Best institutions to study Molecular Toxicology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the genetic determinants of susceptibility to external pollutants and poisons; the interaction of toxic agents with biological systems at the molecular and cellular levels; and the development of countermeasures and treatments.
1 U.S. institutions graduated 3 Molecular Toxicology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.1005, a specialization of Pharmacology and Toxicology (CIP 26.10), and leads most directly to the Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health occupation (BLS SOC 19-2041).
About Molecular Toxicology programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the genetic determinants of susceptibility to external pollutants and poisons; the interaction of toxic agents with biological systems at the molecular and cellular levels; and the development of countermeasures and treatments. Includes instruction in pharmacogenetics, biomolecular structure, gene expression and regulation, transgenic modeling, toxic events signaling, transcriptional activation, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, pulmonary toxicology, xenobiotic metabolism, oxidative stress, risk assessment, molecular dosimetry, and studies of specific toxins and treatment therapies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Molecular Toxicology program, part of the Pharmacology and Toxicology field, focuses on the scientific study of how genetic factors influence susceptibility to environmental pollutants and poisons. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the interactions of toxic agents with biological systems at the molecular and cellular levels, as well as the development of countermeasures and treatments for toxic exposure.
Students will gain knowledge in areas such as pharmacogenetics, gene expression and regulation, toxic events signaling, and risk assessment. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, scientific analysis, and the application of biological principles to real-world toxicological challenges.
Credentials awarded
What Molecular Toxicology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship3 graduates / yr · 1 institution100%
Graduates over time
Molecular Toxicology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
Top 1 institutions for Molecular Toxicology, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicDoctoral | 3 | 93% | — |
Offered in 1 states
Where Molecular Toxicology graduates come from. Each state links to all Pharmacology and Toxicology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1 | 3 | University of California - Los Angeles3 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2041, Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Molecular Toxicology program can pursue careers as Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Health Specialties Teachers, or Medical Scientists. The job outlook for related occupations is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 4.4% and approximately 8,500 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $80,060, typically requiring at least a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.1005
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Healthprimary SOC 19-2041 | $82,220 | +4.4% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists SOC 19-1042 | $103,410 | +8.7% Much faster than average | ~9,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Molecular Toxicology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
- Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
- Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
- Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
- Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
- Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
Tools and technology used
Other Pharmacology and Toxicology specializations
The 7 other 6-digit CIP codes under Pharmacology and Toxicology (CIP 26.10).
- PharmacologyCIP 26.1001495 graduates / yr53 institutions
- Pharmacology and ToxicologyCIP 26.1007234 graduates / yr15 institutions
- ToxicologyCIP 26.1004173 graduates / yr28 institutions
- Molecular PharmacologyCIP 26.100282 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Environmental ToxicologyCIP 26.100669 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Pharmacology and ToxicologyCIP 26.1099partial data44 graduates / yr4 institutions
- NeuropharmacologyCIP 26.1003partial data38 graduates / yr4 institutions
Common questions
What is Molecular Toxicology?+
It is a program that studies genetic susceptibility to pollutants and the interaction of toxic agents with biological systems.
What skills will I learn?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, scientific analysis, and communication, along with knowledge in pharmacogenetics and risk assessment.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as an Environmental Scientist, Health Teacher, or Medical Scientist.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a 4.4% growth rate and 8,500 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Molecular Toxicology?+
Molecular Toxicology is CIP 26.1005 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Pharmacology and Toxicology (CIP 26.10). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scientific study of the genetic determinants of susceptibility to external pollutants and poisons; the interaction of toxic agents with biological systems at the molecular and cellular levels; and the development of countermeasures and treatments. Includes instruction in pharmacogenetics, biomolecular structure, gene expression and regulation, transgenic modeling, toxic events signaling, transcriptional activation, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, pulmonary toxicology, xenobiotic metabolism, oxidative stress, risk assessment, molecular dosimetry, and studies of specific toxins and treatment therapies.
How many institutions offer Molecular Toxicology programs?+
1 U.S. institutions reported Molecular Toxicology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 3 credentials in the year. That is 0.3% of all Pharmacology and Toxicology graduates.
How much do Molecular Toxicology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health occupation, which Molecular Toxicology most directly leads to, pays a median of $82,220 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card