The environmental sciences and health graduate program provides education and research training in the areas of environmental chemistry, ecological toxicology (environmental biology and ecology), and environmental toxicology as it relates to human health. The program is based on the tenet that graduate education in the environmental sciences requires training and research linking the disciplines of chemistry, biology, ecology, physics and human health. To foster interdisciplinary interactions, the program recognizes that students must have a strong core curriculum within the environmental sciences. Beyond that, flexible graduate-level education and research is promoted. The program administers solely a Plan A graduate course of study and research at both the M.S. and Ph.D. levels. The program's faculty comes from the University on Nevada, Reno (CABNR, College of Science, College of Engineering and School of Mines) the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Desert Research Institute.

The environmental sciences and health program consists of three disciplinary tracks which serve as focal points for student recruitment, faculty participation, and administration of academic and research activities. The tracks are: environmental chemistry, ecological toxicology, and environmental toxicology and health. The environmental chemistry track focuses on the source, transport, transformation and fate of chemicals in the environment. The ecological toxicology track addresses biological and ecological issues of fate and effects, ranging from biochemical mechanisms of toxicity in nonhuman species to biogeochemistry of xenobiotics in manmade and natural ecosystems. The environmental toxicology track addresses issues in human health and environmental quality, including biochemistry, physiology and nutrition.

Prospective graduate students should have a GRE score exceeding 1,000 (verbal plus quantitative), TOEFL score exceeding 600 (international students), and an undergraduate or graduate major in biology, chemistry, ecology, physics or human health (or a related major). Applicants for the M.S. and Ph.D. programs must have an undergraduate GPA exceeding 2.75 and 3.0, respectively. In addition, the program has a series of undergraduate course prerequisites, and deficiencies must be made up during the first year of graduate study. Applicants must have a faculty sponsor prior to acceptance in the program.

Visit the program's website at http://www.unr.edu/idgrad/esh/

Candidates for both the M.S. and Ph.D. degree must satisfy all general requirements of the Graduate School. In addition, the environmental sciences and health program requires students to take a minimum of three of the five core courses plus the program's seminar series.

Dr. Mark Walker, Associate Professor, Program Director
Phone: (775) 784-1938
e-mail: mwalker@cabnr.unr.edu
Office: 132 Fleischmann Ag Bldg, UNR Campus
 
1664 North Virginia Street
Mail Stop 370
Reno, Nevada 89557-0014

 

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