Current Students

Guide for Graduate Students in Environmental Toxicology

The Graduate Field of Environmental Toxicology is a group of members of the graduate faculty who have joined together to support this area of study that spans several traditional departments. The Director of Graduate Studies for Environmental Toxicology is Andrew Yen. His office is located in T4-08 VRT, his telephone number is (607) 253-3354; and e-mail: ay13@cornell.edu. The Graduate Field Assistant is Andrea Elmore, 152A Stocking Hall; telephone number: (607) 255-2539; e-mail: ace23@cornell.edu.  You may direct inquiries to either.

The Administrative Office of the Graduate School and the Office of the Dean are Caldwell Hall. Office hours are from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. The telephone number for information concerning Admission, Fellowships, Financial Aid, and Student Records is (607) 255-4884. The telephone number of the Office of the Dean is 255-5812

SPECIAL COMMITTEE
A student entering the Graduate Program in Environmental Toxicology must select a special committee consisting of a chairperson (Major Advisor) representing the Field of Environmental Toxicology, and additional faculty representing subject areas selected as minors, one (for M.S.) or two (for Ph.D.). The Special Committee monitors the general progress of the Student, develops a program of courses consistent with the Student’s needs, conducts examinations, and ensures that the Student satisfactorily completes all degree requirements. The Field appoints an additional member to the Special Committee for the “A” exam. A Nomination of Special Committee form naming an Advisor/Chair must be filed with the Graduate School within three weeks after the first registration, but the Student has the first year to select minor members of the committee.For further discussion of the Special Committee, refer to the “Guide to Graduate Study”.

TOXICOLOGY COURSE REQUIREMENTS

  • An introductory basic concepts course (TOX 610)
  • A biochemical/molecular mechanisms course (TOX 611)
  • An exposure/risk evaluation course (TOX 597)
  • A seminar course (TOX 702) (students must register for this course each semester until completion of A exam)
  • A journal club course (TOX 699) (students must register for this each spring semester until completion of A exam)
  • Two elective courses appropriate for the student’s chosen concentration area.  See enclosed list.

 

Minor Requirements for Environmental Toxicology Students
One minor subject is required for the MS degree. Students in the PhD program take two minors outside of the field, or one minor outside Environmental Toxicology and additional study in a second concentration within Environmental Toxicology as recommended by the committee member representing that second concentration. Once students have selected their minor subjects, they will take courses suggested by the faculty member representing each minor on the special committee.

Minor Requirements for non-Environmental Toxicology Graduate Students
Students majoring in another field may minor in Environmental Toxicology. Students pursuing a Ph.D. degree should take the three core courses (TOX 610, TOX 611, CEE 597/TOX597). Students pursuing a M.S. degree should take two of the three core courses. Those students who wish to minor in a specific concentration area are expected to take two additional courses that pertain to the concentration area.

CHANGES: HOW TO MAKE THEM
All required forms are located at the Graduate Schoolweb site at www.gradschool.cornell.edu
If you need to change the membership of your Special Committee, obtain and process an “Addition to/Change of Special Committee” form from the Graduate School.

If you want to change your degree program or Field of study, discuss the change with Director of Graduate Studies; then obtain a “Change of Status” petition from the Graduate School; specify the change, by Field and degree program, and the semester in which you would like it to become effective; explain the reason for the change; have the petition endorsed by your committee chairperson; and submit it to the Graduate School.

RESIDENCE CREDITAll candidates for a graduate degree at Cornell must earn a specified number of residence units. One unit is equivalent to one semester of full-time study completed at an acceptable level of performance. A minimum of two units must be accumulated before the master’s degree is granted; six units is the minimum requirement for a Ph.D. degree. Residence requirements must be completed with reasonable continuity. This means that a student mustregister at the beginning of each term unless he/she withdraws, is granted a leave of absence, or completes the degree. No more than seven years may intervene between the first registration in the Graduate School and the granting of a Ph.D. degree.

FINAL EXAMINATION FOR THE MASTER’S DEGREE
A student must give a campus-wide seminar presenting their research.  A “Schedule of Examination” form must be completed and filed with the Graduate School. Ten days prior to the thesis defense, a student must notify the Director of Graduate Studies when his/her defense is scheduled (date, time, location and title of thesis). The Director of Graduate Studies will then notify the Faculty in the Field. ***

The “A” exam is given for admission to Ph.D. candidacy and may be taken as part of the M.S. Thesis defense, provided the student has completed the requirements for two minors. The Field appoints an additional faculty member to the committee for the A-Exam. (Procedure: The student must identify three toxicology faculty members who are willing and available to attend the exam. They then give those names to the Director of Graduate Studies, and he appoints one of them as “Field” member.)

After passing the Admission to Candidacy Examination, the Candidate must earn at least two additional residence units for a minimum of six, before taking the final “B” examination (the Ph.D. Thesis defense).***

EXAMINATIONS FOR Ph.D. CANDIDATES
The “A” exam is given for admission to Ph.D. candidacy and may be taken after two units of residence credit and must be taken before beginning the seventh unit of residence. In advance of scheduling the “A” exam, the candidate must talk with the Director of Graduate Studies, who will appoint a faculty member representing the Field to the Special Committee (see Procedure: above). This member is appointed to assure that the candidate has a broad knowledge of Toxicology.

After passing the Admission to Candidacy exam***, the candidate must earn at least two additional residence units for a minimum of six before taking the final “B” exam.

A student must give a campus-wide seminar presenting their research. A “Schedule of Examination” form must be completed and filed with the Graduate School. Ten days prior to the thesis defense, the student must notify the Director of Graduate Studies when his/her defense is scheduled (date, time, location and title of thesis). The Director of Graduate Studies will then notify the faculty in the Field.

***be sure to submit a “Results of Examination” form to the Graduate School

FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Information regarding fellowships may be obtained at the Graduate School in Caldwell Hall.  Other forms of aid are: Assistantships (TA, RA, GA, GRA), Tuition Assistance Program and Need-based Financial Aid. Details on aid may be found in the “Guide to Graduate Study”.