Admission into the toxicology program requires the successful completion of courses in advanced biology and/or chemistry or their equivalents. The completion of a Thesis/Dissertation is required for both the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in toxicology.

It is strongly recommended that all students in the Ph.D. program complete the core courses listed below or their equivalents. Degree plans for individual students vary depending on the student's background and research focus. Doctoral students normally complete 36 hours of coursework and 60 hours of research credit. The toxicology program emphasizes research as most students are placed in laboratories during their first semester and continue to conduct research while they complete 2-3 courses per semester.

The Core Courses and Electives are listed below.  The TAMU Graduate Course Catalog has further information about these and other courses.

Core Courses

BICH 603  General Biochemistry I, 3 credits.

The biochemical properties of macromolecules found in living matter; proteins, enzymes, and nucleic acids.

STAT 651  Statistics in Research I, 3 credits.

A non-calculus exposition of the concepts, methods and usage of statistical data analysis. T-tests, analysis of variance and linear regression.

VAPH 618  Food Toxicology, 3 credits.

The study of food additives, chemical and microbial contaminants, and naturally occurring toxins associated with foods.

VAPH 670  Basic Environmental Toxicology, 3 credits.

Introduction to general principles of toxicology; test methods, target organs and risk assessment for engineers and other non-toxicologists; risk assessment methodology.

VAPH 686  Scientific Ethics, 1 credit.

Overview of ethical issues encountered by toxicologists in research, resources, interactions with public, and application of findings.

VTPP 673  Metabolic & Detoxication Mechanisms, 3 credits.

Fate of foreign compounds; their inhibitory and antagonistic action toward normal metabolic processes of the animal body.

VTPP 676  Genetic & Molecular Toxicology, 3 credits.

Mechanisms of toxicant-induced target organ toxicity with emphasis on molecular control of mammalian and cell growth differentiation.

VTPP 681  Toxicology Seminar, 1 credit.

Review and discussion of current scientific work in toxicology and related subjects.

Elective Courses

Toxicology electives are selected from advanced courses which provide additional expertise in specialized areas within the sub-disciplines of cellular and molecular toxicology, reproductive and neurotoxicology, and environmental toxicology and food safety. Electives may be selected from the following courses:

BICH 604	General Biochemistry II, 3 credits.
BICH 631/ GENE 631	Molecular Genetics, 3 credits.
BICH 654	Structural Biochemistry, 3 credits.
BICH 662	Eukaryotic Transcription, 1 credit.
BIOL 681	Seminar, 1 credit.
CHEM 601	Analytical Chemistry I, 3 credits.
CHEM 602	Analytical Chemistry II, 3 credits.
CVEN 609	Environmental Control of Oil & Hazardous Materials, 3 credits.
CVEN 682	Environmental Remediation of Contaminated Sites, 3 credits.
ENTO 619	Insect Toxicology, 4 credits.
FSTC 606	Microbiology of Foods, 3 credits.
MSCI 610*	Pathogenesis of Human Disease, 3 credits.
NUTR 641	Nutritional Biochemistry, 3 credits.
PHEO 600*	Principles of Occupational & Environmental Health, 3 credits.
PHEO 611*	Occupational Epidemiology, 3 credits.
PHEO 650*	Risk Assessment I, 3 credits.
STAT 652	Statistics in Research II, 3 credits.
TAMU 699**	Basic Concepts of Tumor Biology, 3 credits.
TAMU 699**	Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis, 3 credits.
VIBS 602	Histology, 4 credits.
VIBS 603	Neuroanatomy, 4 credits.
VIBS 605	Chemical Hazard Assessment, 3 credits.
VIBS 614	Biodegradation and Bioremediation, 3 credits.
VIBS 617	Advanced Cell Biology, 1-5 credits.
VIBS 619	Food Toxicology II, 3 credits.
VTMI 649	Immunology, 3 credits.
VTPP 653	Endocrinology, 3 credits.
VTPP 654	Molecular Endocrinology, 3 credits.
VTPP 665	Pharmacology, 4 credits.
WFSC 689	Special Topics in Wildlife Ecotoxicology, 2 credits.

 

*TAMUS Health Science Center course, requires co-enrollment.

**University of Texas courses, requires special permission to enroll.