Entomology
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Entomology
Requirements and Core Courses
Careers in Entomology
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You
Contact Information
Entomology
Insects and other related arthropods are the dominant consumers in all terrestrial ecosystems. There are more kinds of insects than all the other species of animals and plants combined. In a practical sense, insects compete at all levels with humans in the production, processing, and use of food and fiber resources and constitute a major threat to human health in much of the world. A detailed understanding of insect biology is a prerequisite to developing rational, effective, and sustainable control measures. Similarly, an understanding of the ecological ramifications of such control measures, particularly pesticide use, is a legal and ethical requirement.
• Offered at WSU: Bachelor of science in biology with an emphasis in entomology
• Available at: Pullman
Requirements and Core Courses
—Bachelor of Science in Biology, Emphasis in Entomology
• Freshman Year:
Biol 103 and 104—Introductory Biology
Chem 101—Introduction to Chemistry
or Chem 105—Principles of Chemistry I
Engl 101—Introductory Writing
or Engl 201—Writing and Research
or Engl 301—Writing and Rhetorical Conventions
GenEd 110 and 111—World Civilizations I and II
Chem 102—Chemistry Related to Life Sciences
or Chem 106—Principles of Chemistry II
A communication proficiency course
• Sophomore Year:
Ag Ec 201—Economics in Agriculture
or Econ 102—Fundamentals of Macroeconomics
An arts and humanities general education requirement (GER)
An entomology/integrated pest management elective
An intercultural GER
A physical sciences course
Biol 372—General Ecology
Chem 240—Elementary Organic Chemistry
or Chem 340—Organic Chemistry I
MBioS 301—General Genetics
A social sciences GER
• Junior Year:
Bot 320—Introductory Plant Physiology
or Zool 352—Cell Physiology
or Zool 353—Mammalian Physiology
Entomology 343 and 344—General Entomology and Laboratory
Math 140—Mathematics for Life Scientists
or Math 205—Statistical Thinking
Complete Writing Portfolio
An arts and humanities or social sciences GER
Bot 120—Introduction to Botany
or Bot 320—Introductory Plant Physiology
or Bot 332—Systematic Botany
Entom 439—Taxonomic Entomology
or Entom 440—Taxonomy of Immature Insects
Electives
• Senior Year:
Entomology/integrated pest management electives
A Tier III course
Other electives
NOTE: Students must meet course requirements outlined in the General Catalog to graduate.
Careers in Entomology
About 8,000 men and women are professional entomologists in the United States. They work in jobs that include teaching about insects, working as extension entomologists, raising bees, enforcing quarantines and regulations, doing insect survey work, consulting on integrated pest management topics, selling insecticides, controlling pests, and conducting research on insect classification, taxonomy, biology, ecology, behavior, or control. The greatest number is employed in some aspect of economic or applied entomology dealing with the control of harmful insects.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
The College of Agriculture and Home Economics awards more than $400,000 to first-year and continuing CAHE students. Incoming freshmen with a GPA of 3.60 or higher are eligible to apply for the prestigious Dean’s Award Scholarship. Other scholarships may be awarded on the basis of county residency, need, or other membership criteria and do not require high GPAs. Some departmental scholarships are also available and may not be dependent on GPA. CAHE students are also encouraged to apply for University-wide scholarships and financial aid.
Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You
• Agriculture
• Crop science
• Environmental science
• Horticulture
• Microbiology
• Natural resource sciences
• Pre-veterinary medicine
• Soil science
Contact Information
Department of Entomology
P.O. Box 6382
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6382
entom@wsu.edu
509-335-5422
Visit Department Web Page
Watch a Video about this program
Department of Entomology
Strengths of the Program
- The M.T. James Entomological Collection, one of the largest in the West with more than 1.25 million specimens, supports research and advanced-level teaching.
- WSU’s Pesticide Education Program works to mitigate risk and prevent pollution from pesticide use by considering integrated pest management, environmental considerations, and pesticide laws.
- The Northwest Biological Control Insectary and Quarantine Facility on the Pullman campus represents the central component of the Department of Entomology’s Biological Control Program.
- The Apis Molecular Systematics Laboratory conducts population, genetic, and systematic research on honeybees and other organisms.
- The E. Paul Catts Memorial Lectureship, named for the noted WSU entomologist and communicator, features speakers who embody his spirit by their ability to make science accessible to the public.
- Join other science, math, and engineering students in the Gannon-Goldsworthy residence hall—share courses with your neighbors, study together, get free tutoring, and use the hall’s own computer lab.