Academic Programs Catalog

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.

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:

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. 

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.