Academic Programs Catalog

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Department of Entomology

Hannah Joy Burrack, Chairperson

Entomology is the field of biological science concerned with the study of insects and their relatives in relation to other animals, plants, microbes, and the environment.  Since insects and their relatives' impact many human activities, and must be studied and managed in a variety of environments, an entomologist needs a strong background in the basic sciences.

 


Undergraduate Program

The Department of Entomology offers a Bachelor of Science degree. The program emphasizes developing strengths in the biological, chemical, and physical sciences as necessary to work in modern entomology. Entomology courses provide students with an understanding of the structure, classification, identification, function, biology, ecology, and management of beneficial and harmful insects, and the communities and ecosystems where they occur. A minor in Entomology is also available.
 

Entomology

The undergraduate program in Entomology leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. Courses are designed to give the student an understanding of the structure, classification, identification, function, biology, ecology, and management of beneficial and harmful arthropods, and the communities and ecosystems where insects occur. 

There are opportunities for undergraduate Entomology students to carry out research projects in department laboratories.  Students may also gain work experience in the diverse areas of entomology through employment. Internships and study abroad opportunities are also available, and are strongly encouraged.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Entomology

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Entomology.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Entomology major is met by completing Entomology 479. This course is referenced in item 3. below.

    Students who are enrolled in the Entomology major may complete an alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences by completing Entomology’s mathematics and chemistry requirements and Biological Science 162. These courses meet the laboratory requirement.
  2. The requirements of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the Bachelor of Science degree.

    The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
  3. The following major requirements:
    a. All of the following courses (47 credits):
    BS 161 Cell and Molecular Biology 3
    BS 162 Organismal and Population Biology 3
    BS 172 Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory 2
    CEM 141 General Chemistry 4
    CEM 143 Survey of Organic Chemistry 4
    CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
    CSS 210 Fundamentals of Soil Science 3
    ENT 404 Fundamentals of Entomology 3
    ENT 479 Organic Pest Management (W) 3
    GEO 221 Introduction to Geographic Information 3
    GEO 221L Introduction to Geographic Information Laboratory 1
    IBIO 355 Ecology 3
    IBIO 355L Ecology Laboratory (W) 1
    MTH 124 Survey of Calculus I 3
    PHY 231 Introductory Physics I 3
    PHY 232 Introductory Physics II 3
    PHY 251 Introductory Physics Laboratory I 1
    PLB 218 Plants of Michigan 3
    b. One of the following courses (3 credits):
    MTH 126 Survey of Calculus II 3
    STT 421 Statistics I 3
    Higher equivalent course substitutions may be made for Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics courses with advisor approval.
    c. A minimum of 16 credits of course work in entomology as approved by the student's academic advisor.


Minor in Entomology

The Minor in Entomology, which is administered by the Department of Entomology, is designed to serve students in other fields who desire additional training in the insect sciences. It provides an introduction to a range of entomological knowledge, including insect identification, ecology, and management.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Science Degree in Entomology.  With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult an undergraduate advisor in Entomology.

Requirements for the Minor in Entomology

Complete 15 credits from the following:

1. The following course (3 credits):  
  ENT 404 Fundamentals of Entomology 3
2. Complete 12 credits from the following:  
  ENT 205 Pests, Society and Environment 3
  ENT 364 Turfgrass Entomology 3
  ENT 407 Diseases and Insects of Forest and Shade Trees 4
  ENT 410 Apiculture and Pollination 2
  ENT 422 Aquatic Entomology 3
  ENT 460 Medical Entomology 3
  ENT 469 Biomonitoring of Streams and Rivers 3
  ENT 470 General Nematology (W) 3
  ENT 477 Pesticides in Pest Management 3
  ENT 478 Integrated Pest Management (W) 3
  ENT 479 Organic Pest Management (W) 3
  Other Entomology courses may be used in fulfillment of  this  requirement with approval from the Entomology undergraduate advisor.  

