Catalog Text
The Department offers programs leading to the
Master of Science (M.S.) and the Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Entomology
and Applied Ecology and the Master of Science (M.S.) in Wildlife EcologyThe
department offers programs in Entomology and Applied ecology leading to the
Master of Science (M.S.) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
Students in the M.S. program in Entomology and Applied Ecology
must choose one of two concentrations (Entomology or Applied Ecology), which
differ in requirements. The M.S. programs prepare students for pursuit of the
Ph.D. and careers in entomology, wildlife ecology, and other biological
disciplines. In addition to studying insects and other arthropods, students in
the graduate programs can gain knowledge of vertebrate taxa and of related
fields of biology with an emphasis on ecology. The department views entomology
as a biological science with important, demanding
applications in agriculture and other endeavors. Some students
study insects as an avenue to a primary interest in ecology, genetics,
physiology, or behavior. An in-depth knowledge of insects as a group is the
goal of graduate study for others. Still
other students wish to apply their biological interests to the management of
insect or vertebrate populations. Other students pursue interests in vertebrate
ecology and in the conservation of biodiversity, another aspect of
applied ecology. The M.S. and Ph.D. programs accommodate all of
these interests.
Plant-insect interactions (herbivory, plant defenses, and insect life
history), biological control, and conservation biology are strong themes in the
department. Other areas for concentration and graduate research include plant
protection, pheromone ecology, genetics of resistance, insect
behavior, avian ecology, and mammalian ecology, and
wildlife management.
Research facilities in and adjacent to
Townsend Hall (home of the department) include laboratories; an insectary;
programmed growth chambers; a greenhouse; field plots and a 35-acre woodlot on
the experimental farm; collections of pinned, liquid, and slide specimens of
insects, amphibians and reptiles; bird and mammal skins; a digitizer; a
high performance liquid chromatograph; a thin layer chromatography scanning
system; a capillary gas chromatograph; advanced optical systems; a
wind tunnel; and an excellent library collection of pertinent
journals and books. The USDA Beneficial Insects Introduction Research
Laboratory, also located on the campus,
provides additional opportunities.
The minimum requirements for admission
to the masters’ and doctoral programs are an undergraduate academic index of
2.8 overall and 3.0 in the major field of study and a combined score of 1050 on
the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE. Graduate GPA (if applicable) should be at
least 3.2. A paper-based TOEFL score of
at least 550 (or 213 computer-based) is required for international students. The Advanced GRE in Biology is required for Ph.D. applicants, and
it is strongly recommended for M.S. applicants.
Scores are used for making course program recommendations and as
additional information for awarding graduate assistantships.
Applicants for either
M.S. program must indicate degree choice and, if appropriate, the
concentration to which they seek admission.
At any time before or after admission, an applicant or a student may
change concentrations or programs and become subject to all pertinent
application and degree requirements of the new concentration program. An applicant should have passed
courses in introductory biology and general ecology. Students lacking any of
these courses must complete all the missing course(s) requirements within the
first year of graduate study with a grade of B or better. Additionally, M.S.
applicants for the Applied Ecology Concentration should have satisfactorily
passed a physiology course. Additionally,
M.S. applicants for the Wildlife Ecology program should have made
substantiitial
progress towards completion
of the educational requirements for certification as
an Associate Wildlife Biologist with The Wildlife Society (refer to The
Wildlife Society website for a complete listing of requirements
http://www.wildlife.org/). Admitted students
lacking any of those courses must complete the missing course(s) during
graduate study. (Note; Admitted students may be required by their committee to
take other undergraduate courses relevant to their specialty. See Degree
requirements below.)
Applicants must submit one official transcript
of all previous college records and have three completed recommendation forms submitted to the department,
two of which should be from faculty of the applicant's major department. Ph.D.
applicants must also identify a faculty member with whom they wish to work and
who agrees to act as the student's advisor. For further details, contact the
chairperson of the department' s Graduate Admissions
Committee. Applications for financial support should be completed by February 1
for Summer or Fall terms and November 1 for entering
in Spring term.
General requirements for both concentrations
of the M.S. degrees in Entomology and
Applied Ecology are (1) completion of at least 30 graduate credit
hours, including courses required for the chosen
concentration and a thesis describing independent research (6
credit hours); (2) passing an oral, general knowledge examination centering on
the student's training in his or her concentration; (3) presenting the thesis
research in a formal departmental seminar; and (4) passing a thesis defense. Students
in the Wildlife Ecology program must have satisfied the educational
requirements for certification as an Associate Wildlife Biologist with The
Wildlife Society with any combination of undergraduate and graduate
courses completed before or during graduate study (refer
to The Wildlife Society website for a complete listing of requirements http://www.wildlife.org/). Students in the Entomology Concentration for the Entomology and
Applied Ecology program also
must pass an insect family recognition test. The written thesis must reflect
the ability to do independent scholarly research and to report the results in a
publishable manner.
Requirements for the Ph.D. degree are (I) completing a course program
approved by the student's graduate committee; (2) passing a written and oral
qualifying examination; (3) completing a significant teaching experience as
approved by the graduate committee; (4) making at least one presentation of a
research paper at a regional or national conference; (5) presenting the
dissertation research in a formal departmental seminar; and (6) passing a
dissertation defense and final oral examination. The written dissertation must
present original research and must meet the generally accepted professional and
literary standards in the student's field.
All graduate students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. Written
details concerning course requirementscurricula,
selection of the student's advisor and committee, and procedures for exams and
seminar are available from the department office.