific practice, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer applications.

In second year, they will have more forensics, biosciences, pharmaceutical science, instrumental analysis, inorganic and physical chemistry, and statistical process control.

Third-year subjects are forensic toxicology and drug analysis, pharmaceutical technology, biochemical toxicology and biotechnology, instrumental analysis, and information management systems. There will be a six-month work placement during this year.

In the final year, the topics are: biomolecular forensics and biopharmaceuticals, advanced pharmaceutical technology, more instrumental analysis, forensics, and drugs in sport. Students also do a final project.

The aim of this ab-initio BSc programme is to produce high quality problem-solving graduates skilled in the measurement principles and techniques employed in forensic and pharmaceutical analysis.

According to Fitzgerald, graduates are expected to find employment in forensic, pharmaceutical or analytical areas, such as public analyst laboratories, forensic laboratories, environmental and health agencies, the pharmaceutical industry, and food and biotechnology industries.

Staff decided to develop the course to meet a gap in the market.

"There are no forensics qualifications available in Ireland north or south, so we decided that there was a need there to be serviced," commented Jim Healy, lecturer in chemistry and instrumental analysis.

The techniques used in forensic analysis overlap considerably with those used in pharmaceutical laboratories, so it was decided to combine the two main strands into the new degree.

"The pharmaceutical industry is a very secure one for Ireland - it has no highs or lows, and is one of the biggest earners for the country," Healy said.

New graduates currently working in these and similar fields can expect starting salaries of around £20,000.

The applied science department at LIT already offers HETAC national certificates in applied chemistry, environmental and analytical science and applied biology. Two national diplomas are provided in chemical instrumentation/analytical methods, one of them in environmental management/monitoring systems and the other in applied instrumentation/physics systems. On the biology side, there is a national diploma in applied biosciences.

There are also one-year add-on BSc degrees in chemical instrumentation and analysis, and in bio-analysis and biotechnology.

With accumulated experience in these areas, the new degree in pharmaceutical and forensic analysis is a logical step, according to the head of the applied science department, Michael Geary.

"It's a natural progression for staff here, as we had all the disciplines here already, and only needed to recruit the legal staff," he said.

Legal topics to be covered include "the law, evidence and the analyst", taking in the role of the forensic expert in the judicial system, and giving evidence in court.

The crime scene investigation, evidence collection - including fire-damaged evidence in arson cases - and the classical trio of fingerprints, shoeprints and tyreprints will all be covered.

Forensic microscopy, with training in dealing with trace evidence from fibres, hair, glass, explosives, paint, soil and drugs will be a facet of lab work, along with forensic imaging and photography.

And as regards illegal drugs, their effect on humans, horses, and dogs, and their detection, will be studied. One of the locations lined up for work placement is the greyhound testing laboratory in Limerick.

Intake of students will be limited to 35 in the first year.

Applications should be made through the CAO system.