REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent with at least a B average in academic work is required for admission. The most appropriate preparation is an undergraduate concentration in biology (molecular and cellular biology or physiology), chemistry (organic, analytical, or physical chemistry), biochemistry, or environmental sciences. Applicants are also expected to have preparation in calculus and physics. Selection is made on the basis of previous academic work, letters of recommendation, and scores on the GRE General Test. Subject test scores in biology and/or chemistry are recommended. TOEFL scores are required of students from countries in which English is not the native language.
• Click here for Rutgers' online application!

PROGRESSION THROUGH THE PROGRAM

Full-time students are required by the Graduate School-New Brunswick, to maintain a course load of at least 12 credits per semester. These credits must include the core courses listed below, as well as elective courses chosen in consultation with the student's advisor.

First Year

Semester 1: General Toxicology I, Biochemistry I, Physiology, Statistics, Ethical Scientific Conduct, Seminar, Research.

Semester II: General Toxicology II, Biochemistry II, Elective, Seminar, Physiology*, Statistics*, Research.

*These courses are offered in both the fall and the spring.

Written Qualifying Examination:

• Taken by all students; offered in spring, following completion of all required courses in the 1st year of the curriculum.
• This exam includes material from all the 1st year courses and JGPT Seminars.
• Must recieve a 70% on each question to pass; failure may result in either remediation or termination.

Second Year:

Selection of Thesis Advisor

Semester I: Track course of choice, Biochemical Toxicology*, Advanced Problems in Toxicology (Histology), Seminar, research

Semester II: Toxicological Pathology, Molecular Toxicology*, Track course of choice, elective, Seminar, research.

*While these courses are not required, you are strongly encouraged to take them for your benefit.

Specialty Tracks and Respective Courses:

•  Biochemical toxicology and carcinogenesis (Paul Thomas, Michael Iba and C.S. Yang).

Track Course: Biochemical Toxicology

The Biochemical Toxicology Track deals with the chemical, biochemical & molecular basis of toxicity of xenobiotics. This track in the JGPT together with the Track course entitled “Biochemical Toxicology” emphasizes the mechanisms of toxicity including the cellular basis of target tissue susceptibility in relation to bioactivation and detoxification of toxic substances. The signaling pathways linking the latter processes with toxicity are emphasized. It is not uncommon for these signaling pathways to show differences in various tissues as well as changes during development which can alter organ susceptibility. The Biochemical Toxicology Track strives to stay current with recent advances in toxicology. It familiarizes the students with new cellular and animal models obtained by transfection or knockout of genes and ways in which these can be used to further elucidate mechanisms that underlie disease processes.

•  Neurotoxicology (Herbert Lowndes and Kenneth Reuhl)

Track Course: Neural Injury & Repair

The neurotoxicology specialty track is directed towards understanding the toxicology of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Approaches used to examine neurotoxic endpoints include behavioral, neurochemical, neuropathological, neuroimmunological and neurophysiological indices. Courses needed for successful completion of this track include core courses in physiology, histology/pathology, biochemistry and neurosciences and a track-specific course on Neural Injury and Repair. A sizeable portion (over one-half) of the JGPT faculty participate in the neurotoxicology track, which is directed by Dr. H. Lowndes (732-445-6908, lowndes@eohsi.rutgers.edu).

•  Cellular and molecular toxicology, and immunotoxicology (Debra Laskin and Fred Kauffman)

Track Course: Molecular Toxicology

•  Environmental Toxicology (Keith Cooper and Joanna Burger).

Track Course: Ecological Risk Assessment

In the second year, students may select from among the graduate electives and begin taking the course(s) offered by each track. Also in the second year, students are required to take the Histology course (Advanced Problems in Toxicology, 1 credit) a prerequisite for Toxicological Pathology, 3 credits. Biochemical Toxicology (4 credits), Molecular Toxicology or Neural Cell Injury, 3 credits, are strongly encouraged electives and serve as required core courses for the respective tracks.

Ph. D. Program

The first step towards Ph.D. candidacy is successful completion of the written preliminary examination at the end of the first year. This examination covers first year course work and seminars. The written examination will consist of questions submitted by members of the JGPT. A minimum score of 70% must be achieved for each question. This test is designed to alert the student's advisor and the Director of potential deficiencies in the student's academic training. Subsequent examinations toward candidacy will be administered by the individual tracks and will consist of an oral preliminary examination by JGPT track faculty members and at least one JGPT member from a track other than that chosen by the student. Upon successful completion of the oral examination the student is officially advanced to degree candidacy.

Within six months of successfully completing the oral examination the student should present and defend a thesis proposal to his/her thesis committee. Having successfully defended the thesis proposal, the student then performs research under the direction of a major advisor. The research project is monitored by the research committee, which meets biannually to review the student' s progress. The student then writes the thesis, presents a public lecture on the research and defends the thesis in a closed session before the research committee. The degree is awarded upon the successful defense of the thesis and acceptance of the thesis by the Graduate School-New Brunswick. It has generally taken full time students, with no prior graduate training, approximately five years to complete the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

Students advance toward the degree by meeting the following criteria:

•  Completion of ALL required courses with a grade point average of 3.0 or better and a grade of B or better in the core courses which are General Toxicology, Toxicological Pathology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Statistics, student seminar and the specified track course.

•  Successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

•  Preparation and approval of a thesis proposal (Successful completion of criteria 1-3 defines candidacy for a degree).

•  Original research and preparation of a thesis based on this research.

•  Successful completion of a thesis defense.

Click here for required courses and more details on the Ph. D. program

Master's Program

The course requirements for M.S. students are similar to those for the Ph.D. student. The M.S. student is required to pass a comprehensive examination, including general knowledge of Toxicology, during the defense of his/her thesis. The M.S. thesis committee, minimally consisting of a faculty advisor and two JGPT faculty members, is assembled during or just after completion of the first year of course work, evaluates the student's thesis proposal and works with the student until the thesis defense. It is estimated that a Master's student could graduate in 2 - 2 1/2 years.

Click here for required courses and more details on the Master's program