The M.S. in Bioagricultural Sciences, Plan B, Pest Management Specialization is a coursework and internship-based program that prepares students to work to sustain our food and fiber supply, provide agricultural biosecurity, and protect our natural ecosystems from pests, plant diseases, and weeds. Students complete coursework, an internship, and a professional paper. There is a great need for people with advanced training in agriculture and food systems. The number of people currently prepared to work in these fields is lower than the number of jobs available.
Insects, plant diseases, and weeds cause major annual losses in food production worldwide. The Pest Management M.S. degree is the only internship-based M.S. in the United States that provides training on all biotic stresses faced in food production, including entomology, plant pathology, and weed science. This program prepares students to work as extension educators, import/export inspectors, crop advisors, or in multiple industry roles focused on management of insects, plant diseases, and weeds in agricultural systems. Overall, employment of students from our graduate programs is nearly 100%.
Effective Fall 2023
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AB 551 | Advanced Integrated Pest Management | 4 |
| Section 1. Core Foundation (15 credits) | ||
| BSPM 587 | Internship 1 | 3 |
| BSPM 698 | Research 2 | 6 |
| BSPM 792 | Seminar 3 | 2 |
| Section 2. Agricultural Biology Electives. Select 13-19 credits from this list. Do not exceed the number of 300/400-level credits permitted by the Graduate School for this degree. | 13-19 | |
| Insect Biotechnology | ||
| Understanding Pesticides | ||
| Herbicide Selectivity and Action | ||
| Microbiome of Plant Systems | ||
| Plant Biochemistry in Agriculture | ||
| Forest Health Issues | ||
| Pesticide Resistance Evolution and Management | ||
| Biology of Fungal Plant Pathogens | ||
| Topics in Plant Pathology--Plant Virology | ||
| Applied and General Entomology 4 | ||
| Ecology and Management of Weeds 4 | ||
| Elements of Plant Pathology 4 | ||
| Integrated Tree Health Management | ||
| Foundations of Bioagricultural Sciences | ||
| Topics in Plant Pathology: Plant Bacteriology | ||
| Evolutionary Ecology | ||
| Invasive Plants/Weeds–Ecosystems to Molecules | ||
| Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Section 3. General Electives. Select 0-6 credits from this list. Do not exceed the number of 300/400-level credits permitted by the Graduate School for this degree. | 0-6 | |
| Agricultural and Extension Teaching | ||
| Integrated Decision Making/Management Skills | ||
| Agricultural Policy | ||
| Urban Horticulture | ||
| Wildlife Disease Ecology | ||
| Wetland Ecology and Restoration | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 34 | |
A minimum of 34 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
Internship placement to be selected in coordination with departmental program advisor and graduate advisor. Includes a professional development plan for the internship (3 credits).
- 2
Includes a professional paper on topic related to student's specialization and approved by the student’s advisor and graduate committee (6 credits).
- 3
Enroll in department seminar for 1 credit twice (2 semesters total, 2 credits total).
- 4
If these Foundation undergraduate courses were not taken during the undergraduate degree, complete as part of the MS degree.