About the Program
Toxicology is the study of effects of toxic substances on living systems. These toxic substances can either be organic or inorganic, synthetic or natural materials. As a field of research, it crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries such as chemistry, biology, and the environmental sciences. Environmental toxicology further extends to aspects of chemical transport, fate, persistence and biological accumulation of toxic substances and their effects at the population and community levels. While individual researchers usually specialize in a particular area, toxicologists today must be able to appreciate significant research in other fields and therefore require an understanding of the basic principles of other disciplines.
To meet this challenge, Carleton University and the University of Ottawa offers a collaborative program leading to a MSc or PhD with specialization in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology through the management of a committee of representatives from the following supporting institutes:
- The Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology: the joint graduate program of the Department of Biology at Carleton and at uOttawa
- The Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Chemistry: the joint graduate program of the Department of Chemistry at Carleton and at uOttawa
- The Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre: the joint graduate program of the Department of Earth Sciences at Carleton and at uOttawa
MSc Program Requirements
Students must complete both the requirements of the appropriate master’s program and the requirements of the collaborative program include completing at least three courses, which include:
- A relevant introductory course in toxicology
- The Seminar in Toxicology (BIOL 6405/BIO 9105 – CHEM 5805/CHM 8167).
- Additional courses required by the Master’s Program and approved by the Collaborative Program
- Thesis Requirement – a research thesis on a topic in toxicology supervised by a faculty member of the Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology.
Note: In addition, the student’s Advisory Committee may direct the student to take or audit further courses to complement the student’s background and research program. Other courses offered in the programs of the primary academic units of biology or chemistry may be taken as options, with the permission of the student’s supervisory committee, in addition to the basic requirements of the Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology.
For more information, please consult the official Graduate Calendar.
PhD Program Requirements
Students must complete both the requirements of the appropriate PhD program and the requirements of the collaborative program include completing at least three courses, which include:
- All courses required by the primary program and approved by the Collaborative Program. If an introductory course (either Principles of Toxicology (BIOL 6402/BIO 9101/CHEM 5708/CHM 8156 or Ecotoxicology (BIOL 6403/BIO 9104/CHEM 5705/CHM 9109 [0.5 credit] , or an approved alternative) has not been completed prior to admission, it must be included among these courses.
- The Seminar in Toxicology (BIOL 6405/BIO 9105 – CHEM 5805/CHM 8167 [0.5 credit] (see Note, below)
- In addition, students may be directed by their Advisory Committee to take or audit further courses to complement their background and research program. A list of approved electives is provided under ‘Graduate Courses’.
- Thesis Requirement – a research thesis on a topic in toxicology supervised by a faculty member of the Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology.
Note: Item 2 above is not required for students who have already completed the Seminar in Toxicology for the Master’s specialization.
For more information, please consult the official Graduate Calendar.
Admission Requirements
In order to enroll in the collaborative program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology (MSc or PhD), you must first be admitted into one of the participating programs (Chemistry, Biology, or Earth Sciences. Once admitted, your supervisor will then sponsor you into this program, if applicable.
For information regarding admissions to our graduate programs in chemistry, please visit our website.