Curriculum for the Toxicology area of concentration

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Core courses and requirements for all areas of concentration.    All students in the School must meet all UM Graduate School requirements for completing a Ph.D. degree including minimum number of total credit hours, minimum number of credit hours per semester for full time status, maximum time limit to formation of a thesis committee, and maximum time limit to passing of qualifying exam.  In addition, all students matriculating into the program will take 2 core courses:  Bioethics and Scientific Conduct; and either Biostatistics & Bioinformatics or Statistical Methods in Research. 

Bioethics and Scientific Conduct (1 credit).  Material to be covered in the course includes ethical concepts and resolution of ethical conflicts including those involved in scientific conduct; plagiarism; use of animal and human subjects; access to and limits in the use of both public and private databases; interfacing with society.  In addition to readings students will be provided with current federal guidelines the deal with these subject areas as guidance for appropriate scientific conduct.

Biocomputing: a course in bioinformatics and biostatistics (3 credits).  Material to be covered in the course includes database structure, construction, and analysis, including spatial statistics; introduction to scripting languages and computer programming; mathematical modeling of biological processes;  statistical models of complex traits.  Specific examples will be used but with guidance given to application of the models to alternative fields of study.  Course will use a team-based problem solving strategy. 

Statistical Methods in Research (3 credits). Add description here.

Laboratory Rotations. 

Because of the limited number of institutions offering toxicology and their diverse locations, students in this rotation have two choices for laboratory rotations: 1) They may rotate through three laboratories at one institution; or 2) They may rotate through three laboratories at two or more institutions.

Rotations are typically for 3-4 months consisting of at least 20 h per week. A written report of the students experience is due to the host investigator (with a copy to the tract Director) at the conclusion of each rotation and prior to the start of the next rotation. All rotations must be completed by the student's first calendar year, at which time they must have established an agreement with at least one faculty member to serve as their mentor

An exception to this rule will be applied to students recruited by and supported by an individual faculty member or institution who nevertheless wish to obtain a degree in Biomedical Sciences. Such students are not required to do a rotation in another laboratory

Course requirements specific to the Toxicology area of emphasis. 

All students will be required to take the following Toxicology core courses:

Courses with an AMS designation are offered by USM
AMS 545 Biostatistics or MAT 437 Statistical Methods in Research
AMS 535 Epidemiology
AMS 530 Molecular Biology or BMB 400 Molecular Genetics
AMS 595 Seminar: Journal Club or Equivalent
AMS 691 Seminar: Advanced Seminar in Biomedical Sciences or BMB 582 Seminar in Biochemistry
AMS 590 Introduction to Toxicology I
AMS 591 Introduction to Toxicology II
In addition, students must complete at least 2 of the following:
AMS 694 Genetic Toxicology
AMS 695 Carcinogenesis
AMS 696 Metal Toxicology
AMS 674 Neurotoxicology
AMS 675 Developmental Toxicology
BMB 509 Molecular Toxicology
CIE 533 Environmental Aquatic Chemistry

The remainder of the credits can be taken from any graduate level course approved or required by the student's doctoral committee. Minimum Total Credits = 30 (including thesis research credits)

AMS 530 -- Molecular Biology
Prerequisites: undergraduate biology, biochemistry, or permission of the instructor
Credits: 3
This course covers basic principles of molecular biology. Lecture topics include biomolecules and cellular organization, structure and function of DNA, DNA replication, gene expression, RNA transcription and processing, protein synthesis and ribosome structure, cell cycle and signaling, gene rearrangement, retrovirology, developmental and cancer genetics, and recombinant DNA technology

AMS 535 -- Introduction to Epidemiologic Research
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
This course is intended to give students a basic foundation in principles for the conduct and interpretation of population-based studies of the distribution, etiology, and control of disease. Topics will include randomized experiments, non-randomized cohort studies, case-control studies, cross-sectional and ecological studies, causal inference, sources of bias, and measures of effect. Recent publications from the epidemiologic and general medical literature will be used to illustrate the application of the concepts to specific epidemiologic issues.

AMS 545 -- Applied Biostatistical Analysis
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
This course is intended to give students a working understanding of the major types of biostatistical analysis used in laboratory sciences, clinical research, and public health. Topics will include estimation, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, crosstabulations and stratified analysis, life tables, multiple regression, and logistic regression. The course is designed primarily for student with little formal training in biostatistics, but may also prove valuable to other students who desire a course providing an integrated approach to diverse biostatistical techniques within an applied framework. Students will learn to manipulate datasets, analyze them, and interpret the results using the SAS software package

AMS 590 - Introduction to Toxicology I
Prerequisites: molecular biology, biochemistry, or permission of the instructor
Credits: 3
This course introduces students to the principles and practice of toxicology. The major focus of the course is on basic principles, mechanisms and common methods underpinning the science of toxicology. Selected target organ systems (e.g. respiratory, nervous and immune systems) are studied with respect to understanding how representative chemicals damage and impair their ability to function. Students will develop a fundamental understanding of how chemicals may exert toxic effects and gain insight into the importance of organ-specific effects

