Entomology
(ENTM)
Abstract
The Department of Entomology offers both the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Graduate students may specialize in insect ecology and behavior, physiology and morphology, pathology, toxicology, biosystematics, vector biology, and pest management.
Employment opportunities for graduates exist in industry, academia, federal, state and local governments, and in international and national spheres.
Admissions Information
Students applying for graduate work in entomology are expected to have strong backgrounds in the biological or agricultural sciences, chemistry, and mathematics. An undergraduate degree in entomology is not required, but a strong basic preparation is definitely preferred for admission to the program.
Admission is granted on the basis of the following criteria by the Graduate Affairs Committee: GPA, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose for pursuing the degree, GRE scores (the GTP No.1 version), and acceptance by a graduate faculty advisor. International applicants must also submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE) scores. Acceptance by an advisor is absolutely required; thus, it helps to make contact with faculty when applying.
Upon admission to the M.S. or Ph.D. program, the student undergoes a departmental interview to establish a study area within entomology, and determine course requirements and course equivalency of previous courses from other schools. After this interview the student's study committee suggests a program of course work and approves a detailed research proposal.
Application Deadlines
Fall
Spring
Domestic Applicants:
U.S. Citizens and Permanent ResidentsDomestic Applicant Deadlines
Applications must be received by January 7 (December 1 preferred) .
This program does not accept applications for this semester.
International Applicants:
Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials
IMPORTANT: International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.
Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas
February 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1June 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants
May 1
If Domestic Deadline is after May 1
October 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials
May 15
If Domestic Deadline is after May 15
October 31
If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31Application Requirements
- GRE General
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Statement of Goals/Experiences
- Transcripts from previous institutions
- Resume
Degree Requirements
Master of Science (M.S.)
In the M.S. program, the student is given latitude in the selection of the advisory study committee, the choice of a study area, and the selection of a research program. The student must take several core courses and specific courses required by the study area. The M.S. degree is awarded following the successful completion of the course requirements (27-31 credits depending on study area), thesis (6 credits), and thesis defense.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The Ph.D. program provides diverse opportunities for the selection of a dissertation question, composition of advisory committee, and selection of an area of specialization. In addition to course requirements with each area of specialization, course work is determined by the advisory study committee. Following completion of most course work, the Ph.D. student is given an oral qualifying examination for advancement to candidacy, and the degree is awarded after successful completion of the dissertation defense exam.
Facilities and Special Resources
The department is housed in a modern research facility on campus, where state-of-the-art offices, laboratories, environmental growth chambers, multimedia classrooms, and lecture halls provide an excellent environment for research and teaching. Students have individual work stations and access to sophisticated computer graphic facilities. The department also shares extensive technical expertise and scientific equipment with other departments on campus. The university's strategic location in the Washington, DC area provides many opportunities for students to conduct research and gain hands-on experience in federal facilities, such as the Smithsonian Institution, USDA-ARS Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and NIH. Vast resources are available in the university's library system and nearby federal libraries. The USDA's National Agriculture Library at Beltsville is only four miles from the campus, and the Library of Congress is in nearby Washington, DC. Besides the main campus, the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station has nine Research and Education Centers in the state where field and laboratory work is carried out on urban and agricultural insects. Land use and technical services at these Centers are free to faculty and students.
Financial Assistance
Graduate students are supported primarily in two ways. About half of the students are supported by extramural funding sources, usually obtained by the student's faculty advisor. The second type of support in provided by the department from internal funds via university and departmental fellowships, and teaching and research assistantships. Teaching and research assistantships are available on a competitive basis. Teaching assistants usually instruct undergraduate laboratory and recitation classes and receive in return a tuition waiver of ten credits each semester. Those students with grade point averages greater than 3.5 and GRE scores over 1400 (combined verbal and quantitative) may also be competitive for university and departmental fellowships. Several part-time employment opportunities are also available in governmental and private research and developmental laboratories in the area. Regardless of the initial source of funding, the department makes a financial commitment to each graduate student. In the case of master's students, support is provided for the first three years of the program only. In the case of doctoral students, five years of support is provided but must be used during the first six years of the student's program. Support is usually for the full 12 months.
Contact Information
The departmental website, www.entm.umd.edu, describes the mission and administrative organization of the department, the faulty and staff, the teaching, research, and extension programs, and the facilities. The website also gives additional information on the graduate program, including requirements for admission, course requirements, examinations, seminars, and research areas and facilities.
Graduate Director,
Dr. David Hawthorne
Department of Entomology,
4112 Plant Sciences Building,
University of Maryland,
College Park,
MD
20742-4454
Telephone: (301) 405-3912
Fax: 301-314-9290
djh@umd.edu
http://www.entm.umd.edu/