 


Graduate Study

The Department of Entomology offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs.  Many of the courses offered  by the department are important to other disciplines in the biological and agricultural sciences in the College of Natural Science and College of Agriculture and Natural Resources section of this catalog.

Students enrolled in the Master of Science degree program in the Department of Entomology may elect a specialization in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (EEBB). Students enrolled in the Doctor of Philosophy degree program may pursue a dual degree in EEBB. For additional information refer to the statement on Interdepartmental Degree Programs in the College of Natural Science section of this catalog or contact the Department of Entomology.

 


Entomology - Master of Science

Faculty and facilities are available for study in many subject areas, including apiculture and pollination, aquatic systems, behavior, insect biochemistry, biological control, bionomics, ecology, insect economics, forest entomology, medical entomology, morphology, nematology, population dynamics, insect physiology, pest management on many kinds of crops, plant disease vectors, systematics, systems science, environmental and analytical toxicology, and urban and ornamental entomology. Combinations of many of these specialized subject areas are necessary for all programs of study. Regardless of specialization, the student's education must provide broad training in related sciences.
Graduate students in entomology look forward chiefly to college teaching; research work in some of the many areas where insects affect our crops and our lives; professional employment with state, federal, or private agencies or companies; or employment as pest management consultants.

Master of Science

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

A bachelor's degree with a 3.00 grade–point average for the last two years of study is required for admission to the master's program. Although the applicant need not have an undergraduate major in entomology for regular admission, training should have been received in the physical and biological sciences equivalent to that required of an undergraduate entomology major at Michigan State University. Students without a general entomology background should complete ENT 404 Fundamentals of Entomology during their first year. Graduate Record Examination General Test scores are required. Applicants with a good academic record but with deficiencies in physics, chemistry, mathematics, or the biological sciences may be accepted on a provisional basis until deficiencies have been rectified by collateral course work. 

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Entomology

The master’s degree program in entomology is available under either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis). A total of 30 credits is required for the degree under Plan A or Plan B. The student’s program of study must be approved by either the student’s guidance committee (Plan A) or the student’s major professor (Plan B) and is planned on an individual basis by the student, the student’s major professor, and the student’s guidance committee.

Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B
The student must:

  1. Complete at least 6 credits in entomology courses at the 400-level or above. More than half of the 30 credits required for the degree must be at the 800-level or above.

Additional Requirements for Plan A

  1. Complete at least 6, but not more than 10 credits of Entomology 899.
  2. Successfully write and defend the master's thesis research with a departmental seminar.

Additional Requirements for Plan B

  1. Complete 3 to 5 credits of a research project in ENT 898 and present a departmental seminar.
  2. Pass a final oral examination. 



 


Entomology - Doctor of Philosophy

The Department of Entomology aspires to develop not only capable entomologists but also capable scholars. Scholarly potential is sought in the prospective student, and course and research programs are designed to round out the student's knowledge and bring it to the stage of development where the student can work creatively in the field.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

A bachelor’s degree with a 3.00 grade–point average for the last two years of study is required for admission to the master’s program. The applicant need not have an undergraduate major in entomology for regular admission, but should have a background in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and general entomology equivalent to that required of an undergraduate entomology major at Michigan State University. Students without a general entomology background should complete ENT 404 Fundamentals of Entomology during their first year. Graduate Record Examination General Test scores are required. Applicants with a good academic record but with deficiencies may be accepted on a provisional basis until deficiencies have been remediated. Collateral course work does not count towards the requirements for the degree.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Entomology

The student’s program of study is planned on an individual basis by the students, the student’s major professor, and the student’s guidance committee. Students must take 9 entomology course credits and complete a minimum of 24 credits of ENT 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research. Within 18 months of matriculation, students must pass a doctoral qualification examination which primarily consists of the defense of a dissertation proposal. Written and oral comprehensive examinations are required after completing course work, covering specific disciplinary areas related to thesis research and broader general knowledge of entomology and related sciences.  After completing research, doctoral students are required to write and defend a dissertation with a departmental seminar.