Ecosystem Science and Management

College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources

Entomology MS and PhD

Entomology is the study of insects as well as their relatives, the spiders, ticks and mites. The graduate program in Entomology at the University of Wyoming focuses on insect biodiversity, classification and ecology. Knowledge of these topics is critical to understanding the widespread effects insects have on crops, rangelands and wildland ecosystems.

The following are the requirements for admission to our graduate programs. The candidate must:

1. identify a faculty member that agrees to mentor the student as their graduate advisor,

2. have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution,

3. have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, and

4. if English is not the candidate’s native language, earn a minimum TOEFL score of 540, IELTS score of 6.5, or DuoLingo score of 110.

 

Note, applications may be submitted at any time, and no GRE score is required.

Applicants are encouraged to initiate correspondence with faculty who share similar research interests as the first part of the process of securing a commitment for faculty advising. Submitted applications from prospective students that have not identified a graduate advisor willing to mentor them will not be considered.

 

In order to apply, submit the following via the University of Wyoming’s online application system (http://www.uwyo.edu/admissions/apply.html): a statement of purpose that describes the applicant’s background, interests in scientific research, and professional objectives; current academic transcripts; proof of English proficiency (if English is not your primary language); and three letters of recommendation (to be submitted directly by references through the online application). Letters should be from current or previous university instructors or professional supervisors.

 

Please see the Graduate Admissions and Graduate Student Regulations and Policies entries in the front section of the UW Catalog for more information or visit UW’s Graduate Education website at http://www.uwyo.edu/uwgrad/.

 

Degree Programs

Master's Degree

The M.S. program is geared toward teaching graduate students the tools necessary to conduct robust entomology research. The program requires a research proposal, 30 credit hours (at least 12 from Soil Science and approved by the student's graduate committee), a research-based written thesis, a final public presentation and successful oral defense of the thesis.

View Program Requirements for Degree HERE  
 

Doctorate Degree

The Ph.D. program allows graduate students to conduct robust research on major questions related to Entomology. The program requires a research proposal, 72 credit hours (at least 12 from Entomology and approved by the student's graduate committee), both a written and oral examination given by the graduate committee, a research-based written dissertation, a final public presentation and successful oral defense of the dissertation. The 72 credit hours may include credits earned during a Master’s degree program that are approved by the student's graduate advisory committee.

View Program Requirements for Degree HERE

Find faculty in this area >>

More about EntomologyInsects represent three-quarters of all the Earth’s species and are found in virtually all ecosystems and ecological habitats, from forests and deserts to rangelands, and from soils to streams and tree canopies. Insects provide a wide variety of ecosystem services and can have beneficial effects on humans as biological control agents of insects pests and invasive weeds.Major research foci in the department include:

• Biodiversity and classification of insects, especially with respect to parasitoid wasps and aquatic insects (Dr. Shaw)

• The use of insect herbivores as biological control agents to manage invasive weeds (Dr. Collier).