Core Curriculum
The prerequisites include an undergraduate degree in a relevant area of study; for example, chemical engineering, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, ecology, entomology, food science and technology, microbiology, nutritional science, zoology, or veterinary medicine. Minimum undergraduate coursework should include the following or their equivalent: 1 year of college mathematics, including calculus; 1 year of inorganic chemistry with quanitative analysis; 1 course in physics; 1 year of organic chemistry; 2 years of biological sciences including 1 course in physiology. Other courses that are considered desirable in the undergraduate preparation include: biochemistry, physical chemistry, qualitative analysis, and some specialized courses such as histology or advanced physiology.
Core Curriculum
for Interdepartmental Toxicology at Iowa State University
All Ph.D. students take a core curriculum consisting of TOX 501 and TOX 502,
2 credits of TOX 504 (Toxicology Seminar), 7 additional credits in toxicology, 8 credits in
biochemistry (from BBMB 404, 405, 420, 451), 3
graduate credits in physiology, histology, or pathology; Stat 401 and 402.
M.S. students take a core of Toxicology 501 and TOX 502, 1 credit of Toxicology 504, 3 additional credits in toxicology, BBMB 404 and 405, Stat 401.
A total of 72 credits is required to complete a Ph.D. and 30 credits are required to complete an M.S. degree. Additional coursework is selected to meet departmental requirements and to satisfy individual student research interests.
Minor
A graduate minor in toxicology is available for students enrolled in other majors.
A minor for an M.S. degree includes TOX 504 and TOX 501 and 3 credits in other toxicology
courses. A minor at the Ph.D. level includes TOX 504, 501, and 6 credits in other
toxicology course work. One member of the student's program of study committee will be a
member of the toxicology faculty. Students registering for TOX 504, Toxicology Seminar,
must contact the Toxicology administrative office at the time of registration (toxmajor@iastate.edu)
to schedule a date for presentation of their seminar.
Additional
In addition to the two toxicology core courses (Principles of Toxicology and Toxicological Methods), more than 15 other toxicology related courses are available toward fulfillment of the requirements.
The following are the minimum course requirements to be completed for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Toxicology:
| Required Coursework | Master of Science (Credit hours) |
Doctor of Philosophy (Credit hours) |
| Biochemistry | 6 | 8 |
| Statistics | 4 | 7 |
| Toxicology 501 and 502 | 6 | 6 |
| Toxicology Seminar, Tox 504 | 1 | 2 |
| Additional TOX Courses | 3 | 7 |
| Physiology or Pathology | -- | 3 |
| Core | 20 | 33 |
| Other | 10 | 39 |
| Total | 30 credit hours | 72 credit hours |