Forensic Science

Killaqueen!!!

Is there any decent course in Ireland to do with Forensics? I've searched theweb and there seems to be one in DIT and one in Sligo (which isn't an option for me) so basically theres fuck all. Didn't expect Ireland to be world experts in Forensics but I thought there'd be a decent course for it that would qualify you to work as a forensic analyst or whatever.

Still in the process of researching so forgive me if this sounds stupid.

And no, I'm not interested in forensics because of CSI:Miami

Would abroad be a better option?

Hope somebody replies to this....:D

Cheers

Timmy_d

Limerick institute

Jippo

What about a masters in forensics for somebody with a maths/ physics joint hons BScMS??

SligoBrewer

Killaqueen!!! wrote:

Is there any decent course in Ireland to do with Forensics? I've searched theweb and there seems to be one in DIT and one in Sligo (which isn't an option for me) so basically theres fuck all. Didn't expect Ireland to be world experts in Forensics but I thought there'd be a decent course for it that would qualify you to work as a forensic analyst or whatever.

Still in the process of researching so forgive me if this sounds stupid.

And no, I'm not interested in forensics because of CSI:Miami

Would abroad be a better option?

Hope somebody replies to this....:D

Cheers

why isnt sligo an option killa?

mikemac

AIT afaik

Killaqueen!!!

Actually I was looking into it and the one in DIT sounds alright. The course name is 'Forensic and Enviromental' so that put me off at the start but its mostly chemistry after year one. However, looking at the modules, there's a lot of physics and maths!!! I didn't expect this. I'm pretty bad at maths and physics doesn't interest me at all for some reason (cos I love chemistry and biology).

I don't suppose anyone has done this course? (I actually think it's relatively new).

Sligo really isn't an option right now because it's so far away. I don't mean to be snobby, as I am completely the opposite, but I wouldn't want to leave home just to go to Sligo IT. However, the description on their website sounds good. Almost too good to be true! Anyway, I'm in Dublin and I don't know anyone in Sligo so I'd be on my own and can't really afford accomadation anyway.

So far the only courses are in DIT, SIT and there's also a bioforensic course in CIT (Carlow)

Anyone have any experience with studying abroad for this?

Neo Android

After i have finished my leaving cert im going on to do a very good Forensic Science BScHons Course at Uclan (Lanachsire, England)

Gibbs

Killaqueen!!! wrote: »

Actually I was looking into it and the one in DIT sounds alright. The course name is 'Forensic and Enviromental' so that put me off at the start but its mostly chemistry after year one. However, looking at the modules, there's a lot of physics and maths!!! I didn't expect this. I'm pretty bad at maths and physics doesn't interest me at all for some reason (cos I love chemistry and biology).

I don't suppose anyone has done this course? (I actually think it's relatively new).

DIT course (DT203) has been running for 5 or 6 years, lots of info is available here: http://www.dit.ie/DIT/science/chemistry/forensic/index.html First year is general science - mainly chemistry and a forensic module, second year onwards is chemistry, with specialist topics in forensic and environmental topics.

Be wary of UK courses, some of them are not full science degrees, and end up being a mish-mash of everything.

Hope that helps.

Stepherunie

I know a few people who are into this. All bar one did a straight science degree and are going on to do there masters next year rather than do the BSc first. UCC do a masters in it as far as I know. The other did the course in LIT which does forensics with science or something like that.

Just a heads up though - there's a girl in my class whose sister did forensic science and there's very few jobs in it in Ireland, the National Forensics Lab for the Gardai train there own people to do the job etc. She went to the states and worked in Forensics for two years and came back to Ireland and ended up with a job as a receptionist.

Killaqueen!!!

Stepherunie wrote: »

I know a few people who are into this. All bar one did a straight science degree and are going on to do there masters next year rather than do the BSc first. UCC do a masters in it as far as I know. The other did the course in LIT which does forensics with science or something like that.

Just a heads up though - there's a girl in my class whose sister did forensic science and there's very few jobs in it in Ireland, the National Forensics Lab for the Gardai train there own people to do the job etc. She went to the states and worked in Forensics for two years and came back to Ireland and ended up with a job as a receptionist.

