Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program FAQ's

FAQ's: Admissions

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Q.Is the Department of Environmental Toxicology located on the main Texas Tech University campus?

A. No; the Department of Environmental Toxicology is located about 20 minutes from the main Texas Tech University campus. Our department’s address is 1207 S. Gilbert Dr., Lubbock, TX 79416.

Q. Is there public transportation to the Department of Environmental Toxicology?

A. No; there is no public transportation, but help among fellow students can be requested until you have your own transportation. Our department is located at 1207 S. Gilbert Dr., Lubbock, TX 79416.

Q. Are we required to pay for parking?

A. Yes, TTU Transportation and Parking Services requires ENTX students to purchase an annual parking pass.

Q. Do I need to apply to the Graduate School and to the Environmental Toxicology program separately?

A. No, there is only one application. Prospective students can choose either Fall or Spring entry on the Graduate School application. Please select the Environmental Toxicology program when applying.

Q. How much is the application fee?

A. The application fee for US/permanent residents and for international students is $60. This fee can be paid online when filling out the Graduate School application.

Q. What are the deadlines for applications?

A. Applications are reviewed continuously throughout each academic year. However, prospective students submitting complete application packages before January 15 (for those planning to enroll in the upcoming Fall semester) or June 1 (for those planning to enroll in the upcoming Spring semester) will be eligible and considered for a limited number of graduate research assistantships (stipends).

Q. What is the minimum GRE score to be eligible for admission?

A. All aspects of the application packet are important, and each application is reviewed holistically. You will not be accepted or rejected based solely on GRE scores.

Q. What is the minimum GPA score to be eligible for admission?

A. All aspects of the application packet are important, and each application is reviewed holistically. You will not be accepted or rejected based solely on GPA.

Q. What type of undergraduate degree do I need to be successful in the Environmental Toxicology graduate program?

A. 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 for this program. The Admissions Committee may request leveling courses for students to succeed in our Environmental Toxicology courses.

Q. What is needed for the application?

A. The application must be complete and include the following documents: transcripts, GRE Scores (highly encouraged but not required until Summer 2024), TOEFL Scores (if applicable), CV, Personal Statement, Research Statement, Writing Sample (optional) and 2 Letters of Recommendation. Please select the Environmental Toxicology program on the Graduate School application.

Q. Is it necessary to secure an advisor before the Admissions Committee reviews the application?

A. It is best to identify and communicate with a faculty member before the Admissions Committee reviews your application, but it is not required. You can contact the faculty that you would like to work with in our department and ask if they have a lab opening. Faculty will want to look at your CV and communicate with you to see if you would be a good fit for their lab.

Q. How long does it take for applications to be reviewed before a decision is made?

A. Decision times on applications vary. The Graduate School reviews applications and will email students for missing information. It may take 3 days – 1 ½ weeks for applications to be deferred to the department. The Graduate Program Coordinator puts students’ packets together for the Admissions Committee to review. The Admissions Committee meets about 1 week after the students’ packet is compiled. The decision on the student’s application may take around 2 weeks, but it is usually no longer than 1 month after the completed application is done.

Q. How is funding awarded?

A. The effort involved in completing a graduate degree is substantial, both in commitment and time. Because of this, most graduate programs in the sciences provide students with the opportunity to receive a stipend to help defray a portion of the cost associated with obtaining a degree. However, acceptance into our graduate program does not guarantee that a student will receive a stipend.

Stipends are limited and competitive. Stipends may be provided by the department or through the research grants of faculty. New students will be considered for stipends based on review of their application file. Students on stipends receive in-state tuition, fee waivers, and are eligible for health benefits.

Q. What other benefits am I eligible for as a graduate student?

A. Students on stipends will be eligible to receive in-state tuition, fee waivers, and health insurance. Students will be responsible for paying for their own health insurance premium. Costs for domestic students can range from approximately $180 for self and up to $750 for a spouse and/or child, depending on your needs. The cost of insurance for international students is around $1,100-$1,500 per long semester.

