Applied Biology - Food Health & Nutrition
Course Description
Note: Course shadowing as part of work experience is available for this course.
The food and drink industry in Ireland is a very important indigenous industry, providing interesting and well paid employment. Consumers require attractive, convenient and safe food products that also offer health promoting benefits and skilled scientists are required to manufacture and develop these products.
Skills and knowledge in areas such as science and technology, food safety and nutrition are the focus of this course. Throughout the course you will gain insights into the manufacture and the nutritional content of current food products, and how to develop new exciting innovative products.
This Industry requires trained skilled personnel and this course will provide you a stepping stone to progress to third level education and/or gain employment. Over the past years the majority of our past graduates have progressed to third level education in Ireland and the UK.
QQI Level 5
Food Science: 5M5267
Laboratory Techniques: 5M3807
This is a full time one year course
Leaving Certificate or equivalent (mathematics desirable). All applicants are interviewed and places are awarded on suitability. Mature students without formal qualifications are most welcome to apply.
The following subjects may be offered:
- Biology
5N2746
Designed to develop an understanding of biology and an ability to perform practical tasks in biology. - Microbiology
5N0738
Outlines the fundamentals of microbiology and basic microbiological skills used in a laboratory setting. - Chemistry
5N2747
Designed to develop an understanding of the industrial and practical applications of chemistry. - Food Chemistry
5N2748
Designed to develop an understanding of basic and analytical chemistry and the fundamentals of food chemistry. - Food Processing
5N5245
Describes the processes used in the food industry to produce selected food products and explains the scientific principles underpinning these processes. - Laboratory Skills
5N2751
Outlines basic laboratory techniques and safety measures important in an analytical laboratory. - Mathematics
5N1833
Applies a broad range of mathematical skills and tools to a wide variety of contexts, with theoretical understanding. - Nutrition
5N2006
The study of the nutritional composition of food and the effects of food and nutrition on an individual’s health and personal well being. - Communications
5N0690
Equips students for presentations, report writing and interviews. - Work Experience
5N1356
The purpose of this subject is to equip the learner with the relevant knowledge, skill and competence to participate in the workplace for a limited time, carrying out work-related tasks independently while under general direction.
The food and pharmaceutical industries are among Ireland’s largest employers and have a large potential for employment.
Job opportunities for students who complete this course include:
- Laboratory assistants.
- Operators in food and pharmaceutical industries.
- Supervisor/manager in food retail outlets.
- Worker/supervisor in food preparation.
- Small food business operators.
390 CAO points can be earned by students on successful completion of this course.
For full details on progression opportunities see these links:
Cork Colleges Progression Scheme
QQI Requirements
Students who study this course are eligible to apply for many courses in the Applied Science areas in Irish Third Level Institutes. As this course is part of the “Links Scheme” for entry into third level colleges, students thus gain entry to these linked courses based on their QQI-FETAC rather than their Leaving Certificate results.
Students who wish to use the links to further studies will need to attain a certain level of achievement in their QQI-FETAC award.
Some examples of these linked courses include:
University College Cork:
- Food Science (CK505)
- Nutritional Science (CK504)
- Food Marketing & Entrepreneurship (CK502)
- Public Health and Health Promotion (CK706)
- Biological and Chemical Sciences (CK402)
- Chemical Sciences (CK406)
- Environmental & Earth System Sciences (CK404)
Institutes of Technology:
- Nutrition and Health Science (CR333)
- Applied Biosciences (CR006)
- Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CR007)
- Science Courses (CR300)
- Herbal Science (CR330)
Course participants are also eligible to apply to UK Universities to study Dietetic and other Science courses.
Special Features
This one year course is an excellent foundation in the Science subjects for students wishing to pursue higher level courses /careers in the Science area.
There is a strong emphasis on the development of practical and laboratory skills.
Work experience in the food/ pharmaceutical/health care, or related industries and services is an important feature of this course.
Microscope
Lab work
Applied science