Jaysus thats not great. Do you know whether this girl did a degree over here or in the states? As long as I get qualified I don't mind travelling in the future. I would prefer to have stability in a job in Ireland but working in the States would be cool.

Still, with crime rates on the rise in Ireland, jobs might open up.

I was talking to a career guidance councillor and she said that apart from the courses in the IT's (Dublin, Limerick etc.) the other option is to get a degree in general Chemistry in a university and then specialise in Forensics, although this would take longer, probably be more difficult and wouldn't be as specialised towards forensics. However, it would open up more jobs if I couldn't get one in forensics in the future.

Anyway, thanks for the replies. Keep the info coming!

Stepherunie

She did her degree here and then went to the states to work.

You could look at this website for info in general about it.

Can't see an MSc in Forensic Science in Ireland though. This is the only course I could find Linkeh

regob

Killaqueen!!! wrote: »

Actually I was looking into it and the one in DIT sounds alright. The course name is 'Forensic and Enviromental' so that put me off at the start but its mostly chemistry after year one. However, looking at the modules, there's a lot of physics and maths!!! I didn't expect this. I'm pretty bad at maths and physics doesn't interest me at all for some reason (cos I love chemistry and biology).

I don't suppose anyone has done this course? (I actually think it's relatively new).

Sligo really isn't an option right now because it's so far away. I don't mean to be snobby, as I am completely the opposite, but I wouldn't want to leave home just to go to Sligo IT. However, the description on their website sounds good. Almost too good to be true! Anyway, I'm in Dublin and I don't know anyone in Sligo so I'd be on my own and can't really afford accomadation anyway.

So far the only courses are in DIT, SIT and there's also a bioforensic course in CIT (Carlow)

Anyone have any experience with studying abroad for this?

you said you cant afford accomadation but you are still looking at courses abroad.

Gibbs

Killaqueen!!! wrote: »

Jaysus thats not great. Do you know whether this girl did a degree over here or in the states? As long as I get qualified I don't mind travelling in the future. I would prefer to have stability in a job in Ireland but working in the States would be cool.

Still, with crime rates on the rise in Ireland, jobs might open up.

I was talking to a career guidance councillor and she said that apart from the courses in the IT's (Dublin, Limerick etc.) the other option is to get a degree in general Chemistry in a university and then specialise in Forensics, although this would take longer, probably be more difficult and wouldn't be as specialised towards forensics. However, it would open up more jobs if I couldn't get one in forensics in the future.

Anyway, thanks for the replies. Keep the info coming!

Hi Guys

RE forensic job in the states: the states and UK have a different system than here, so that may be why your firend was qualified to work here?

The courses in DIT, LIT etc are essentially chemistry courses, not just restricted to forensics, so you can (and people do) go into any science career when they graduate. This is unlike the situation in the UK with the exception of the course in Strathclyde, which is accredited by the professional body for chemists - the Royal Society of Chemistry. There may be some other courses now (eg Leicster also) You can check which courses are accredited by looking at the RSC website - DIT's course is accredited by the RSC. http://www.rsc.org/Membership/join/AccreditedCourses/index.asp (links at bottom of page)

The forensic courses here have a few specialised modules interspersed but they are essentially chemistry degrees. Your career guidance teacher is spot on, as the degrees have the same core content, the "specialised" ones just add bit more interest during the degree by contextualising it.

Certainly the previous minister for justice ws planning to expand the forensic lab. The guards DON'T train forensic scientists (ie the lab based people), they train their crime-scene investigators. These are two different careers, so make sure the course you are choosing reflects what you want to do.

Killaqueen!!!

^Hey thanks for the info there. I'm kind of thinking that it would be better for me to do a Chemistry degree in university. I don't think this would fully prepare me for a career in forensics but I would imagine most of the theory is there. Afterwords, I could hopefully do a course specilalised in forensics.

I assume that this would qualify me more, and look better for employment oppurtunities. It would also open up more career options but unfortunately, it wouldn't be as focused on forensics and I doubt it would be as interesting as the IT courses. It would take a lot longer as well, as I have mentioned.

