The purpose of the proposed Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Environmental Toxicology is to provide an academic structure through which students receive formal classroom education and strong guidance regarding complex research problems that evaluate toxic substances that are released into the environment. Doctoral graduates will be qualified to fill positions in universities, colleges, governmental agencies, foundations, and industry.

The objectives of the Doctor of Philosophy program in Environmental Toxicology are to provide skilled researchers with background to:

• Develop and manage nationally and internationally recognized research programs which utilize the expertise of toxicologists, chemists, engineers, wildlife biologists, ecologists, statisticians and invertebrate biologists to determine the effects of environmental contaminants on humans and free-living populations of animals.
  
  
• Increase our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of toxic response in humans, wildlife fish and other biological resources.
  
  
• Assess the direct and indirect effects of environmental contaminants on humans, wildlife, fish and other biological resources.
  
  
• Integrate research efforts with those of federal, state and local regulatory agencies, private industry and environmental groups to provide the highest quality scientific data upon which environmentally sound policy decisions can be made.
  
  
• Provide classroom and laboratory instruction in Environmental Toxicology at the associate, baccalaureate and graduate teaching levels.
  
  
• Interpret and communicate intramural and extramural technical data so that the general public as well as the scientific community will be able to develop informed opinions on the effects of toxic substances in the environment.