It’s CSI: Limerick as series boosts course
Budding sleuths are queuing up to get into LIT’s forensic science faculty, which is the only one of its kind in the country.
Dr Willie Fitzgerald, who heads the course, said that the TV series, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation helps boost the demand for places.
Dr Fitzgerald said: “The TV series captures the imagination and certainly is a significant factor in the continued popularity of the course.”
And such is that demand for the 30 places on offer in the course that the points criteria has shot up again this year.
LIT was the first Irish college to introduce the pharmaceutical and forensic analysis course in 2002.
It is still the only course of its kind available, while one Dublin college has a course on environmental forensics.
Dr Fitzgerald also said the forensic science graduates have a huge job placement success.
He said: “Of the 30 who graduated in 2006, the first to complete the course, 24 got employment straight away, three went on to do masters and doctorates and three opted to do some travel.”
LIT yesterday announced that 2008 saw the largest first-round acceptances for degree courses, with 1,381 Leaving Certificate and mature students choosing the college for their third-level education.
This places LIT in fourth position amongst institutes of technology nationwide, with a 5% increase in market share.
Dr Maria Hinfelaar, president of LIT, said: “Amongst the programmes recruiting very strongly this year are pharmaceutical and forensic analysis, art and design, music technology and renewable energy control systems.”
Dr Fergal Barry, LIT’s head of development said: “Given the increased first-preference interest in LIT courses, we felt it pertinent to ensure that as many places as possible were provided to those students who have achieved the course entry requirements at the Leaving Certificate level, and who wish to continue their education at LIT.”
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