Learn how chemicals affect our environment. Discover how industrial emissions have

polluted our ecosystems. Understand how toxic substances behave in the body and the

natural environment. These are just a few opportunities available to you when you choose

to major in Toxicology at the University of Saskatchewan.

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Toxicology is the science that deals with the harmful effects of chemical and physical agents on living organisms and biological systems. Generally speaking, toxicology is the study of poisons and pollutants.

During the last four to five decades, the world has seen a rapid growth in industrial activity, development of new technology and the synthesis of new chemicals. Some of these chemicals are approved for direct use in people and animals (e.g. drugs and food additives). Others are released into our environment, either intentionally (e.g., pesticides and household products), unintentionally (e.g. through industrial effluents and emissions) or by accident (e.g. spills and releases). In many cases, our knowledge of the effects of these new chemicals and the risk that they pose to environmental and human health is inadequate.

The potential adverse effects on people, wildlife and ecosystems from these chemicals are now being recognized and have become a matter of concern to scientists, regulatory agencies and the public at large. Industrial emissions and effluents released into our environment have caused global changes such as atmospheric ozone layer depletion, global warming, acid rain, surface and ground water pollution, contamination of natural and processed food supplies,

disease, and large-scale wildlife and fish kills. The socio-economic

impacts of these pollution events have been enormous, and the need for trained toxicologists to address these issues is growing.

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A Stepping Stone…What is Toxicology?Students with an undergraduate degree in Toxicology would meet the course requirements for admission to medicine, veterinary medicine or dentistry, or could pursue graduate studies in toxicology at the Master's or Ph.D. level.

Career OpportunitiesThe main objective of this new program is to properly prepare students for careers or further study in the exciting and expanding field of toxicology. There is a high demand for toxicology graduates both in Canada and internationally. A variety of career paths are available to graduates of both the undergraduate and graduatepr~rams.given the different branches of toxicology. Examples of these include: analytical and forensic toxicology; biomedical and human toxicology; veterinary and wildlife toxicology; ecological and aquatic toxicology; and risk assessment and regulatory toxicology.

Graduates with a major in Toxicology find jobs in chemical, drug, food and resource industries; environmental consulting firms; federal and provincial government research laboratories and regulatory departments; or university-based research centres. Such jobs range from laboratory and field work to regulatory and consulting positions.

Students majoring in Toxicology can choose from one of the following degrees:

B.Sc. Four-year B.Sc. Honours The first two years of the program have been designed to provide maximum transferability with other U of S natural and life science programs, so that interested science students can transfer to the new Toxicology program without having to take many additional courses.

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Admission Requirements

Choose Your Program!

The toxicology program at the University of Saskatchewan is the only program of its type in Western Canada and will be the most comprehensive undergraduate toxicology program in Canada.

The new program has been designed to provide students with a basic understanding of how toxic substances behave in the body and in the natural environment, how they adversely affect individual organisms, populations and ecosystems, and how to measure these toxicants and their potential effects.

Students will be able to choose from a large number of electives so that they can design their undergraduate program to emphasize one of two areas: biomedical toxicology or environmental toxicology.

Given the multidisciplinary nature of toxicology, students in the first two years of the program will receive a broad education in the life sciences. Required courses include:

Biochemistry General Biology Calculus Genetics Cell Biology Organic Chemistry Chemistry Physics Ecology Physiology

Courses focusing specifically on toxicology will be available in years three and four of the program. These include:

Toxicology of Industrial Chemicals Applied Toxicology Perspectives in Toxicology Ecological Toxicology Introductory Biogeochemistry Environmental Fate of Toxic Substances Toxicology Research

The following is a list of Saskatchewan high school subjects required prior to enrolling in the Toxicology program:

• Mathematics B30 • Mathematics C30 • Biology 30 • Chemistry 30 • Physics 30

For details on requirements from another province or country contact Admissions at 306-966-6718 or admissions@usask.ca.

General Principles of Toxicology Environmental Toxicology Systemic Toxicology Biotoxins Radiation and Radionuclide Toxicology Risk Assessment and Regulatory Toxicology

Students admitted into Arts & Science can choose Toxicology as their major. The following is a list of Saskatchewan high school subjects required for admission into Arts &Science: • English A30* • English 830* • Mathematics A30 or Mathematics 830 or

Mathematics C30 • One approved 30-level science or language

(other than English) or fine art • One approved 30-level subject** • Two approved 20- or 30-level subjects**

*Students in a French lmmenion prognm may substitute Fransaskois A30 or Fransaskois B30 or Francais Immersion in place of one English. **For a list of approved subjects consult the Univeristy Calendar or contact Admissions.

We would like to hear from you! For more information about the Toxicology program and the University of Saskatchewan, including course requirements and program details, contact: Diane Favreau Coordinator Interdisciplinary Programs, College of Arts & ScienceTelephone: (306) 966-4288 diane.favreau@usask.ca Or Mark Wickstrom Academic Advisor, Toxicology Centre Telephone: (306) 966-7446 Facsimilie: (306) 931-1664 mark.wickstrom@usask.ca

Toxicology website: www.usask.ca/toxicology

A Major in Toxicology

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