I read a career profile (as it was called) from a forensic scientist who did a degree in Chemistry in a University in England, and then did a MSc (what is that exactly?) in Forensics and now has a good job.

The problem with this is that hardly any universitys in Ireland are accredited by the RSC, which I read is pretty much essential for employment oppurtunities in forensics. From their website I couldn't find Trinity, UCD, DCU etc.! They're all not accredited by the RSC though I think NUI is.

Sorry for so much detail but I'm sorta doing a project on this and I need as much as info as I can get

regob

msc= masters of science

Gibbs

Killaqueen!!! wrote: »

The problem with this is that hardly any universitys in Ireland are accredited by the RSC, which I read is pretty much essential for employment oppurtunities in forensics. From their website I couldn't find Trinity, UCD, DCU etc.! They're all not accredited by the RSC though I think NUI is.

Sorry for so much detail but I'm sorta doing a project on this and I need as much as info as I can get

Hi

Sorry - I should qualify that last statement - obviously TCD UCD etc have very highly regarded chemistry degrees and although it's a bit surprising that they are not on the list, it's probably down to the fact that someone in those institutions has forgotten to get around to (re-)registering. My point about registration was that in some UK colleges, the amount of science/chemistry on Forensic science courses was a bit mix and match, so you could check to see if they were registed on the RSC site.

Re your thinking of doing a chemistry degree - yes that makes sense; but remember the DIT, LIT degrees are full chemistry degrees; but have a slant towards forensics/environmental/pharmaceutical which makes them a bit more applied (and probably interesting!). But to look at it coldly, any chemistry degree followed by analytical experience (not necessarily forensic) should help you towards the goal of working in the forensic area.

Hope that helps.

Stepherunie

Killaqueen!!! wrote: »

The problem with this is that hardly any universitys in Ireland are accredited by the RSC, which I read is pretty much essential for employment oppurtunities in forensics. From their website I couldn't find Trinity, UCD, DCU etc.! They're all not accredited by the RSC though I think NUI is.

Do you mean NUIM, NUIG or just NUI? Because if it's just NUI that means UCD, NUIG, NUIM and UCC are all accredited as they are all part of the NUI.

Killaqueen!!!

Stepherunie wrote: »

Do you mean NUIM, NUIG or just NUI? Because if it's just NUI that means UCD, NUIG, NUIM and UCC are all accredited as they are all part of the NUI.

The Chemistry course in NUI is accredited by the RSC but UCD isn't. As far as I know anyway.

Studying in Galway could be cool but I'd miss Dublin and accomadation could be a problem.

Stepherunie

DIT is also recognised linkeh

As are two courses in Cork Linkeh

I'd be surprised if UCD and TCD weren't members of the RSC, best bet is to actually email the college themselves, you can contact UCD at chemistry@ucd.ie

smurfit06

UCC run a 4 year Honours Bachelor Degree in Chemistry With Forensic Science. It basically means you are able to finish with both a Forensic and a chemistry degree in analytical chemistry.
I'm doing the course and i think its brilliant, i think its recognised by the RSC but don't quote me on that.

Heres a link to see more about it which also outlines how to get into it:

http://www.ucc.ie/en/ck406/

Gibbs

smurfit06 wrote: »

UCC run a 4 year Honours Bachelor Degree in Chemistry With Forensic Science. It basically means you are able to finish with both a Forensic and a chemistry degree in analytical chemistry.

This is essentially how all of the irish forensic chemistry courses are structured.

smurfit06

The difference is in the wording. Its a Chemistry, With forensic science degree, essentially two independent pieces. the chemistry isn't just geared towards the analytical side of chemistry but to a general chemistry degree, similar to the standard 4 year course. My class are in the same lectures as standard chemistry.

Sciaran

yeah i'm interested in forensics and i was advised to look at the analytical science course that DCU have on offer. Its worth checking out. I was talking with the lady at DCU and apparently the state lab look for graduates of this course when they need new staff. I put it down on the CAO but i'm strongly considering america instead! I think its a pity there isn't a specific course to facilitate people with an interest in forensics as such...