January 17-18, 2002

 

NOTICE OF INTENT����������� Approval of Masters and Doctoral Degrees in Toxicology; The University of Montana-Missoula

 

THAT:�������������������������������� The Board of Regents of Higher Education authorizes The University of Montana-Missoula to initiate a masters and doctoral degree program in Toxicology.� The program builds on the expertise developed as a result of the newly-approved Center for Environmental Health Sciences and serves a need for additional trained scientists in this area.� No other program of this kind exists in the State of Montana.� The proposed program will require a bachelor�s degree for entrance and will involve 30 credits of post-baccalaureate study for the M.S. and 60 credits for the Ph.D. degree.�

 

EXPLANATION:����������������� The University will offer a Masters (M.S.) and Doctoral (Ph.D.) program in Toxicology within the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences.� Toxicology represents the study of adverse health effects of xenobiotics (compounds foreign to humans).� In the biomedical area, toxicologists study the mechanisms of action and exposure to chemical agents as a cause of acute and chronic illness.� Toxicologists recognize, identify, and quantify hazards resulting from occupational exposure to chemicals and the public health aspects of chemicals in air, water, food, drugs, and other parts of the environment.� Toxicologists also research the discovery and development of new drugs and pesticides.� At the molecular level, toxicologists study mechanisms by which toxicants modulate cell growth and differentiation.� Ultimately, many of these studies lead to new therapeutic approaches.

 

The Center for Environmental Health Sciences within the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences will provide resources for establishment of these programs.� The Board of Regents approved this Center in 2000.� This new program represents a unique strength in environmental health studies at The University of Montana, utilizes the expertise of several new faculty, enhances research and research funding, and serves a national need for masters- and doctoral-level individuals in toxicology.

 

The completed signature page resides on file at the President�s Office, The University of Montana-Missoula.