Curricular Tracks

To allow flexibility, and recognizing that students with interest in toxicology enter doctoral training with interests in related disciplines, a student enrolling in the EITS program chooses from one of three curricular tracks, depending on the student's interests and previous training. These three tracks have different but overlapping course requirements. Read more about each track below. 

  • Biomedical Toxicology Track

    The Biomedical Toxicology Track of the EITS doctoral program is: 

    • designed for students entering with a background in mammalian biology
    • emphasizes coursework and training in laboratory research focused on understanding mechanisms of toxicity to humans and animals from exposure to drugs, dietary agents, industrial chemcials and environmental contaminants

     

    Course Requirements

    1. PHM 803, Sec. 301, Chemical Disposition in Mammals
      1 credit, Fall
    2. PHM 830, Experimental Design and Data Analysis
      3 credits, Fall & Summer
    3. PHM 816, Integrative Toxicology: Mechanisms, Pathology, and Regulation
      3 credits, Fall (odd years)
    4. CSME 890, Selected Topics, Sec. 301-310
      1 credit, Fall & Spring, minimum of 2 modules required
    5. TBD, Special Topics in Toxicology
      1 credit
    6. Plus one course chosen from a list of approved electives.


    Total number of required credits:     13-14, plus fulfillment of course requirements in the student's partnering doctoral program.

    Note: For some students, a course may fulfill a requirement for both the EITS program and the partnering doctoral program.

    Other Requirements

    1. Thesis project in a toxicology-related area.
    2. Two IIT-affiliated faculty as members of your thesis committee.
    3. Attend at least 12 toxicology-related seminars before graduation. 
  • Environmental Toxicology Track

    The Environmental Toxicology Track of the EITS doctoral program is: 

    • designed for students entering with less training in mammalian biology but a strong background in another area
    • typically serves doctoral students in environmental engineering, chemistry, environmental law, plant biology, microbiology, ecology and other disciplines
    • coursework in this track includes training in toxicology as well as in fate and biological effects of chemicals in the environment and their regulation
    • thesis research of students in this track spans a variety of areas including environmental law, chemical analysis of environmental agents, environmental distribution and fate of chemicals, ecotoxicology, remediation of environmental contaminants and others

     

    Course Requirements:

    1. CSS 865, Environmental Fate of Organic Contaminants in Soils, 3 credits, Spring (even years)
    2. PHM 450, Introduction to Chemical Toxicology, 3 credits, Fall, Spring, Summer 
      OR PHM 816, Integrative Toxicology: Mechanisms, Pathology, and Regulation, 3 credits, Fall (odd years)
    3. FW 891, New Approaches to Ecological Risk Assessment, 3 credits, Spring (even years) OR FW 431, Ecophysiology and Toxicology of Fish, 3 credits, Spring (odd years)
    4. ESP 803, Human and Ecological Health Assessment and Management, 3 credits, Fall OR FSC 843, Exposure Science and Epidemiology, 3 credits, Fall (even years)
    5. Plus one course from the following list:
      CSUS 836, Modeling Natual Resource Systems, 3 credits, Spring
      CMSE 801, Intro to Computational Modeling, 3 credits, Fall
      CMSE 802, Methods in Computational Modeling, 3 credits, Spring
      CMSE 821, Numerical Methods for Differential Equations, 3 credits, Spring
      ENE 822, Groundwater Modeling, 3 credits, Spring (even years)
      ESP 850, Intro to Modeling Environment and Social Systems, 1 credit, Fall
      ESP 890, Modeling Environment and Social Systems, 2 credits, Fall
      BE 849, Quantitative Human Health Risk Modeling and Analysis for Microbial Stressors, 3 credits, Fall (even years)
      LAW 566Q, Regulating Environmental Risk or International Environmental Law, 3 credits


    Total number of required credits:     15, plus fullfllment of course requirements in the student's partnering doctoral program.

    Note: For some students, a course may fulfill a requirement for both the EITS program and the partnering doctoral program.

    Other Requirements

    1. Thesis project in a toxicology-related area.
    2. Two IIT-affiliated faculty as members of your thesis committee.
    3. Attend at least 12 toxicology-reltaed seminars before graduation. 
  • Food Toxicology & Ingredient Safety Track

    The Food Toxicology and Ingredient Safety Track of the EITS doctoral program is:

    • designed for students interested in the safety of food-borne and consumer product ingredients
    • has somewhat greater emphasis on risk evaluation and regulation of ingredients than the other two tracks

     

    Course Requirements

    1. PHM 803, Sec. 301, Chemical Disposition in Mammals
      1 credit, Fall
    2. PHM 830, Experimental Design and Data Analysis
      3 credits, Fall & Summer
    3. PHM 816, Integrative Toxicology: Mechanisms, Pathology, and Regulation
      3 credits, Fall (odd years)
    4. FSC 807, Advanced Food Toxicology
      3 credits, Fall (even years)
    5. FSC 844, Risk Assessment of Foodborne Chemicals and Toxins
      3 credits, Spring (even years)
    6. To be determined, Current Issues in Ingredient Safety
      1 credit, Fall


    Total number of required credits:     14, plus fulfillment of course requirements in the student's partnering doctoral program.

    Other courses students might find of interest: FSC 843 – Exposure Science and Epidemiology, 3 Credits,  Fall

    Note: For some students, a course may fulfill a requirement for both the EITS program and the partnering doctoral program.

    Other Requirements

    1. Thesis project in a toxicology-related area.
    2. Two IIT-affiliated faculty as members of your thesis committee.
    3. Attend at least 12 toxicology-reltaed seminars before graduation. 

EITS Doctoral Program