Per Graduate School guidelines, the minimum credit requirements for degree (including didactic, seminar, and research credits) are 30 (MS) and 51 (PhD). We have specific core course requirements for the PHD Program and the Research MS Program. Additionally, we have the full curriculum for the Curricular MS. Below these descriptions is a description of the program-sponsored courses.
Students are expected to sign up for research and seminar credits every semester. Credit loads vary, if the student is a dissertator or predissertator. Failure to register will result in a discontinuation of funding. For further information, please consult The Guide, as published by the Graduate School.
Core Courses: PhD in Molecular & Environmental Toxicology (15 credits)
MET 625: Toxicology I, 3cr
MET 626: Toxicology II, 3cr
MET 631: Toxicants in the Environment, 3cr
MET 634: Ecotoxicology, 1cr
MET 801: Scientific Communication in Molecular & Environmental Toxicology, 2cr
OB&GYN 955: Responsible Conduct of Research, 2cr
OB&GYN 956: Advanced Responsible Conduct of Research, 1cr (as a dissertator)
Plus Electives, 7 credits
Core Courses: Research Masters in Molecular & Environmental Toxicology (13 Credits)
MET 625: Toxicology I, 3cr
MET 626: Toxicology II, 3cr
MET 631: Toxicants in the Environment, 3cr
MET 801: Scientific Communication in Molecular & Environmental Toxicology, 2cr
OB&GYN 955: Responsible Conduct in Research, 2cr
ONC 703: Tumorigenesis OR MET 632-3-4: Ecotoxicology Series (to emphasize either molecular toxicology or environmental toxicology)
Plus Electives, 4 credits
Course Requirements: Non-Research Masters in Molecular & Environmental Toxicology (30 Credits)
In March 2018, the Molecular & Environmental Toxicology Curriculum Committee approved a non-research MS degree, designed to be completed in one year. This degree contains no research component; as such, all the coursework has been laid-out. The curriculum design provides didactic knowledge of molecular toxicology, environmental toxicology, as well as other professional development opportunities that can be utilized as one considers further career options in biomedical science.
Fall Curriculum
MET 625: Toxicology I, 3cr
MET 631: Toxicants in the Environment
ONC 703 or MET 632-3-4: Cancer Tumorigenesis or Ecotoxicology, 3cr
MET 800: Seminar
OB&GYN 955: Responsible Conduct of Research
Spring Curriculum
CHEM 607: Laboratory Safety, 1 cr
MATH 609: Mathematical Methods for Systems Biology, 3cr
MET 626: Toxicology II, 3cr
POPHLTH 789: Environmental Health, 3cr
MET 800: Seminar, 1cr
MET 990: Thesis Writing, 1cr
Summer Curriculum
INTEGSCI 660: Mentor Training, 1cr
MET 801: Scientific Communication in Molecular & Environmental Toxicology
MET 990: Thesis Writing, 3cr
Final note: A student must obtain “B” or better marks in all required courses and maintain an overall 3.0 GPA while in Graduate School.
Sponsored Courses
Below is a listing of courses closely associated with the Molecular & Environmental Toxicology Program.
625 Toxicology I
- 3 credits. – Fall/1st Year
- Basic principles of toxicology and biochemical mechanisms of toxicity in mammalian species and man. Correlation between morphological and functional changes caused by toxicants in different organs of the body.
- Prerequisite: Biochem 501 & Physiol 335 or cons inst. Path 401 & Phmcol 401 or equiv recommended.
- Typical Topics Include: Toxicogenomics, DNA Damage, Pathology, Drug Metabolism
- Course Coordinator: Colin R. Jefcoate
626 Toxicology II
- 3 credits. – Spring/1st year
- A course surveying the basic methods and fundamental biochemical mechanisms of toxicity. Toxicity in mammalian organ systems, techniques for evaluating toxicity, as well as mechanisms of species specificity, and environmental interactions (with toxicant examples) are presented.
- Prerequisite: Env Tox 625 or cons inst.
- Typical Topics Include: Hematology, Cardiovascular Systems, Pulmonary Systems, Neurotoxicity
- Course Coordinator: Hao Chang
631 Toxicants in the Environment: Sources, Distribution, Fate, & Effects
- 3 Credits – Fall/1st or 2nd Yr
- Nature, sources, distribution, and fate of contaminants in air, water, soil, and food and potential for harmful exposure.
- Prerequisite: Chem 343 & 345 or equiv; Chem 561 or equiv; Physics 103 & 104 or equiv; Math 211; or cons inst.