AMS 591 - Introduction to Toxicology II
Prerequisites: AMS 590 or permission of the instructor
Credits: 3
This course continues to introduce students to the principles and practice of toxicology. The course continues to focus on basic principles, mechanisms and common methods underpinning the science of toxicology. Selected toxicants are studied with respect to their source of exposure and mechanisms of effect. Selected disease processes (e.g. mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and teratogenesis) are studied with respect to understanding their basic pathways and common mechanisms. Selected fields are presented to give students insight into the applications of toxicology and its relationships with other fields

AMS 595 - Seminar: Journal Club
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1
The Journal Club is intended to keep the participants current in biomedical science, to instruct them in the techniques of evaluating scientific literature critically, and to clearly present scientific information. The seminar, directed by faculty members responsible for the corresponding core course material and including outside lectures from among the affiliates as well as other academic institutions, will provide the student with an opportunity to discuss practical applications of the core lecture material

AMS 636 -- Environmental Epidemiology
Prerequisites: AMS 545 or permission of the instructor
Credits: 3
This course focuses on the effects of the physical environment on human health. Among the risk factors examined are a variety of pollutants found in outdoor air, indoor air, surface water, ground water, and food. Special attention is given to heavy metals, ionizing radiation, pesticides, flame retardants, carbon dioxide, and others of current public concern. Effects on human development, on the nervous system, and on respiratory disease and cancer receive particular attention. Topics include: environmental monitoring, quantification of exposure at the individual level, hazards in occupational settings, time-space clustering of disease, use of ecologic studies to estimate risks at the individual level, interactive effects of exposure to multiple environmental risk factors, perceptions of risk, integration of laboratory science with population-based studies, and the role of epidemiologic evidence in setting environmental standards

AMS 673 - Epidemiology and Prevention of Cancer
Prerequisites: AMS 535 or permission of the instructor
Credits: 3
This course provides a comprehensive review and synthesis of epidemiologic studies of the causes of several of the most common forms of cancer in humans. The role of genetics, diet, smoking, hormones, occupation, and other factors will be considered. The public health implications of interventions to alter behavior and to remove environmental risk factors will also be discussed, as will epidemiologic issues in the reduction of mortality through screening for cancer

AMS 674 - Neurotoxicology
Prerequisites: AMS 572, molecular biology, biochemistry, or permission of the instructor
Credits: 3

AMS 675 -- Developmental Toxicology
Prerequisites: AMS 572, molecular biology, biochemistry, or permission of the instructor
Credits: 3

AMS 691 - Advanced Seminar in Biomedical Sciences
Prerequisites: AMS 590 or permission of the instructor
Credits: 1
The student participates in a weekly seminar on biomedical sciences. The seminar focuses on current topics in biomedical research. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Seminar is taken in both fall and spring semesters

AMS 692 - Advanced Readings in Biomedical Sciences
Prerequisites: permission of the instructor
Credits: 2
The student participates in directed readings on a topic in biomedical sciences under the guidance of a faculty member. Readings on specific topics in carcinogenesis, epidemiology, immunology, molecular genetics, neuroscience, parasitology, toxicology, and virology are offered

AMS 693 - Advanced Research Techniques in Biomedical Sciences
Prerequisites: permission of the instructor
Credits: 2
The student learns laboratory techniques used as tools in biomedical research. The term is spent under the direction of a faculty member. Methods in epidemiology, immunology, molecular genetics, parasitology, toxicology, and virology are offered. This is a hands-on course with close supervision by technically trained personnel. For those sections in laboratories working with biohazards, laboratory safety and use of biosafety hoods are emphasized

AMS 694 - Genetic Toxicology
Prerequisites: AMS 591, molecular biology, biochemistry, or permission of the instructor
Credits: 3
This course is an intensive review of the principles and practice of genetic toxicology. The major focus is on basic principles, mechanisms and common methods used to study chemical and radiation-induced damage to DNA and its repair. Selected types of damage and repair systems are studied with respect to understanding mechanisms of how representative chemicals or radiation damage and how the cell responds to impair their ability to function. Students will develop a fundamental understanding of how chemicals damage DNA, how human cells repair DNA and gain insight into the state-of-the-art of this field

AMS 695 - Chemical Carcinogenesis
Prerequisites: AMS 591, molecular biology, biochemistry, or permission of the instructor
Credits: 3
This course is an intensive review of the principles of chemical carcinogenesis. The major focus of the course is on basic principles, mechanisms and common methods involved in the neoplastic transformation of cells. Selected models of carcinogenesis are studied with respect to understanding mechanisms of how representative chemicals transform cells. Students will develop a fundamental understanding of the major theories in chemical carcinogenesis and gain insight into the state-of-the-art of this field

AMS 698 - Thesis
Prerequisites: permission of the instructor
Credits: variable
Under the stewardship of the student's Thesis advisor and committee, a hypothesis driven research project will be developed for a student to gain research training in biomedical science. A written project proposal will be presented to and approved by the thesis advisory committee and upon completion of the research a dissertation will be written and presented to the advisory committee for final approval