Q. When will I be notified if I have been awarded funding?

A. Acceptance into our graduate program does not guarantee that a student will receive a stipend. Stipends are limited and competitive. Stipends may be provided by the department or through the research grants of faculty. The Admissions Committee ranks the applications and makes recommendations for the Research Assistantship. Students may receive Offer Letters by mid-April. Please be patient as the department makes decisions for funding students.

Q. What is a half-time graduate Research Assistantship?

A. Because graduate student employees are both students and employees, employment is part-time and students employed as a Research Assistant may not work for the university more than an average of 20 cumulative hours per week.

A Research Assistant is a graduate student who is currently enrolled in the Graduate School and who is also employed by the university to perform research activities or other such activities to assist the department's research efforts in support of the university's research mission.

FAQ's: Graduate Program

Q. Is the Department of Environmental Toxicology located on the main Texas Tech University campus?

A. No; the Department of Environmental Toxicology is located about 20 minutes from the main Texas Tech University campus. Our department’s address is 1207 S. Gilbert Dr., Lubbock, TX 79416.

Q. Is there public transportation to the Department of Environmental Toxicology?

A. No; there is no public transportation, but help among fellow students can be requested until you have your own transportation. Our department is located at 1207 S. Gilbert Dr., Lubbock, TX 79416.

Q. Are we required to pay for parking?

A. Yes, TTU Transportation and Parking Services requires ENTX students to purchase an annual parking pass.

Q. How long does it take to complete the program?

A. The M.S. degree should take 2 years to complete. Most students should be able to finish within that time frame. The maximum time allowed for completing a master’s degree is six years. Master’s students beyond the maximum time allowed may be required to pay out-of-state tuition.

The Ph.D. degree should take 4-5 years to complete. Most students should be able to finish within that time frame. The maximum allowable doctoral hours is 99. Doctoral students with more than 99 doctoral hours will be required to pay out-of-state tuition, regardless of residence status. The maximum time allowed for completing the doctoral degree is eight years from the first doctoral semester or four years from admission to candidacy, whichever comes first.

Q. How am I assigned an advisor?

A. It is best to identify and communicate with a faculty member before the Admissions Committee reviews your application, but it is not required. You can contact the faculty that you would like to work with in our department and ask if they have a lab opening. Faculty will want to look at your CV and communicate with you to see if you would be a good fit for their lab.

To ensure that you do not miss pertinent information that may be available prior to the beginning of the school year, please contact your advisor or Dr. Greg Mayer (Graduate Advisor) if you have not chosen an advisor. Once the semester has begun, we encourage you to meet with the entire department of Environmental Toxicology faculty to help determine all aspects of your graduate academic and research program.

Q. What has job placement been in previous years for students receiving their degree from Environmental Toxicology?

A. For a complete list of past placements please visit our Alumni Page. Students have accepted jobs at some of the following locations, among others: Harvard School of Public Health, University of Waikato in New Zealand, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Clemson University, National Jewish Health, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Interior, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, Pollution Control Services Laboratory, U.S. Army, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Texas Department of State Health Services, Tennessee Department of Health, Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, North Carolina University, Syngenta Crop Protection, AbbVie, and Amgen.

Q. How many graduate students are currently in the Environmental Toxicology program?

A. We typically have around 50 students enrolled in the program.

Q. How large are the classes?

A. Class size varies, but there are generally anywhere from 5 to 12 students in a class.

Q. Are night classes offered for Environmental Toxicology classes?

A. Currently there are no night classes offered. All classes are offered between 8AM-5PM.

Q. Are students provided travel funds to attend professional conferences?

A. Students usually are able to receive partial funding through their advising professor on their grant. Additional funding is also available in the form of a travel award from the Graduate School.

Q. How flexible is ENTX with taking courses in other departments?

A. Students must ask their advisor about the courses that they would like to take within and outside of the department. Attention will need to be paid to the timing of courses if there are any that will be taken outside of the department. All ENTX courses are offered at Reese Center located 10 miles west of the main TTU campus.

