MS DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The Entomology Graduate Program at the University of Maryland is designed to accommodate the individual needs and interests of each student. Therefore, there are few course requirements and the design of each program is strongly influenced by the student, advisor, and their thesis committee.
The Thesis Committee
One of the first things a new graduate student should do is discuss the formation of a thesis committee with their advisor. The advisor and thesis committee guide the student to develop a research program, identify relevant coursework, evaluate the student’s progress, and administer the thesis defense at the end of the degree program.
The thesis committee is formed by the student and their advisor during the student's first year, with the composition of the thesis committee being determined by the nature of the thesis. The thesis committee for an MS student is composed of at least three faculty. Students meet with the thesis committee annually to discuss progress made toward completion of their degree. The Graduate School regulations governing thesis committees are described in more detail in the Graduate Catalog. The student is responsible for determining that these requirements are met.
Degree Requirements
Each MS student must:
For the student's thesis committee to evaluate the thesis topic, the student must prepare a research proposal. The format may correspond to that required for proposals to the National Science Foundation or National Institutes of Health and should state the:
Preparation of the Thesis
The format of the thesis should follow the editorial style of the journal in which publication of research is anticipated, which should be determined in consultation with the advisor. Preparation of the thesis in journal format allows the student to expedite publication of research results. Many students prefer to prepare separate scientific articles as chapters in the thesis with introductory and concluding sections. For theses not prepared in journal format, the Graduate School's Thesis and Dissertation Manual describes the format and general requirements for preparation of a thesis.
Publishing Before the Defense
See the Graduate Catalog for information about including previously published material before the defense.
Thesis Defense
All MS students must defend their theses during an oral examination administered by their advisors and thesis committees. As per Graduate School policy, a student must give each member of the thesis committee a copy of the thesis 7 business days before the thesis defense. Furthermore, the advisor must notify all Entomology faculty of the time and location of the defense 5 business days prior.
In addition to questions on the thesis, knowledge in major and related focus areas will be tested. Interested members of the graduate faculty may attend and question the student. However, the thesis committee will discuss the student's performance in private and only the thesis committee may vote. One or more negative votes constitutes a failure, and the student may have one additional chance to defend the thesis.
Public Presentation of the Thesis
Before graduating, all finishing MS students are required to present their theses at the Department of Entomology's weekly colloquium or an alternative publicly announced seminar.
Unsatisfactory Progress
A student's failure to meet one of the following graduate program requirements indicates unsatisfactory progress:
Time Limitations
With the exception of the six credit hours of graduate level course credits applicable for possible transfer to the master's degree and certificate programs, all requirements for the master's degree must be completed within a five-year period. Additional details related to time limitations are described in the Graduate Catalog. Extensions of time are granted only under unusual circumstances. The student may request a first one-year extension from the Department of Entomology's Graduate Affairs Committee. If approved, the Department will notify the Graduate School of the extension. Should a second extension be requested, the Graduate Affairs Committee will again evaluate the request and, if approved, will require the student, advisor, and thesis committee to provide specific objectives to be achieved during the extension that will be included in a letter to the Graduate School. No additional extensions will be granted.
The Thesis Committee
One of the first things a new graduate student should do is discuss the formation of a thesis committee with their advisor. The advisor and thesis committee guide the student to develop a research program, identify relevant coursework, evaluate the student’s progress, and administer the thesis defense at the end of the degree program.
The thesis committee is formed by the student and their advisor during the student's first year, with the composition of the thesis committee being determined by the nature of the thesis. The thesis committee for an MS student is composed of at least three faculty. Students meet with the thesis committee annually to discuss progress made toward completion of their degree. The Graduate School regulations governing thesis committees are described in more detail in the Graduate Catalog. The student is responsible for determining that these requirements are met.
Degree Requirements
Each MS student must:
- Fulfill all requirements and meet all deadlines set forth by the Graduate School.
- Coursework Requirements: Successfully complete a minimum of 30 credits of coursework, which are broken down into 5 categories that align with UMD's u.achieve degree auditing system for ENTM MS students (u.achieve user guide). At least 12 of the 30 credits must be at the graduate level (600 or above).
- Thesis Research
- MS students must complete a minimum of 6 thesis research credits (ENTM799).
- Core Courses
- MS students must demonstrate a basic command of core areas of entomology by receiving a B or better in the following core courses:
- BSCI481: Insect Diversity & Classification (4 credits) - beginning Fall 2022, this course will be offered every fall semester. Formerly, this course was offered in the fall semester of even-numbered years only.
- BSCI482: Insect Physiology & Molecular Biology (4 credits) - beginning fall 2024, this course will be offered every fall semester.
