Entomology, MS

The Department of Entomology has a rich legacy of vibrant scholarship and innovative education and outreach, coupled with strong commitment to graduate education. Individual graduate programs are planned by students in consultation with their advisory committees and the Director of Graduate Studies. Entomology, like all agricultural and biological sciences disciplines, continues to evolve and integrate state of the art technology and new research perspectives with insect biology. Although departmental research is unified by a focus on insects and their arthropod relatives, many research groups creatively merge aspects of basic and applied biology. Graduate study and research opportunities are available in a diverse range of areas of entomology, including agricultural and urban entomology, biological control and integrated pest management, medical, veterinary, and public health entomology, pollinator biology and insect-plant relationships, forest entomology, and arachnology. Research covers many major fields of biology including behavior, biochemistry, ecology (including evolutionary, urban, landscape, and general ecology), genetics, neuroscience, molecular biology, physiology, toxicology, and systematics. 

Graduate study and research opportunities are available in a diverse range of areas of entomology, including agricultural and urban entomology, biological control and integrated pest management, medical, veterinary, and public health entomology, pollinator biology and insect-plant relationships, forest entomology, and arachnology. Research covers many major fields of biology including behavior, biochemistry, ecology (including evolutionary, urban, landscape, and general ecology), genetics, neuroscience, molecular biology, physiology, toxicology, and systematics. 

Admission Requirements 

A Bachelor’s degree with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 and GPA of 3.25 in all graduate level work are required. Graduate Record Examination scores are not required. Applicants whose native language is not English must have a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 79 on the TOEFL‐iBT. A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) may be used in lieu of a TOEFL score. The Program requires three letters of recommendation. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. These minimum requirements may be waived in exceptional cases if sufficient additional evidence is presented regarding the ability of the student to do graduate work. Admission to the Graduate Program in Entomology does not automatically guarantee financial assistance to the student. 

Degree Requirements

M.S. Plan A 

Students are required to prepare a formal written research proposal encompassing a thorough literature review, clear statement of objectives, and materials and methods of the project. A research proposal seminar will be presented to the Department describing the proposed research. An exit seminar, usually presented during the last semester of the student’s tenure, is required for all M.S. Plan A students. In addition, students must complete the following requirements:    

1. 30 credit hours of graduate courses, including 6 credit hours of ENT 768 - RESIDENCE CREDIT FOR THE MASTER’S DEGREE for the MS degree
2. A course in general entomology. Students who have not had such a course before enrolling in the Entomology graduate program must take ENT 300 or ENT 500.
3. A graduate course in data analysis. The most appropriate course will depend on the student’s area of interest. Courses that meet this requirement include any STA 500 or 600-level course or PLS 630 - AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS, BIO/INF 520 BIOINFORMATICS, BST 635 - DATABASES AND SAS PROGRAMMING or BST 535 - INTRODUCTION TO R PROGRAMMING. Other courses may be substituted with approval of the student’s advisory committee.
4. Completion of one course from two of the three Core Areas: 1) Insect Behavior, Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 2) Insect Molecular Biology, Physiology and Genetics, and 3) Pest Management and Applied Ecology.
5. M.S. candidates must take two semesters of ENT 770 - ENTOMOLOGICAL SEMINAR: (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) or approved equivalent seminars.  
6. Master’s Thesis
7. Master’s Final Exam 

M.S. Plan B

M.S. Plan B students are required to provide a detailed outline of their practicum to their Advisory Committee. An exit seminar, usually presented during the last semester of the student’s tenure, is required for all M.S. Plan B students. In addition, students must complete the following requirements:     

1. 30 credit hours of graduate courses
2. A course in general entomology. Students who have not had such a course before enrolling in the Entomology graduate program must take ENT 300 or ENT 500.
3.  A graduate course in data analysis. The most appropriate course will depend on the student’s area of interest. Courses that meet this requirement include any STA 500 or 600-level course or PLS 630 - AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS, BIO/INF 520 BIOINFORMATICS, BST 635 - DATABASES AND SAS PROGRAMMING or BST 535 - INTRODUCTION TO R PROGRAMMING. Other courses may be substituted with approval of the student’s advisory committee.
4. Completion of one course from each of the three Core Areas: 1) Insect Behavior, Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 2) Insect Molecular Biology, Physiology and Genetics, and 3) Pest Management and Applied Ecology.
5. M.S. candidates must take two semesters of ENT 770 - ENTOMOLOGICAL SEMINAR: (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) or approved equivalent seminars.
6. Practicum project. The practicum must be a minimum of 3 credit hours (maximum of 6 credit hours) and may consist of library research, special problems, internships, etc., as agreed upon by the student and major professor, and approved by the Advisory Committee. Students will enroll in ENT 780 - SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN ENTOMOLOGY AND ACAROLOGY or ENT 790 - RESEARCH IN ENTOMOLOGY AND ACAROLOGY for practicum credit.
7. Master’s Final Exam