Q. Which courses are ENTX graduate students required to take?

A. ENTX students should follow the M.S. or Ph.D. Coursework, depending on their degree. The Example Time Lines are a good reference for students’ courses to take each semester. Students should complete Degree Plans by the end of the student’s second semester. Their advisors should approve of the student’s courses.

Q. What is the typical course load for a graduate student at ENTX?

A. Full time is considered 9 hours in the Fall and Spring semesters and 6 hours during the Summer. In order to receive a stipend and fee waivers, students must be enrolled full time.

Q. How many graduate courses are typically taught each semester?

A. There are generally between 4 and 8 graduate courses offered each semester. Additionally, students take research hours under their advising professor.

FAQ's: International Students

Q. Is the Department of Environmental Toxicology located on the main Texas Tech University campus?

A. No; the Department of Environmental Toxicology is located about 20 minutes from the main Texas Tech University campus. Our department’s address is 1207 S. Gilbert Dr., Lubbock, TX 79416.

Q. Is there public transportation to the Department of Environmental Toxicology?

A. No; there is no public transportation, but help among fellow students can be requested until you have your own transportation. Our department is located at 1207 S. Gilbert Dr., Lubbock, TX 79416.

Q. Is the application fee different for international students?

A. No; the application fee is $65 for international and domestic students. Please visit the Graduate School website at http://www.depts.ttu.edu/gradschool/admissions/howtoapply.php to apply to our program and for more information.

Q. If I have been studying in the U.S. for 2 years, do I still need to take the TOEFL exam?

A. Applicants who have completed at least two consecutive years at a college or university in the U.S. or in an English proficiency-exempt country are also exempted from the English proficiency requirements. Please visit the International Affairs website for the list of countries that are exempt from the English Proficiency requirement.

Q. If accepted into the program, when will I receive my I-20?

A. Once you are accepted into our graduate program you will receive a formal letter of acceptance from the Graduate School, followed by a formal letter of acceptance from our department.

If you are offered funding by our department, the Graduate School will request you to complete the Supplemental International Student Information Form and choose your shipping preference. The fastest way to ship your I-20 is through eShipGlobal. It could take 3 months to get your I-20 shipping through regular mail. Please be aware that it may take you a while to get a VISA appointment, and you cannot make a VISA appointment until you receive your I-20.

If you do not receive funding from our department, the Graduate School will contact you to request verification (usually in the form of a bank statement) that you are able and willing to fund your education in the United States. Please contact the Graduate School for more information regarding your I-20.

If you do not receive funding from our department, the Graduate School will ask for Proof of Financial Support. The Graduate School will request a specific amount. All financial statements must be in U.S. dollars and must be no more than six months old. You must also include an Affidavit of Support if the financial support will come from someone other than yourself. The amount of expenses listed on your I-20 includes the tuition and fees for 18 hours (9 hours per long semester), the living expenses for one year, as well as the mandatory medical insurance. You also must complete the Supplemental International Student Information Form and choose your shipping preference.

Q. What type of funding can I expect as a foreign student?

A. Funding for international students is the same as it is for domestic students. Acceptance into our graduate program does not guarantee that a student will receive a stipend. Stipends are either provided by the department or through the research grants of faculty. Stipends are competitive and limited. New students will be considered for stipends based on a holistic review of their application file. Additionally, other funding is available through faculty research grants. A typical stipend is $16,200 for a MS student and $17,400 for a PhD student. Students who receive funding will be given a Research Assistantship position.

Q. What is the cost of living in Lubbock?

A. According to the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance (LEDA), Lubbock ranked 93rd out of 294 urban areas in the nation and 16th out of 32 urban areas in Texas for lowest cost of living.

Q. What other benefits am I eligible for as an international graduate student?

A. You will receive the same benefits as domestic students. You will be eligible to receive in-state tuition, fee waivers, and health insurance.

Q. How much do international graduate students pay for health insurance?

A. International students are required to purchase their own health insurance. The total for insurance will be about $1,100 for Fall and $1,500 for Spring.

Q. Will my spouse be eligible to work in the US? If so, how many hours can they work?

A. Work eligibility depends on the type of visa that the spouse/domestic partner has, but generally the spouse is eligible to work up to 40 hours per week.

