Course Title: Toxicity Testing

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Toxicity Testing

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
ONPS2311	Bundoora Campus	Postgraduate	160H Medical Sciences	Internet	Sem 2 2006, Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010

Course Coordinator: Assoc Prof Paul Wright

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7748

Course Coordinator Email: paul.wright@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

There are no prerequisite courses for this course. Students would find it of benefit to have completed (or be concurrently completing) ONPS2309 “Essential Toxicology”, PUBH1355 “Occupational and Food Toxicology” and PUBH1362 “Environmental Toxicology”.

Course Description

This is a fully online web-based course. Toxicity testing is a requirement of all new chemicals with potential for human exposure in the home, workplace or environment. This course is designed to provide a fundamental knowledge and understanding of the concepts of toxicity testing methodologies.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Students are expected to gain a sound knowledge and understanding of: in vitro and in vivo testing methods, including acute, short term, subchronic and chronic test systems; pathological lesions in toxicology; and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and OECD test guidelines.

This flexible distance-learning course has modules that are specifically designed to equip students with essential skills to work in the fields of:
· Chemical and drug evaluation, both in private industry and government;
· Risk assessment of chemicals in the workplace and environment;
· Environmental issues of toxic contamination; and
· Toxicity of food contamination.

Overview of Learning Activities

The online modular delivery of this course enables independent learning. Module tests are provided to aid your understanding of concepts in selected modules. Discussion sessions are held throughout the course on topics linked to course content and assignments. Online discussions and tutorials enable you to practice teamwork, collaborative skills, articulation of ideas, discussion and argument, in response to scientific questions and educational content presented by the academic staff. Participation in discussions is compulsory and a requirement for completing the course. The short assignment is approached through consideration of the issues concerning the use and interpretation of in vitro and in vivo toxicity tests.

Overview of Learning Resources

This course is accessed and studied online via the RMIT Learning Hub ("Online @ RMIT"). The content for this course is provided through online modules and the prescribed textbook, and includes toxicity testing data and methodology. Further learning resources such as articles and links to relevant web sites are provided where appropriate.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment tasks include: online topic quizzes to aid understanding of concepts; online discussions and tutorials to articulate ideas and practise collaborative skills; short assignments linked to module topics; and an open book exam.