Comprehensive Exams
Comprehensive Exams For Option B Master's of Science in Entomology, students are required to take a Written Comprehensive Exam (given through email) and either the online General Entomology Qualifying Exam (given on Canvas) or the BCE Exam from the Entomological Society of America. When you are ready to take the departmental online or the written comprehensive exams, please contact Erin Bauer and she will set them up for you. You can contact ESA to set up the BCE.
See below for more specific information about the exams.
Required
Written Comprehensive Exam
This exam is in essay format and is administered via email. Questions are solicited by the distance education coordinator from departmental faculty. The exams may be open-book (by discretion of the faculty member) and is assessed on a pass/fail basis. The questions are general in nature and, as such, require a thorough knowledge and synthesis of information. Students are allowed about a week to complete the exam. Please allow up to two weeks for written exam to be graded.
Choose this or the BCE Exam
General Entomology Qualifying Exam
A 100-point multiple choice exam covering basic areas of entomology such as biology and classification, ecology, physiology, toxicology, and pest management. This is a one-hour, closed-book test administered on Canvas.
Topics to study for the General Entomology Qualifying exam:
- History of Entomology
- Federal regulations for pesticide registration and usage
- General insect classification and biology
- Insect morphology and physiology
- Insect behavior and ecology
- Insect development and metamorphosis
- Pest management practices
Choose this or the General Entomology Qualifying exam
BCE (Board Certified Entomologist) Exam
As an alternative to the General Entomology exam given by the Entomology Department, students may take the BCE exam administered by the Entomological Society of America. Requirements and application for this exam are available at entocert.org/bce.
Suggested Books to Consult for Exams (look for latest editions)
The Science of Entomology
William S. Romoser
Destructive and Useful Insects
Robert Metcalf
Fundamentals of Applied Entomology
Pfadt
The Insects: An Outline of Entomology
P. Gullan
Fundamentals of Entomology
R.J. Elzinga
Medical Entomology for Students
M. Service
An Introduction to the Study of Insects
Borer, Triplehorn, and Johnson
Physiological Systems in Insects
M.J. Klowden
Final Steps
Deadlines for submitting the Application for Degree form and other requirements for graduation can be found at the Graduate Studies website.
Important Note
MS projects and comprehensive exams (both the online multiple choice exam and the written take home exam) must be completed THREE WEEKS prior to the date of Final Exam Reports for the semester you plan to graduate. You can find out the date of the Final Exam Reports on the MS Steps to Degree Completion webpage from Graduate Studies. The Final Exam Reports include paperwork that online MS advisors fill out to ensure graduation for the semester, so if the tests and MS project are not completed early enough, it will postpone your graduation until the next semester. Also, the MS Project Committee needs time to review and approve final MS Projects before the paperwork can be done.
We recommend that you register for your MS Project at least one semester before you plan to graduate so that you won't have to finish it within limited time in your final semester. We also recommend taking the comprehensive online exam at least one semester before you plan to graduate. This test must be passed with a 70% and can be taken once a semester if not passed the first time. The written exam can be taken the semester you graduate if not before.