Toxicology for Human Risk Assessment, MS

Master of Science (MS) in Toxicology for Human Risk Assessment

The curriculum consists of core courses that will be taken during the first year of the program, during the four 8-week terms from September to mid-May. The internship and a capstone essay will be completed in the second year. 

Curriculum

MS Tox students need 64 credits to graduate. Each term they should register for the required courses listed below. Please refer to the course directory for the most current information. To substitute a course with something not listed, contact the program director. Sample programs are provided on the student resources page but individual student's program may look different depending on their interest, background, and goals.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
PH.550.860	Academic & Research Ethics at BSPH
PH.552.601	Foundational Principles of Public Health	0.5
PH.552.603	The Role of Qualitative Methods and Science in Describing and Assessing a Population's Health	0.5
PH.552.611	Globalization and Population Health	0.5
PH.552.608	Biologic, Genetic and Infectious Bases of Human Disease	0.5
PH.552.609	Psychological and Behavioral Factors That Affect A Population's Health	0.5
PH.180.609	Principles of Environmental Health	4
PH.187.610	Public Health Toxicology	4
PH.317.600	Introduction to the Risk Sciences and Public Policy	4
PH.317.610	Risk Policy, Management and Communication	3
PH.317.605	Methods in Quantitative Risk Assessment	4
PH.317.615	Topics in Risk Assessment	2
PH.340.721	Epidemiologic Inference in Public Health I	5
PH.340.722	Epidemiologic Inference in Public Health II	4
PH.140.621	Statistical Methods in Public Health I	4
PH.140.622	Statistical Methods in Public Health II	4
PH.187.632	Molecular Toxicology	4
PH.187.645	Toxicology 21: Scientific Applications	3
PH.180.640	Molecular Epidemiology and Biomarkers in Public Health	4
PH.187.655	Evidence-Based Toxicology	3
PH.187.650	Alternative Methods in Animal Testing	3
PH.180.628	Introduction To Environmental and Occupational Health Law	4
PH.340.680	Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology	4
PH.182.613	Exposure Assessment Techniques for Health Risk Management	3
PH.182.845	EHE MS Special Studies and Research	1 - 22
PH.182.810	MS Field Placement	1 - 22
PH.182.850	EHE MS Essay	1 - 16

Internship

Students in this professional degree program assume responsibility for a professional project to be carried out off-site at a governmental agency, non-governmental organization, industry, or private sector company. Students will work with the faculty adviser to identify internship opportunities. The minimum duration of the internship will be four months (two academic terms). The student will be directed in the internship experience by an on-site mentor and will regularly communicate with their academic adviser. The overall length of the project period may be extended beyond the minimum requirement.

For full-time students, the internship involves 32 course credits of 182.810 MS Field Placement. For part-time students, it involves 3 credits. The latter students should register for these classes on the following basis: 1 credit of 182.810 for preparation of the internship proposal and data collection; 1 credit of 182.850 to draft the essay; and 1 credit of 182.850 for finalizing the essay and formally presenting it at a seminar with faculty and fellow students. The registration timeline for these courses is decided between the student and their adviser.

Essay and Presentation

Students in professional programs at the Bloomberg School of Public Health must successfully submit a culminating project that demonstrates integration of the skills developed during the coursework and internship experiences. For students in the MS program, this project takes the form of an in-depth capstone essay.

The topic of the essay will be linked to the specific or general focus of the internship experience and will be chosen in consultation with the adviser, who must approve it. Ideally, students select a topic that will lend itself to publication in a scientific journal. Following approval of the essay, students must make a formal oral presentation to the Department.

Essay Format

• Title page Abstract (1 page)
• Table of contents/list of figures
• Introduction/background (approx. 5-10 pages) - Include objectives of the project and explain the significance of the objectives
• Methods (approx. 5-8 pages) Results (approx. 4-8 pages)
• Discussion and conclusions (approx. 5-10 pages) - In addition to discussing the results, include any steps your organization will take to continue the project. Also, describe the benefit of the project to industry, government (local, state and/or federal), and the regulatory community. References - refer to the PNAS style, which includes published articles, books and websites.

Milestones

(S) – student responsibility, (F) – faculty responsibility

• July 1 (or one month after beginning the internship) – An organizational meeting will be conducted that includes the student, internship adviser, and the academic adviser. A draft of the introduction is submitted prior to the meeting (S).
• July 16 – Project approved and data collection begins (F)
• Sept. 1 – Paper outline is submitted to academic adviser (S)
• Sept. 15 – Comments from adviser are due (F)
• Oct. 1 – First draft is submitted (S)
• Oct. 15 – Comments from adviser are due (F)
• Nov. 1 – Second draft is submitted (S)
• Nov. 15 – Comments from program adviser are due (F)
• Dec. 1 – Final draft is submitted (S)
• Dec. 15 – Completion letter is signed (F)
• TBA – 30-minute presentation to MS faculty (S, F)

CODE OF CONDUCT

The fundamental purpose of the Johns Hopkins University’s (the “University” or “JHU”) regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically.

Allegations of sexual misconduct are covered by JHU’s Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures for faculty, staff, and students. The University encourages individuals to report incidents of sexual misconduct and provides a variety of avenues, both formal and informal, by which individuals can report complaints of sexual harassment. Allegations of sexual harassment by students are covered under the JHU program and under the Student Conduct Code.

