Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental and Molecular Toxicology

The doctoral program encompasses the following major elements:

• Course work in the major field
• Written qualifying examinations, including proposals related to the dissertation
• Oral Qualifying Examination on the proposal for the dissertation (advancement to candidacy)
• Dissertation
• Oral defense of the dissertation 

1. Course Requirements

For curriculum details, including course requirements and course sequence: Molecular Toxicology Curriculum

2. Qualifying Examinations - Written and Oral

This examination will typically be taken towards the end of the student's first quarter of their third year at UCLA. Both a written and oral qualifying examination is required. The format for the written qualifying examination will consist of a NIH-style research proposal on a topic which is approved by members of the Thesis Committee. The Thesis Committee will consist of four faculty members including the student's advisor, who will serve as the Chair.

The written proposal will be an original research proposal.

The oral examination of the written proposal will allow the Thesis Committee to fully evaluate the ability of the student to discuss the subject matter in a scholarly fashion. The student must be able to defend the validity and importance of the proposed research as well as the experimental approaches taken. The oral qualifying examination also provides the Thesis Committee the opportunity to specifically address perceived weaknesses in the student's educational background as well as evaluate the student's communication skills. Thus, it is expected that students will be able to both write about and verbally discuss his/her research proposal and experiments in a manner commensurate with someone receiving a PhD in Molecular Toxicology.

After successful completion of both the oral and the written qualifying examinations, the student will advance to candidacy. 

3. PhD Dissertation

A dissertation based on original research is required. The dissertation must be written in the format approved by UCLA. As a general guideline, the dissertation should consist of research equivalent to at least two peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals in the field.

5. Final Examination

A final defense of the PhD thesis will be required.

The typical time for completion of the degree is 5.6 years.

View a list of faculty in the Molecular Toxicology Program. 

For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the registrar's office.

Please see the cost and aid section of our website for information on awards, scholarships, training opportunities, employment, summer internship funding, and need-based aid. Please note that opportunities listed under 'Summer Internship Funding' are only applicable to MPH students.

Desired Qualifications

In addition to meeting the University’s minimum requirements:

• A master's degree is not a prerequisite for admission.
• The ideal training for an undergraduate would be to major either in chemistry or Biology, and to have a solid background in both of these disciplines with some quantitative training.
• A minimum of a four (4) unit undergraduate course in statistics is required.
• Additional courses of value for toxicologists include the following: calculus, cell biology, genetics, physiology, microbiology, molecular biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry, as well as others.
• Excellent students from all disciplines will be considered for admission, with the opportunity to make up deficiencies during their graduate curriculum.

• Admissions Process

  Visit the application guide to learn about our admissions process.