Program overview

The department offers programs leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) in Entomology. Graduate students in these fields couple a focus on insects or vertebrates with a broad knowledge of other related fields of biology, especially ecology. The M.S. degree programs prepare students for pursuit of the Ph.D. While it is possible to go directly to the Ph.D. program, our faculty prefers that students complete the M.S. degree before being admitted or reclassified into the doctoral degree program in Entomology and Wildlife Ecology.

Outcomes

Graduates are prepared to enter the workforce as entomologists working in the areas of integrated pest management, biological control, urban entomology, forensic entomology, insect systematics or insect ecology.

Structure

Students complete coursework in all aspects of insect ecology, physiology, and taxonomy. Students also conduct an intensive field research project under the tutelage of a faculty member. This project serves as the basis for their thesis.

Uniqueness

We are located in the mid-Atlantic region, in close proximity to other land-grant universities allowing for opportunities for collaboration with other universities and government agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and United States Geological Survey (USGS) in Beltsville, Maryland. The highly fragmented, urban landscape mixed with agricultural lands provides a representative landscape for understanding how land use affects pest populations, and the ecosystem services of beneficial insect species.