To meet these objectives, the program's curriculum includes courses in epidemiology, occupational medicine, analytical chemistry, molecular biology, law, and basic natural sciences. Students learn to understand and deal with environmental and human health problems arising from the many sources of pollution produced by modern technology. The program encourages students to take advantage of appropriate graduate courses at many University System of Maryland campuses. Topics include major classes of toxic agents, principal target organs of toxicity, and mechanisms of toxicity. A two-semester course.
Emphasis is on methodology in pharmacological research.
Topics include mechanisms of drug metabolism, enzymes as targets of drug action, interactions of drugs with channels and carriers, and drugs that interact with nuclear receptors. Offered spring semester, even-numbered years. Students become familiar with laboratory methods used by staff members to study the effect of toxins and environmental pollutants on living systems. Students may take for credit more than once. Lectures concerning mechanisms of cell injury from toxic agents attempt to further integrate ideas from TOXI 601 and 602 using a cell biology approach to understanding how organic and inorganic toxicants produce cellular damage.