Toxicology is the study of how biological, chemical, physical, and radiological agents affect living organisms and the ecosystem, and how to prevent or lessen the adverse effects of those agents. The Human Toxicology Program prepares toxicologists to identify and assess environmental exposures, identify mechanisms by which toxicants affect homeostasis or induce disease, identify interventions to prevent adverse effects and estimate acceptable levels of exposure to protect public health.

The program is interdisciplinary, involving the Graduate College, the College of Public Health, the Carver College of Medicine, and the colleges of Engineering, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Pharmacy.

The Graduate College supports the Human Toxicology Program. Students receive support from the Iowa Superfund Research Program, the Environmental Health Sciences Research Center, and other faculty research grants.

Graduate Programs of Study

• Master of Science in Human Toxicology
• Doctor of Philosophy in Human Toxicology

Training is conducted primarily in laboratories and teaching facilities of the departments and colleges of Human Toxicology Program faculty members. These are among the best-equipped laboratories on campus. Together with the university's central research facilities, they provide access to the most up-to-date research equipment and expertise.

Human Toxicology Courses