Personal Relationships

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to the personal, academic, and professional well- being and development of its students, trainees, faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, clinical residents, and all other members of the University community. The University seeks to maintain an atmosphere of mutual respect, collegiality, fairness, and trust. The Personal Relationships Policy implements the University’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of its educational and working environment. This policy focuses on the conflict of interest that may exist when individuals simultaneously engage in both personal and professional relationships in which one individual has the potential to exert substantial academic or professional influence over the other.

research

Human Subjects

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to protecting the rights and welfare of all individuals participating as subjects in research. To meet this obligation, the Bloomberg School has two on- site Institutional Review Boards and an external IRB (the Western IRB) that review studies on the School’s behalf. All faculty and students who are involved in human subject research must meet the compliance training requirements of the Bloomberg School IRB. It is the responsibility of students and faculty to make certain that approval is obtained from the IRB before beginning any research involving human subjects. The IRB is also responsible for determining whether certain research activities qualify for exempt status under the regulations and institution policy.

For IRB announcements and updates, and for additional information and requirements on conducting human research, please contact either the:

• Bloomberg School’s IRB Office, Room E1100, Wolfe Street Building (410-955-3193); email at jhsph.irboffice@jhu.edu, or Homewood IRB Office
• Homewood IRB Office (410-516-4820); email at levans22@jhu.edu;  https://homewoodirb.jhu.edu/ participants/

Animal Research

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to protecting the rights and welfare of animals used in research. All students involved in animal research must first complete an online training module, Animal Care and Use, available through myLearning in the JHU Portal, before beginning work with animals. Additional training may also be required. Students must also be listed as student investigators on projects they are working on that involve animals.

The care and use of animal subjects are regulated by the Animal Welfare Act, which is implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The University has one assurance with the federal government (the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare [OLAW]) and, therefore, the University has one animal care and use committee (IACUC). Faculty from the Bloomberg School, the School of Medicine, and the Homewood campus serve on this committee. An approved protocol MUST be obtained before animals can be purchased. Questions regarding submission of animal research protocols should be addressed to the IACUC Office at 443-287- 3738. Animal care and procurement are under the purview of Johns Hopkins Research Animal Resources.

For those exposed to animals either directly or indirectly, their bedding, waste products, fresh animal tissues, or equipment involved in animal use and care, Johns Hopkins requires the following to reduce health risks associated with animal exposures. Students may view the full animal research policy here.

ETHICS POLICIES

All members of the Johns Hopkins community are responsible for immediately informing the Academic Ethics Board of the Bloomberg School of Public Health of any suspected violations of its Constitution. The Ethics Board, composed of six students and four faculty members, is responsible for implementing its Constitution according to the procedures set forth therein. This includes formal hearings of suspected violations.

Allegations of fraud in research by students will be handled and resolved according to the policies and procedures specified in Faculty PPM 7 – Research Misconduct. Penalties for students who are found responsible for engaging in fraud in research under Faculty PPM 7 may be selected from among the penalties specified in the Student Academic Ethics Code (Student PPM 1) as appropriate.

Allegations of violations of academic integrity by students in the School are covered under the policies and procedures contained in PPM for Students - 1 (Academic Ethics) and the School’s Academic Ethics Code. Allegations of unsatisfactory performance or unacceptable behavior by faculty are covered by PPM Faculty - 8 (Procedure for Handling Allegations of Unsatisfactory Performance or Unacceptable Behavior), and allegations of fraud or misconduct during the conduct of research by faculty are covered by PPM Faculty - 7 (Fraud in Research).

Allegations of misconduct by staff are covered by policies and procedures established by the University Office of Human Resources as stated in the Personnel Policy Manual. (This information is taken from the School’s POLICY AND PROCEDURE MEMORANDUM STUDENTS – 1, SUBJECT: Academic Ethics).

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

If it becomes necessary to take a break from studies, students should contact their adviser and academic program manager to determine if a formal leave of absence (LOA) is necessary. Any request for change of status must be discussed with the program or track director(s) and academic program manager and approved by the department and school. For more information, please see the University Policy.

parental accommodations

Please see the university page on parental accommodations for full-time graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.

TRAVEL RESOURCES

career development resources

BSPH's Career Services office provides resources and guidance, including:

• Personal career and life-design planning for students and alumni
• Career workshops and events throughout the year
• A comprehensive Career Planner with resume template
• Exclusive access to sponsored career resources
• An outstanding Public Health Career Fair held each spring
• A robust database of public health jobs, internships, and public health employers

DISABILITY SERVICES

The Bloomberg School of Public Health is committed to the holistic well-being of its students and offers a wide spectrum of support as they progress toward becoming confident, capable, and fulfilled leaders in public health. Visit the Student Disability Services page for more information and how to request accommodations.

Program funding

The Masters Tuition Scholarship is available for second-year students enrolled in 12 or more credits in the MS program. Eligibility for the Master’s Tuition Scholarship (MTS) requires students are in good academic standing and pay tuition for at least 64 approved credits. In addition, MS students must complete at least 12 credits of formal coursework outside of EHE. At least six of these credits must be taken in the School of Public Health. The MTS is worth up to 75% off tuition. 

According to the requirements of the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), all BSPH degree students must be grounded in foundational public health knowledge. Please view the list of specific CEPH requirements by degree type.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Explain and interpret epidemiologic studies to support risk assessment and decision-making.
2. Elaborate on commonly used public health measures, such as relative risk, attributable risk, and relative hazards, and select appropriate statistical methods for estimating such measures in the presence of covariates.
3. Interpret descriptive and inferential statistics resulting from data analysis and draw relevant conclusions.
4. Contrast traditional and novel methodological approaches in toxicology.
5. Define the major environmental agents (i.e. environmental chemical, biological, and physical that cause adverse effects on human health) and their sources, and their regulations.
6. Describe the toxicology of (toxicokinetics and dynamics) of environmental agents.
7. Describe approaches for in vitro to in vivo modeling of toxicokinetics.
8. Evaluate evidence-based toxicology studies and studies conducted using other systematic approaches.