Ph.D. Environmental Toxicology Degree

The purpose of the proposed Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Environmental Toxicology is to provide an academic structure through which students receive formal classroom education and strong guidance regarding complex research problems that evaluate toxic substances that are released into the environment. Doctoral graduates will be qualified to fill positions in universities, colleges, governmental agencies, foundations, and industry.

The objectives of the Doctor of Philosophy program in Environmental Toxicology are to provide skilled researchers with background to:

• Develop and manage nationally and internationally recognized research programs which utilize the expertise of toxicologists, chemists, engineers, wildlife biologists, ecologists, statisticians and invertebrate biologists to determine the effects of environmental contaminants on humans and free-living populations of animals.
• Increase our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of toxic response in humans, wildlife fish and other biological resources.
• Assess the direct and indirect effects of environmental contaminants on humans, wildlife, fish and other biological resources.
• Integrate research efforts with those of federal, state and local regulatory agencies, private industry and environmental groups to provide the highest quality scientific data upon which environmentally sound policy decisions can be made.
• Provide classroom and laboratory instruction in Environmental Toxicology at the associate, baccalaureate and graduate teaching levels.
• Interpret and communicate intramural and extramural technical data so that the general public as well as the scientific community will be able to develop informed opinions on the effects of toxic substances in the environment.

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Environmental Toxicology, Ph.D.
About the Environmental Toxicology Doctoral Program

The Department of 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. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of environmental toxicology, prospective students should contact the Graduate Program Coordinator 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 the online application to the Graduate School. Interested students should contact faculty within the department.

The Department of Environmental Toxicology 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, The Department of Environmental Toxicology includes faculty with backgrounds in biological sciences, medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, engineering, chemistry, computer science, law, mathematics, pharmacology, physiology, and wildlife biology.

The Ph.D. program (72 hours) is 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 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 this degree must perform an original research project, prepare a written dissertation, and defend the work in a public defense.