- Note: Incoming students that have taken and received a B or better in equivalent graduate-level courses at other institutions may ask the Graduate Director to assess the equivalence of the courses and to waive the requirement to take these again at the University of Maryland. Waiver of a requirement does not reduce the number of credits that the student must take to qualify for graduation.
- MS students must demonstrate a basic command of core areas of entomology by receiving a B or better in the following core courses:
- Topic Seminars
- MS students must take at least 3 topic seminars, which are ENTM798 courses or relevant 1 credit graduate-level (600 or above) courses in ENTM or other departments. We recognize that seminar courses are often in short supply. If you have a question about whether a course will fulfill this requirement, contact the Graduate Director.
- The three topic seminars must include Responsible Conduct of Research (e.g., BISI712).
- Note: Students who serve as Teaching Assistants are required to take ENTM701: Effective Teaching - TA Training, which is offered each fall semester. This does not fulfill the topic seminar requirement.
- Colloquium
- MS students must register for ENTM788C: Special Topics - Colloquium each semester and attend each Entomology Colloquium. This does not fulfill the topic seminar requirement.
- Additional Coursework Chosen with Advisor
- Any additional elective courses will fall into this category.
- Each credit of ENTM788C beyond the initial credit taken during an MS student's first semester will automatically fulfill this elective category.
- Research credits (ENTM799) beyond the minimum 6 required under the Thesis Research category do not fulfill this elective category.
- Thesis Research
- Non-coursework Requirements
- Hold a minimum of one thesis committee meeting per year. A Report of Annual Committee Meeting must be completed and submitted to the Graduate Coordinator for each annual committee meeting.
- Submit an annual progress report to the Graduate Coordinator in late August/early September.
- Prepare a thesis representing a report of independent research, the subject of which is selected by the student, advisor, and their thesis committee.
- Defend the thesis before the advisor and thesis committee.
- Present research results to the department at the Entomology Colloquium or other publicly announced seminar.
For the student's thesis committee to evaluate the thesis topic, the student must prepare a research proposal. The format may correspond to that required for proposals to the National Science Foundation or National Institutes of Health and should state the:
- Problem in question
- Background information in the form of a review of the pertinent literature
- Specific question(s) being investigated
- Methods or approach
- Reasoning or logic behind the methods of approach
- Manner of data collection and statistical procedures utilized
- Way in which data will be interpreted and presented.
Preparation of the Thesis
The format of the thesis should follow the editorial style of the journal in which publication of research is anticipated, which should be determined in consultation with the advisor. Preparation of the thesis in journal format allows the student to expedite publication of research results. Many students prefer to prepare separate scientific articles as chapters in the thesis with introductory and concluding sections. For theses not prepared in journal format, the Graduate School's Thesis and Dissertation Manual describes the format and general requirements for preparation of a thesis.
Publishing Before the Defense
See the Graduate Catalog for information about including previously published material before the defense.
Thesis Defense
All MS students must defend their theses during an oral examination administered by their advisors and thesis committees. As per Graduate School policy, a student must give each member of the thesis committee a copy of the thesis 7 business days before the thesis defense. Furthermore, the advisor must notify all Entomology faculty of the time and location of the defense 5 business days prior.
In addition to questions on the thesis, knowledge in major and related focus areas will be tested. Interested members of the graduate faculty may attend and question the student. However, the thesis committee will discuss the student's performance in private and only the thesis committee may vote. One or more negative votes constitutes a failure, and the student may have one additional chance to defend the thesis.
Public Presentation of the Thesis
Before graduating, all finishing MS students are required to present their theses at the Department of Entomology's weekly colloquium or an alternative publicly announced seminar.
Unsatisfactory Progress
A student's failure to meet one of the following graduate program requirements indicates unsatisfactory progress:
- Thesis committee is not formed within the first year
- Thesis committee meetings are not held annually
- Failure to submit annual progress reports
- Research proposal is not prepared, filed, and defended within the required time period (see below)
- The student fails to maintain a grade point average of B or better for two consecutive semesters
- The student does not have a major advisor for more than one semester
Time Limitations
With the exception of the six credit hours of graduate level course credits applicable for possible transfer to the master's degree and certificate programs, all requirements for the master's degree must be completed within a five-year period. Additional details related to time limitations are described in the Graduate Catalog. Extensions of time are granted only under unusual circumstances. The student may request a first one-year extension from the Department of Entomology's Graduate Affairs Committee. If approved, the Department will notify the Graduate School of the extension. Should a second extension be requested, the Graduate Affairs Committee will again evaluate the request and, if approved, will require the student, advisor, and thesis committee to provide specific objectives to be achieved during the extension that will be included in a letter to the Graduate School. No additional extensions will be granted.