Q. When should international students arrive at Texas Tech University?

A. International students should arrive no less than 2 weeks before the first day of classes.

Q. Do I need to schedule any appointments at Texas Tech University prior to arrival?

A. Yes; international students should make appointments ahead a time with the International Affairs office as appointment times fill up quickly. Your International Student Counselor will tell you which paperwork that they will need from you. Students who have not received a Social Security Number (SSN) will need to show their SSN Letter to the International Student Counselor. The SSN Letter is provided by our department.

Q. Do I need to take paperwork with me to the International Cultural Center?

A. Yes; international students who do not have a SSN will receive from our department a SSN Letter signed by the Department of Environmental Toxicology Chair. Your International Student Counselor will sign the SSN letter for your International Student Counselor to sign. Please ask your International Student Counselor the paperwork that they need for you to take as well.

Q. Where do international students go to receive their Social Security Number?

A. International students should take their SSN Letter to the Social Security Administration office to receive a SSN. The Social Security Administration office is located at 5826 16th Street, Lubbock, TX 79416. Students need a Social Security Number before they are eligible to receive paychecks.

Q. What paperwork does the Department of Environmental Toxicology need from international students?

A. The Department of Environmental Toxicology needs an international student’s passport, I-94, and I-20 upon arrival.

Please visit the Office of International Affairs’ website for more detailed information based on a specific type of visa, Pre-Arrival Guide, Post-Arrival Checklist, or for any other questions.

FAQ's: Scholarships, Fellowships, Awards

Q. Which scholarships or fellowships can I apply?

A. More information about Texas Tech University’s scholarships can be found on the Graduate School’s website. There are additional scholarships that international students can apply on the TTU International Affairs website.

Q. Do I need to be officially accepted as a student before I can apply for scholarships or fellowships?

A. No, you do not need to be accepted into our program before you start applying for scholarships or fellowships.

Q. What are the deadlines for scholarships?

A. Scholarship and fellowship dates vary.

More information about the Graduate School’s General Fellowships can be found at their website. The online application opens on November 15th, and the deadline for applications is January 15th.

Scholarships and fellowships dates vary on the International Affairs website. They vary from October 1st-April 5th.

Q. Which scholarships or fellowships have TTU Environmental Toxicology students been awarded?

A. Environmental Toxicology students have received the following scholarships, fellowships, and awards in the past.

Texas Tech Scholarships/Fellowships:

• Paul Whitfield Horn Professors’ Graduate Achievement Award
• Cash Family Endowed Fellowship
• Chancellor’s Fellowships
• Study Abroad Competitive Scholarship
• Helen DeVitt Jones Graduate Fellowship
• Sustainability Scholarship
• The CH Foundation Graduate Fellowship
• American-Mexican Friendship Waterman Scholarship
• J.T. and Margaret Talkington Graduate Fellowship
• Good Neighbor Scholarship
• James D. and Mary Hazelwood Memorial Fellowship
• Preston and Ima Smith Graduate Scholarship
• Academic Freedom Scholarship
• Texas Tech Recruitment Fellowships
• Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Other External Scholarship/Major Awards:

• President’s Excellence in Diversity and Equity Award
• International Federation of University Women - Daphne Purvis Grant
• Love of Learning Award
• Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG)
• Outstanding Dissertation Award
• Texas Deer Association Scholarship
• Deer Breeders Corporation Scholarship
• Deer Breeders Corporation Wildlife Scholarship
• American Chemical Society awards
• Society of Toxicology awards
• Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry award
• US Environmental Protection Agency
• US Department of Energy
• ARCS Fellowships
• USEPA Star Fellow 

Q. Does Environmental Toxicology offer scholarships or awards?

A. Incoming Environmental Toxicology students may be awarded scholarships from the TIEHH Alumni Scholarship fund. The Chair of the Department selects incoming students who are awarded.

Private industry partners have donated money to our students for the last several years, and the Chair of the Department selects current students to award.

Outstanding M.S. and Ph.D. Awards are presented at the annual Spring Banquet each year. This helps us attract, motivate, and retain excellent students.