This program is jointly sponsored by the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and the School of the Environment. For additional information see “School of the Environment” (www.environment.utoronto.ca) or consult our website: www.pharmtox.utoronto.ca.
The Environment and Toxicology Specialist program is an interdisciplinary program which spans the social, physical and life sciences and integrates study of the effects of chemicals not only on the health and behaviour of human beings but on whole ecosystems as the adverse effects associated with therapeutic and environmental chemicals are discussed. This program emphasizes the application of knowledge of environmental toxicology and risk assessment and prepares students for a variety of job opportunities following its completion. Graduates of the Environment and Toxicology program may pursue careers in scientific research, environmental science, conservation science, governmental agencies, consulting agencies, and within chemical, manufacturing or agriculture industries. Students learn to integrate basic environmental and life science with particular aspects of clinical toxicology and related areas through lectures, tutorials, and laboratory and independent research project experience. The senior independent research project course enables students to gain valuable research experience while working under the supervision of an individual faculty member in either a laboratory-based or a non-laboratory-based setting.
This is a limited enrolment program. Students must have completed 4.0 credits and meet the requirements listed below to enroll.
Variable Minimum Grade Average
A minimum grade average in required courses is needed for entry, and this minimum changes each year depending on available spaces and the number of applicants. The following courses or their equivalents must be completed:
- BIO120H1, BIO130H1
- ( CHM135H1, CHM136H1)/ CHM151Y1
- 1.0 credit from ( MAT135H1, MAT136H1)/ MAT137Y1/ MAT157Y1/ ( PHY131H1, PHY132H1)/( PHY151H1, PHY152H1)
To ensure that students admitted to the program will be successful, applicants with a final grade lower than 65% in each course, or a combined grade average lower than 70% in these required courses will not be considered for admission. Please note that obtaining this minimum final grade or minimum grade average does not guarantee admission to the program. The underlying numeric final mark in each of your courses required for program enrolment will be used by the relevant academic unit to determine your eligibility.
Applications from students lacking numerical grades in one or more of the specified prerequisites, or students applying in their second or later years, may be considered on the basis of their entire academic record and the availability of space in the program. In addition to applying through ACORN, students applying in their second year or later are asked to please contact the department directly at undergrad.pharmtox@utoronto.ca, specify which program you would like to be considered for, and provide your student number. Please consult the Arts & Science Program Toolkit for more information on program enrolment.
Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP)
Students in this program have the option to request enrolment in the Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP) stream. Students can apply for the ASIP stream after Year 1 (Year 2 entry) or after Year 2 (Year 3 entry, starting Fall 2025). Full details about ASIP, including student eligibility, selection and enrolment, are available in the ASIP section of the Arts & Science Academic Calendar. Please note that the majority of students enter ASIP in Fall term of Year 2. Space is more limited for Year 3 entry and there are program-specific year 3 entry enrolment requirements. Students applying for Year 3 entry must have been admitted to the Environment & Toxicology Specialist in the Summer after Year 2 and completion of PCL201H1 (with a minimum grade of 77%), PSL300H1 and PSL301H1.
Notes:
- The Environment and Toxicology Specialist cannot be combined with the Biomedical Toxicology Major or the Pharmacology Major.
- Students who wish to enroll in the program after their second year will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Successful completion of required prerequisite courses is required to enroll in further upper-level program courses.
(14.0 credits, including 4.0 credits at the 300+level, 1.0 credit of which must be at the 400-level).
First Year: BIO120H1, BIO130H1, ( CHM135H1, CHM136H1)/ CHM151Y1, and at least 1.0 credit from MAT135H1, MAT136H1, MAT137Y1, MAT157Y1, PHY131H1, PHY132H1, PHY151H1, PHY152H1
Students in this program have the option to enrol in the Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP) stream.
Second Year: BCH210H1, BIO230H1/ BIO255H1, ENV221H1, ENV222H1, PCL201H1, PSL300H1, PSL301H1 and CHM247H1 (see NOTE 1)
Third and Fourth Years:
BIO220H1, EEB240H1, JGE321H1, CHM210H1, PCL302H1, PCL381H1, PCL482H1, PCL483H1
One of: ENV341H1/ ENV337H1/ EEB320H1
One of: STA220H1/ STA221H1/ STA288H1/ EEB225H1 (see NOTE 2)
One of: ENV421Y1/ JPM400Y1/ PCL367H1/ PCL474Y1 (see NOTE 2)
At least 1.0 credit from: CHM310H1, EEB321H1, EEB365H1, EEB428H1, ENV441H1, ENV462H1, JPM300H1, LMP301H1, LMP363H1, PCL298H1, PCL362H1, PCL386H1, PCL477H1, PCL484H1, PCL490H1, PHY231H1 (see NOTE 3)
An Integrative, Inquiry-Based Activity Requirement must be satisfied.
The requirement for an integrative, inquiry-based and/or experiential activity must be met by completing at least one of the following: PCL297H1, PCL298H1, PCL367H1, PCL397Y0, ENV421H1, ENV421Y1, JPM400Y1, PCL474Y1. Students who complete the Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP) stream or PEY Co-op will also meet this requirement.
Note: January 2022 was the last opportunity for Faculty of Arts & Science students to register for PEY Co-op. Students in Year 3 in the Fall/Winter 2021-2022 were the last group of Faculty of Arts & Science students eligible to participate in PEY Co-op. Students starting Year 2 in Fall 2021 or later are only eligible to participate in the Arts & Science Internship Program stream.
Notes:
- PSL300H1 and PSL301H1 require MAT 100-level/ PHY 100-level courses.
- PCL201H1, PCL302H1, and PCL367H1 are pre-requisites for students intending to take PCL474Y1. Students intending to take PCL474Y1 must obtain permission from the Undergraduate Student Advisor of the School of the Environment 3 months prior to the intended date of enrolment. Students must also consult with the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at least 3 months prior to the intended date of enrolment. Students wishing to take ENV421Y1 are advised to take the course during third year, due to scheduling conflicts with fourth year requirements.
- Students taking PCL477H1 must take BCH210H1 prior. Students taking only PCL367H1 must take 1.5 credits from program electives requirement list of courses to ensure 14.0 program credits. Students may choose to take both PCL367H1 and ENV421Y1/ JPM400Y1/ PCL474Y1 and would then need to take only 0.5 credits from the program electives requirement list of courses to ensure 14.0 program credits.
