The equipment of everyday life is made from raw materials. Chemists analyse and understand these raw materials to determine efficient and safe ways of transforming them into useful products, develop new products and materials, and monitor production processes to ensure the quality of finished products. Analytical Chemistry is the speciality dealing with devising, selecting, and using methods for determining the identity and quantity of chemical components of materials. Many important materials, such as biological samples or drugs and medicines, have key components that are present at very low levels or concentrations, and many sophisticated techniques have been developed for their detection and analysis. About the Course The BSc (Honours) in Analytical Chemistry with Quality Assurance (ACQUA) prepares students for laboratory careers in the pharmachemical industries. Graduates identify and solve analytical problems by the selection and use of a wide range of methods and techniques – from the mainstream areas of spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrochemistry, to more specialised areas such as particle size analysis or immunoassay techniques. The Honours BSc ACQUA also focuses on quality assurance, which is of vital importance to the pharmaceutical, chemical and allied industries. The course is examined using a combination of continuous assessment of both theory and practical work, and end of year examinations.

The chemical industry has many facets: production, research, product development, problem-solving, analysis, quality assurance, environmental monitoring, marketing and sales. These courses prepare students for careers in a major growth area of strategic importance to industrial development both in Ireland and abroad. Prospective students should be aware that the chemical industry offers well-paid secure employment in a wide range of career options, and has a high and growing demand for chemistry graduates. A period of work experience in industry at the end of the third year gives students a broader perspective of the industry and its role. Holders of the degree have become senior technicians, analysts, laboratory managers, quality control supervisors. Some have progressed into company management positions over the years, and some have started and managed their own companies. The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Analytical Chemistry with Quality Assurance prepares students for laboratory careers in the pharmachem industries. Graduates identify and solve analytical problems by the selection and use of a wide range of methods and techniques – from the mainstream areas of spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrochemistry, to more specialised areas such as particle size analysis or immunoassay techniques. The BSc ACQUA additionally focuses on quality assurance, which is of vital importance to the pharmaceutical, chemical and allied industries. Graduates are qualified in areas such as Quality Standards, Good Manufacturing Practice, Total Quality Management, and Regulatory Compliance. They may take up leadership roles in areas such as method design and implementation, process validation, and management of quality systems. Potential Areas of Employment • Laboratory Analyst • Quality Management, Regulatory Compliance • Research • Teaching Furthermore, a strong basis of fundamental chemistry and familiarity with the latest technological developments in analytical chemistry prepare graduates for progression to postgraduate study and research at MSc and PhD level, both at CIT and at universities in Ireland and abroad.