About the Environmental Toxicology Master’s and Doctoral Programs
Environmental toxicology offers a graduate program within the College of Arts and Sciences as well as fixed and variable credit courses for undergraduates. The courses are designed to provide undergraduate students the opportunity to learn about and conduct scientific research in environmental toxicology at The Institute of Environmental and Human Health. Generally, a background in the natural, physical, or health sciences will provide the necessary preparation for completion of these courses. Interested students should contact faculty within the department.
The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) integrates the efforts of Texas Tech University, the School of Law, and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in a joint venture to assess the impacts of toxic chemicals and other stressors on the natural environment. Attracting graduate students at both the master’s and doctoral level, TIEHH includes faculty with backgrounds in biological sciences, medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, engineering, chemistry, computer science, law, mathematics, pharmacology, physiology, and wildlife biology.
Because of the multidisciplinary nature of environmental toxicology, prospective students should contact the graduate advisor to discuss prerequisites and prior training. Generally, a strong background in the natural, physical, or health sciences will provide the necessary preparation. Students interested in pursuing a degree must complete online applications to the Graduate School (www.gradschool.ttu.edu) and to the Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program (www.tiehh.ttu.edu).
The M.S. program (36 hours) and the Ph.D. program (72 hours) are composed of coursework emphasizing the principles of toxicology, the environmental fate of chemicals, statistical approaches to study design, data handling, and data analysis, and seminars in environmental toxicology. Supplemental coursework, research, and thesis or dissertation hours are chosen by the student with the guidance of their committee, allowing for focus on the student’s particular research emphasis. Students pursuing either degree must perform an original research project, prepare a written thesis or dissertation, and defend the work in a public defense.