- Typical Topics Include: Intermolecular Interactions, Thermodynamics, Sorption, Organic Solvents
- Course Coordinator: Joel A. Pedersen
632 Ecotoxicology: The Chemical Players.
- 1 Credit. Fall/Odd Years
- Introduction to natural and man-made toxins/toxicants, their distribution, transport, and fate in the environment. Includes lectures, current research presentations, and discussions.
- Prerequisite: 2 sem intro biol & 1 sem organic chem, or cons inst.
- Typical Topics Include: Natural Toxins, Transfer Process, Anthropogenic Toxins and Metals
- Syllabus can be found under 634-Ecotox above in Required Courses section
- Book: Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology fourth edition by Michael C. Newman ISBN of 9781466582293
- Course Coordinator: TBD
633 Ecotoxicology: Impacts on Individuals.
- 1 Credit. Fall/Odd Years
- Addresses the responses of plants, vertebrates and invertebrates to natural and anthropogenic toxicants in the environment at the organismal level. The class includes general lectures on those larger themes, guest lectures on specific topics, and classroom discussions.
- Prerequisite: M&Envtox 632, or 2 sem intro biol & M&Envtox 631, or cons inst.
- Typical Topics Include: Absorption in plants and animals; Biotransformation in plants and animals; Impacts on behavior, energetics, growth and reproduction
- Syllabus can be found under 634-Ecotox above in Required Courses section
- Book: Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology fourth edition by Michael C. Newman ISBN of 9781466582293
- Course Coordinator: William Karasov
634 Ecotoxicology: Impacts on Populations, Communities & Ecosystems
- 1 Credit – Fall/Odd Yrs
- Addresses the roles of natural and anthropogenic toxicants in the environment on ecological populations, communities, and ecosystems. The class includes general lectures on those larger themes, guest lectures on specific topics, and classroom discussions.
- Prerequisite: M&Envtox 633, or M&Envtox 625, 626 & 631, or cons inst.
- Typical Topics Include: Population Ecotoxicology, Evolutionary Ecotoxicology, Community Ecotoxicology, and Ecosystem Ecotoxicology
- Book: Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology fourth edition by Michael C. Newman ISBN of 9781466582293
- Course Coordinators: William Karasov; Richard Lindroth
800 Seminar
- 1 Credit Each Semester
- Current research in environmental toxicology and pathology and other topics of interest and importance to environmental toxicologists.
- Prerequisite: Grad st & cons inst.
- Typical Topics Include: Research of current MET students/trainees/post-docs; UW Faculty, and/or visiting speakers
- Course Coordinator: Christopher Bradfield
801 Scientific Communication in Molecular & Environmental Toxicology
- 2 Credits – Every Summer
- Proves an overview of scientific communication, including articles, proposals, presentations/lectures, and posters
- Prepares students for their Oral Prelim
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- Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor
- Typical Topics Include: Proposal Writing and Mock Panel Review Session
- Course Coordinators: Christopher Bradfield, Kristen Malecki
955 Responsible Conduct in Research
- 2 Credits – Fall/1st year
- Meets the NIH Institutional Training Grant requirements of instruction in the nine recommended areas of responsible conduct in research; including conflict of interest, mentor/mentee responsibilities, misconduct, and responsible authorship (among others).
- Prerequisite: Graduate Student Standing
- Typical Topics Include: Safe Laboratory Practices, Policies regarding human & animal subjects, peer review and authorship.
- Course Coordinator: Ian Bird
956 Advanced Responsible Conduct in Research
- 1 Credit – Spring/Dissertation year
- Meets the NIH Institutional Training Grant requirements of instruction in the nine recommended areas of responsible conduct in research; including conflict of interest, mentor/mentee responsibilities, misconduct, and responsible authorship (among others).
- Prerequisite: Graduate Student Standing; Dissertator Status needs to have been acheived
- Typical Topics Include: Safe Laboratory Practices, Policies regarding human & animal subjects, peer review and authorship.
- Course Coordinator: Ian Bird
990 Independent Research
- 1-9 Credits Each Semester
- Prerequisite: Grad st & cons inst.
- Course Coordinator: Your Research Advisor
Note: The program coordinator will open a section for you under your advisor. If it does not open, let the coordinator know.
Elective Courses
Work with your advisor to select courses that will benefit you in your academic credits according to your research interests. This could include courses on statistics, biochemistry, and others that can increase didactic knowledge about your research project.