Prerequisites and Core Curriculum to Complete Ph.D. and M.S. degrees
Recommended Prerequisites for Entrance into the Graduate Toxicology Major
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
Ph.D. students take these courses:
- Tox 689 Seminar every fall and spring (does not need to be on your POS)
- TOX 501 (offered in the fall)
- TOX 502 (offered every other spring 2022, 2024)
- TOX 504 (Toxicology Seminar) - needs to be taken twice
- 7 additional credits in toxicology (see list at bottom of this page)
- BBMB 404 Biochemistry I (offered in-class fall; on-line fall, spring and summer)
- BBMB 405 Biochemistry II (offered in-class spring; on-line fall, spring and summer)
- 2 additional credits in BBMB (biochemistry) from 500 or 600 level BBMB courses
- 3 graduate credits in a physiology, histology, or pathology course
- STAT 401 - renumbered STAT 587
- STAT 402 - renumbered STAT 571
- Either GRST 565 or Vet Path 554.
- At least 10 research credits (Tox 699 or Tox 697)
- Courses as directed by your POS committee
- Total credits required is 72 credits
- Although you will be required to take four courses that are 400 level; only three of these courses will count towards the 72 credits required. On your POS form you will need to represent one of these courses as a "Z".
M.S. students take:
- Tox 689 Seminar every fall and spring (does not need to be on your POS)
- Toxicology 501
- Toxicology 502
- Toxicology 504, taken one time
- 3 additional credits in TOX courses. (see list at bottom of this page)
- Biochemistry 404
- Biochemistry 405
- STAT 401 (being renumbered STAT 587)
- Either GRST 565 or Vet Path 554
- At least 3 research credits (Tox 699 or TOX 697)
- Courses as directed by your POS committee
- Total credits required is 30 credits
- Only three 400 level courses will count towards the required 30 credits.
Minor
Ph.D. Students Minoring in Toxicology
- TOX 501
- Tox 504
- 6 credits of other Toxicology courses (see list at bottom)
- 1 semester of TOX 689
- One member of the student's POS committee must be a faculty member in the Toxicology program.
M.S. Students Minoring in Toxicology
- TOX 501
- Tox 504
- 3 credits of other Toxicology courses (see list at bottom)
- 1 semester of TOX 689
- One member of the student's POS committee must be a faculty member in the Toxicology program.
Table of Required Coursework
| Required Coursework | Master of Science (Credit hours) | Doctor of Philosophy (Credit hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry (BBMB 404, BBMB 405) | 6 | 8 |
| Statistics (STAT 587(401), STAT 402) | 4 | 7 |
| Toxicology 501 and 502 | 6 | 6 |
| Toxicology Seminar, Tox 504 | 1 | 2 |
| Additional TOX Courses | 3 | 7 |
| Physiology or Pathology | 0 | 3 |
| Scientific Ethics | 1 | 1 |
| Toxicology Seminar 689 | R | R |
| Core | 21 | 34 |
| Other | 9 | 38 |
| Total | 30 credit hours | 72 credit hours |
This is a listing of courses that are available to meet the "additional credits in Toxicology" for your Ph.D.(7) or M.S.(3)degree.
- Tox 420 Food Microbiology, Fall, 3 credits
- Vet Path 503, Principles of Pathology, Spring, 3 credits
- STAT 505 Environmental Statistics, 3 credits
- Tox 515 Regulatory Toxicology, Fall (odd years), 2 credits
- Tox 526 Veterinary Toxicology, Spring, 3 credits
- BMS 538 Principles of Physiology, Fall, 4 credits
- BMS 539 Principles of Pharmacology, Spring, 4 credits
- BCB 544 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, 4 credits
- Tox 544X Aquatic Toxicology, 2 credits
- Tox 546 Clinical and Diagnostic Toxicology, Fall, Spring, Summer, DVMs only, 1-3 credits
- Tox 550 Pesticides in the environment, Spring, 3 credits
- Tox 554 General Pharmacology, Spring, 3 credits
- Tox 569 Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology,
- Tox 575 Cell Biology, Fall, 3 credits
- ENT 590I Toxicology, Alternative Fall, 2014, 1 credit
- BCB 590 Applying Computational Methods to Biological Research, 1 to 3 credits.
- Tox 626 Advanced Food Microbiology, Fall (odd years), 3 credits
- Tox 627 Rapids Methods in Food Microbiology, Fall (even years), 3 credits
- Tox 675 Insecticide Toxicology, Fall (even years), 3 credits.