Academic Year:
Entomology and Wildlife Ecology
Telephone: (302) 831-2526
http://ag.udel.edu/
Faculty Listing: http://ag.udel.edu/enwc/faculty/facultyStaff.htm
Program Overview
The Department offers programs leading to the Master of Science (MS) in Entomology, MS in Wildlife Ecology, and the Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Entomology and Wildlife Ecology. Graduate students in these fields couple a focus on insects or vertebrates with a broad knowledge of other related fields of biology, especially ecology. The MS degree programs prepare students for pursuit of the PhD. While it is possible to go directly to the PhD program, the Department Faculty prefers that students complete the MS degree before being admitted or reclassified into the doctoral degree program in Entomology and Wildlife Ecology.
Research Facilities
Facilities to support graduate study in 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; equipment for DNA analysis; a capillary gas chromatograph; advanced optical systems; and an excellent library collection of pertinent journals and books. The USDA Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit located on the campus and several preserves, parks, and wildlife areas, research centers, governmental organizations, and companies located nearby offer additional opportunities for field and laboratory study.
Requirements For Admission
Minimum requirements for admission to the master's and doctoral degree 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 (300 for revised GRE test taken on or after August 1, 2011) 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, 79 on IBET) is required for international students. The Advanced GRE in Biology is strongly recommended for applicants.
Financial Aid
Graduate students in good standing generally receive financial support from a research assistantship, teaching assistantship or fellowship. Graduate students on an assistantship or fellowship are expected to give their full-time attention to graduate study. Please refer to the Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships section for more information.
Master of Science Degree Requirements
General requirements for both MS majors are: (1) completion of at least 30 graduate credit hours, including a thesis describing independent research (6 credit hours); (2) passing an oral, general knowledge examination centering on the student's program of study; (3) presenting the thesis research in a formal departmental seminar; and (4) passing a thesis defense. Students in the Entomology major also must pass an Insect Family Recognition Test.
Core MS Degree Courses for Both Majors
|
ENWC 814 |
Advanced Ecology |
3 |
|
ENWC 870 |
Graduate Research Seminar |
0 |
|
ENWC 888 |
Topics in Entomology and Wildlife Ecology |
0 |
|
ENWC 869 |
Master's Thesis |
6 |
|
A graduate-level statistics course |
3 |
Entomology Major
|
ENWC 605 |
Insect Structure and Function |
4 |
|
ENWC 606 |
Insect ID - Taxonomy |
3 |
|
One other graduate level course primarily on insects |
3 |
(Obtain list from department for qualified courses)
Wildlife Ecology Major
Two of the following:
Additional Coursework (both MS programs)
Students must earn additional graduate credit hours appropriate to the major to bring the total earned to at least 30 credits. A maximum of 3 credits in ENWC 666, ENWC 668, ENWC 866, and ENWC 868 and 6 credits of ENWC 869 can be applied to the degree.
Doctor of Philosopy Degree Requirements
Doctoral students entering the program with an MS must complete a total of at least 30 graduate credits.
Doctoral Students in Entomology and Wildlife Ecology must complete the following courses or their equivalent for both concentrations, either before or during their program at Delaware:
|
ENWC 814 |
Advanced Ecology |
3 |
|
ENWC 870 |
Graduate Research Seminar |
0 |
|
ENWC 888 |
Topics in Entomology & Applied Ecology |
0 |
|
6 credits of graduate statistics (600-level or above) |
6 |
|
9 credits of Doctoral Dissertation (ENWC 969) |
9 |
Doctoral students must satisfy the requirements of at least one of two concentrations, Entomology or Wildlife Ecology, by completing the following courses or their equivalent under the selected concentration, either before or during their program at Delaware.
Entomology Concentration
|
ENWC 605 |
Insect Structure & Function |
4 |
|
ENWC 606 |
Insect ID - Taxonomy |
3 |
|
One other graduate level course primarily on insects |
3 |
(Obtain list from department office for qualified courses)
Wildlife Ecology Concentration
Two of the following:
If any of the above course requirements are completed before starting the PhD program, substitute courses counting toward the total minimum credits must be approved by the student's graduate committee. Students entering with a B.S. must complete a total of at least 60 graduate credits while enrolled in the program. A maximum of 3 credits in ENWC 666, ENWC 668, ENWC 866, ENWC 868, and 9 credits of ENWC 969 can be applied to the doctoral degree.
Although every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information in the Catalog,
students and others who use the Catalog should note that the policies, rules, regulations,
requirements for graduation, course offerings, and other materials reproduced in the Catalog change
from time-to-time and that these changes may alter the information contained in this Catalog.
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