Entomology

Within the Entomology graduate program area, a student can select training from a wide range of courses and research programs to prepare for a career in any of the many areas of professional entomology, including research, teaching, industry and extension work. Current research programs emphasize the following areas: ecology, pest management, insect behavior, biochemistry, morphology, molecular biology, physiology and systematics, as well as aquatic, forest, horticultural and urban entomology, chemical ecology, biological and chemical control, host-plant interactions, and integrated pest management.

  • During the Fall and Winter semesters, MS students and PhD students who have not completed their comprehensive exam must enroll for 9 credits to be considered a full time student.
  • Students in the Entomology program area do not have a formal teaching requirement but still need to complete the Student Plan for Teaching Experience form.

M.S. Requirements

To satisfy the course requirements for a Masters degree, a student must complete:

  • A minimum of 30 credit hours from courses numbered 7000 – 9000
  • 15 credit hours (towards the 30 credit hour requirement) must be from courses numbered at the 8000 or 9000 level
  • 12 credit hours (towards the 30 credit hour requirement) can be satisfied by research, readings and problems courses

The core requirements for the Masters degree in Entomology program are:

Ph.D. Requirements

To satisfy the course requirements for a doctoral degree, a student must complete:

  • A minimum of 72 credit hours from courses numbered 7000-9000 (this includes dissertation research credit hours – i.e. Plnt S 9090)
  • 15 credit hours (towards the 72 hour requirement) must be from courses numbered at the 8000 or 9000 level, exclusive of dissertation research, problems or independent study

The core requirements for the PhD degree in Entomology program are:

  • Plnt S 7710 Systematic Entomology
  • Plnt S 7820 Principles of Insect Physiology
  • Plnt S 8010 Professionalism and Ethics (2 credits)
  • Participation in the student seminar series
    • Plnt S 9087 (1 credit – Must enroll twice; only 1 credit counts towards the 15 credit hour requirement of 8000/9000 level courses)
    • Plnt S 7087 (1 credit – Must enroll 3 times)
  • Plnt S 9090 Dissertation Research (1 – 10 credits per semester)
  • Plnt S 9810 Insect Ecology
  • Two elective formal entomology courses

Advising

Deborah Finke, insect ecology; plant-insect interactions

Bruce Hibbard, insect resistance management

Kent Shelby, insect physiology & immunobiology

Robert Sites, insect systematics, ecology of aquatic insects 

Qisheng Song, insect physiology and molecular biology

Thomas Courdron, insect immunology & biochemistry