Course description
The Department of Entomology offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The program is designed to accommodate incoming students with a wide range of entomological expertise. The goal of the program is to provide students with a strong background in basic biology as it relates to insects and to equip them with the specialized intellectual and technical skills to pursue a career in research, teaching, and service in entomology and related biological disciplines.
Major areas of specialization within the department include systematics, evolutionary biology, molecular genetics, genomics, phytochemical ecology, population biology, toxicology, neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, developmental biology, behavior, sociobiology, endocrinology, and integrated pest management.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general and biology subject tests are not required, but strongly recommended. A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 or better is preferred. Previous training in entomology is unnecessary. It is recommended that students who intend to study for advanced degrees in entomology gain a thorough grounding in the physical and biological sciences, mathematics, and the liberal arts. Spring Admission is possible.
A master's degree program will normally take at least 1.5 years, which includes one summer of research. But more typically, especially since a bulk of course work is completed during this time, the master's degree takes about 2 years to complete. A Ph.D. program will normally take an additional 4-5 years beyond the master's degree. However, the time to complete a Ph.D. program is highly variable depending on the research involved, coursework, advisor, and any number of other factors. The typical graduate student probably requires 2 years for a M.S. and another 4-5 years for a Ph.D., for a total of 6-7 years.
