Toxicology
Overview
Programs in toxicology teach people how poisons and other chemical hazards affect living beings.Toxicology programs teach students about a variety of topics.
Toxicology programs include topics such as:
- Toxicology biochemistry
- Toxin classification
- Studies of specific toxins
- Molecular toxic mechanisms
- Anatomy and physiology
Concentrations
In toxicology programs, students may be able to specialize in:
- Molecular toxicology
- Environmental toxicology
Schools
A few colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in toxicology. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.
Many universities and medical schools offer graduate degrees in toxicology. A master’s degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor’s degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master’s degree.
See schools that offer this program.
Related Educational Programs
- Cell Biology
- Environmental Biology
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
- Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
- Virology
Related Careers
Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study
Other Careers Related to this Program of Study
Program Admission
You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.
For this program, schools recommend that you know how to use a computer and the Internet.
Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:
- Advanced Biology courses
- Advanced Chemistry courses
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Calculus
- Physics
- Probability and Statistics
Graduate Admissions
Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good test scores.
Additional requirements at some schools include:
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Undergraduate degree in biology, chemistry, pharmacy, or related field
- Significant course work in inorganic and organic chemistry, calculus, and physics
Typical Course Work
Program Courses
This undergraduate program typically includes courses in the following subjects:
- Advanced Statistics
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Biophysics
- Chemotherapeutics
- Drug Discovery
- Environmental Toxins
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Neuropharmacology
- Oncology
- Pathophysiology
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Statistics
- Toxicokinetics
- Toxicology
Graduate Program Courses
Graduate programs that lead to a master's or doctoral degree typically include:
- Required courses
- Laboratory research project
- Thesis (master's degree)
- Preliminary exams (doctoral degree only)
- Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree)
Things to Know
Most toxicologists work as researchers and policy analysts. You can study drug therapies at a pharmaceutical company.
Toxicologists can also teach at medical, nursing, or veterinary schools. In addition, you can work for government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration or the National Institutes of Health.
Schools
King-Snohomish Area
University of Washington - Seattle
- Environmental Health--Applied Toxicology
- Environmental Health--Environmental Toxicology
West Side Area
Western Washington University
- Environmental Science--Toxicology Emphasis