Environmental Chemistry, Toxicology, and Risk Assessment
SPEA is a global leader in environmental chemistry, toxicology, and risk assessment education, research, and service. This concentration addresses the fate and transport of chemicals in the environment and the hazards and risks to human health and the environment associated with chemical pollution.
Students will take courses on the chemical/physical/biological reactions of pollutants in soil, aquatic, and atmospheric systems. Additional courses study the hazards associated with chemicals used in modern society, technologies available to manage and remediate contaminated sites, the toxicological effects of chemical exposure, and methods to assess risks associated with chemicals in the environment.
Careers in Environmental Chemistry, Toxicology, and Risk Assessment
Students concentrating in environmental chemistry, toxicology, and risk assessment enjoy the advantages of the School's leading position as they embark on their professional careers, whether in the United States or in other countries, whether in national or sub-national government, and whether in the public or private sectors.
SPEA graduates in this concentration have worked TetraTech, Baxter Pharmaceuticals, Mundell and Associates, General Motors, Ducks Unlimited, Indiana DNR...and many others! The environmental chemistry, toxicology, and risk assessment concentration will prepare you for a variety of positions, from environmental consultants and scientists to data managers and project managers.
Environmental Chemistry, Toxicology, and Risk Assessment Curriculum
Students begin to develop needed technical tools with the MSES core competencies (18 credit hours).
The Applied Ecology concentration also includes specific advanced courses and 12 credit hours of electives that allow a student to tailor their individual program towards their interests. Below is a list of possible elective courses. Students also may enroll in courses in Geology, Geography, and other departments after consultation with a faculty advisor.
- Fundamentals of Air Pollution (E515)
- Environmental Toxicology (E520)
- Aquatic Chemistry (E539)
- Hazardous Materials (E542)
- Subsurface Biology and Bioremediation (E544)
- Toxicology in the 21st Century (E555)
- Environmental Risk Analysis (E560)
- Solid and Hazardous Waste Management (E562)
- Organic Pollutants: Environmental Chemistry and Fate (E564)
- Environmental Soil Science (E570)
Students pursuing the thesis options will sign up for Research in Environmental Science (E625) to fulfill some portion of their concentration electives.
Students pursuing the non-thesis option generally complete an appropriate internship during the summer between their first and second year in the program. The coursework in each concentration culminates in a project-oriented course (capstone) that integrates knowledge gained throughout the program and applies it to issues related to the student’s concentration.
Dual Concentrations
Dual concentrations with Environmental Chemistry, Toxicology, and Risk Assessment and other concentrations offered by SPEA—such as Water Resources—offer unique advantages for those wanting to make a difference in particular areas of environmental science. Our faculty work to accommodate these specialized professional interests in the design of student programs.