Department of Environmental Toxicology

Professor Ronald Kendall, Chairperson.

Professor Dixon; Associate Professors Anderson, Cobb, Dickerson, Hooper, and Wang; Assistant Professors McMurry, E. Smith, and Theodorakis; Senior Research Scientist Tandler; Adjunct Faculty: Allen, Baker, Bradley, Carr, Coats, Dasgupta, Densmore, Deslippe, Johnson, Maull, Mehta, Mora, Otis, Patino, Pence, Porter, Smith, Stegeman, Warner, and Woods.

This department offers study in the following graduate degree programs: ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. In addition, a combined degree leading to a joint J.D.Master of Science degree in cooperation with the Texas Tech School of Law is also offered.

Because of the multidisciplinary nature of environmental toxicology, prospective students should contact the graduate advisor for the program to discuss prerequisites and prior training. Generally, strong background in the natural, physical or health sciences will provide the necessary preparation. Students interested in pursuing a degree must complete applications to the Graduate School <www.ttu.edu/gradschool/gradadmit.htm> and the Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program <www.tiehh.ttu.edu./Education/application.asp>.

The M.S. program (36 hours) and the Ph.D. program (72 hours) are composed of course work emphasizing the principles of toxicology, the environmental fate of chemicals, statistical approaches to study design and data handling, and seminars in environmental toxicology. Supplemental course work, 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.

Courses in Toxicology. (TOX)

6115. Interdisciplinary Seminar in Environmental Toxicology (1:1:0). Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Seminar on timely topics by experts in aspects of environmental toxicology. Focuses on basic and applied research, regulatory decision-making, and industry perspectives. Required for all environmental toxicology students. May be repeated for credit.

Courses in Environmental Toxicology. (ENTX)

6000. Master's Thesis (V1-6).

6100. Graduate Seminar (1:1:0). Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. A participatory seminar where graduate students condense, review, and present research findings on focused topics. Subject matter varies by semester. May be repeated for credit.

6105. Introductory Seminar in Environmental Toxicology (1:1:0). Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Topics include laboratory orientations, safety, quality assurance, good laboratory practices (GLP), animal care and use, standard operating procedures (SOP), and administrative procedures. Required for all new students in environmental toxicology.

6251. Analytical Toxicology Laboratory (2:0:2). Corequisite: ENTX 6351 or consent of instructor. Extraction, cleanup, and quantitative analysis of environmental chemicals and their degradates. Reinforces and applies theories taught in ENTX 6351.

6300. Advanced Topics in Environmental Toxicology (3:3:0). Special areas of current interest not generally covered in other courses. Content normally different each time offered. May be repeated for credit.

6325. Principles of Toxicology I (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Graduate standing in the department or consent of instructor. First half of two semester course. Examines the foundations of toxicological sciences. Covers principles, disposition, and first half of toxicity mechanisms.

6326. Principles of Toxicology II (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENTX 6325. Second half of two semester course. Covers remaining mechanisms, toxic agents, and applied toxicology.

6327. Molecular Toxicology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENTX 6325 and 6326 or consent of instructor. Molecular mechanisms and control of phase I and phase II xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, oxidative stress, and carcinogenesis. Emphasizes prototypical chemicals with multiple modes of action.

6331. Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENTX 6325 and 6326 or consent of instructor. Mechanistic treatment of chemical effects on reproductive and developmental processes and the resulting impacts on reproductive function, fertility, and the developing offspring.

6341. Pesticides in the Environment (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. A survey course on the fate and significance of pesticides in soil, water, and plants. Topics include pesticide classes and modes of action, microbial degradation, and nontarget effects.

6345. Chemical Sources and Fates in Environmental Systems (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Organic and analytical or environmental chemistry or consent of instructor. Environmental phenomena and physical properties of chemicals are used to understand processes governing chemical fate in the environment from global to micro scales.

6348. Chemodynamics (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENTX 6345 or consent of instructor. Rate of transportation, disposition, and degradation of chemicals are explored using transport phenomena equations.

6351. Analytical Toxicology Lecture (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENTX 6345 or consent of instructor. Theory of isolation, detection, identification, and quantification of toxic substances and their transformation products in environmental and biological samples.

6361. Environmental and Wildlife Toxicology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Organic chemistry, ecology, or consent of instructor. Examines exposure and effects of chemicals in wildlife, their study in the lab and field, and use of conducting ecological risk assessments.

6365. Fundamentals of Aquatic Ecotoxicology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Graduate or advanced undergraduate background in biological, chemical, or environmental sciences or consent of instructor. Covers effects of water pollution on aquatic organisms and human health. Subjects include fate and transport in aqueous systems, acute toxicity and toxicity tests, and effects of pollutants on aquatic systems from the molecular to the global levels.

6366. Advanced Environmental Toxicology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENTX 6325 and 6326, 6345, or consent of instructor. Examines toxicological principles at population, community, and ecosystem levels stressing population dynamics, life history changes, community composition, and ecosystem dynamics.

6367. Advanced Wildlife Toxicology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENTX 6325 and 6326, 6345, or consent of instructor. Environmental contaminant effects on reproduction, health, and well being of wildlife species and applications to ecological risk assessment.

6371. Procedures and Techniques in Ecological Risk Assessment (3:2:1). Prerequisite: ENTX 6325, 6326, and 6345. Emphasizes testing techniques, site assessment and monitoring procedures, regulatory requirements, and field and laboratory techniques for ecological risk assessments.

6381. Quality and Ethics in Science (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Basic statistics or consent of instructor. Principles and practices of obtaining and documenting quality in science. History, methods, costs, examples, and role of quality and ethics in regulatory and professional climates.

6385. Statistical Applications in Environmental Toxicology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: STAT 5302 or equivalent. Designed for students who wish to understand the interrelationships of statistical distributions and particular statistical approaches to environmental toxicology data analysis.

6391. Modeling and Simulation in Ecotoxicology (3:2:1). Prerequisite: Calculus. Model development, implementation, and simulation applied to ecotoxicology; stressor responses; toxicokinetics; individual organism effects; individual-based models; population, community, and landscape effects; parameter estimation; design and analysis of simulation experiments; and model validation.

6431. Biomarkers in Toxicology (4:2:2). Prerequisite: ENTX 6325 and 6326. Lecture and laboratory on biomarker theory and use. Biochemical, physiological, histological responses to chemical exposure, effects and susceptibility are studied. Laboratory stresses individual and team approaches.

7000. Research (V1-12).

8000. Doctor's Dissertation (V1-12).


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