Environmental Toxicology (MS)
Master of Science in Environmental Toxicology
The Master of Science degree in Environmental Toxicology is awarded in recognition of a student’s demonstrated ability to successfully complete a prescribed program of courses and original scholarly research. Original scholarly research will be evaluated based on a student’s ability to write and defend an acceptable research thesis.
Degree Requirements
Required Credit
A minimum of thirty-two (32) semester hours of course credit beyond the baccalaureate degree is required for students pursuing this MS degree.
Residence, Full-Time Study, and Continuous Registration
A minimum of two consecutive semesters of fulltime study in residence is required. The residency requirements may be met at the University of South Alabama, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, or the Mitchell Cancer Institute.
Time Limit
All requirements for the MS degree must be completed within four (4) years from the date of matriculation. A student who has not satisfactorily completed a MS degree in a five year period must apply for a defined extension to complete the degree. This request must be recommended by a major professor, the program coordinator, the Director of Graduate studies, and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. If the student does not complete the degree requirements in the defined extension period, the Director of Graduate studies may recommend, and the Dean of the Graduate School may take, whatever action is necessary up to and including dismissal.
Failure to complete the work in the periods specified shall necessitate reevaluation of the student’s program, and may result in a recommendation of dismissal by the Director of Graduate studies to the graduate Dean.
Students will be required to take twelve (12) semester hours of core classes including Environmental Chemistry (CH 514 and CH 514L); Environmental Toxicology (EXT 515); and Environmental Statistics (ST 550) plus a Research Integrity Seminar (GIS 501). Additional coursework will be determined by the student’s advisory committee and approved by the Environmental Toxicology program coordinator. Elective courses should be selected from the recommended list of electives where possible (see below) to make up an additional six (6) semester hours of credit towards the degree. Directed studies conducted under the supervision of a student’s advisor or an advisory committee member should comprise up to six (6) semester hours of credit. Lastly, students will be expected to demonstrate research capability, preferably through the completion of an acceptable written thesis and oral defense of the research. At least eight (8) semester hours should be included in the MS degree program of study to meet this thesis requirement.
Course Requirements
The student and her/his advisory committee will be responsible for designing the curriculum that best fits the student's professional goals. If, in the opinion of the student's committee, the student lacks adequate undergraduate preparation, the student will be required to make up such deficiencies.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| CH 514 & 514L | Environmental Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry Lab | 4 |
| EXT 515 | Environmental Toxicology | 4 |
| GIS 501 | Responsible Conduct of Researc | 1 |
| ST 550 | Environmental Statistics | 3 |
| Directed Studies (maximum) | 6 | |
| Thesis hours (maximum) | ||
| Thesis hours are taken to conduct research on a subject identified jointly by the student and the Advisory Committee. | 8 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select at least six hours of graduate courses, for example | 6 | |
| Physical Oceanography | ||
| Fundamentals Environmental Eng | ||
| Environmental Sociology | ||
| Biochemistry I | ||
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Molecular Biology | ||
| Molecular-Cellular Toxicology | ||
| Total Hours | 32 | |