Entomology and Plant Pathology

Our M.S. Program

The M. S. degree program is designed to provide students with the principles and background for a career in the life sciences. Graduates have proven to be competitive in obtaining positions at academic institutions, in public service or the private sector, and in continuing on to Ph.D. programs.

Students concentrating in entomology may specialize in crop entomology, medical and veterinary entomology, insect biology, insect pest management, or biological control.

Student concentrating in plant pathology may specialize in foliar and stem fungus diseases, soilborne pathogens, disease physiology, biocontrol, plant nematology, or virology.

Admission Requirements

For admission to the M. S. degree program a student must meet all requirements of The University of Tennessee Graduate School:

• completed Graduate Application for Admission;
• official copies of all transcripts;
• Graduate Record Exam;
• and a $35.00 application fee.

  And must have completed:

• general botany or biology, 8 hours;
• advanced biological sciences, 8 hours;
• general inorganic chemistry, 6-8 hours;
• organic chemistry, 3 hours.

In addition, the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology requires:

• three completed rating forms;
• a brief resume;
• a letter of intent in which the students states his/her career goals and reasons for applying to UTK;
• An overall undergraduate average of B (3.0) is generally required. However, this requirement is flexible and may be waived based on evidence of scholarship, interest, or other mitigating circumstances.

After an applicant's credentials have been approved by the departmental admissions committee, the department will recommend acceptance by the Graduate School. An entering student who satisfies all admissions requirements but lacks coursework in some of the basic sciences will need to enroll in the appropriate undergraduate courses. This extra coursework rarely interferes with progress in obtaining the M. S. degree.

The department accepts application of all semesters. Applications for summer and fall terms must be received by 15 March. Applications for spring term must be received by 15 October. Allow 4-6 weeks before deadlines for all application materials to be processed.

A student seeking the M. S. degree must complete at least 24 hours of coursework for graduate credit, approved by the student's advisory committee. Included in the course requirements are two acceptable seminar presentations for 1 hour each. Each student is required to prepare a written thesis based on original research. Students are strongly encouraged to publish papers derived from their thesis. An oral final exam must be passed to the satisfaction of the advisory committee after the thesis has been completed. The oral exam is both comprehensive and a defense of thesis.

A minor is not required but may be selected at the option of the student. The minor will include at least 6 hours and not more than 10 hours of graduate-level credit in the minor department. The student's committee shall include a member of the faculty from the minor department to assist in designating courses required for the minor.