The topic of the degree project should reflect the personal or professional interests of the student. Below are examples of focus areas for the M.S. Degree Project. These examples do not provide information about the acceptable breadth and depth required for a passing grade. Projects may need to encompass more than one of these examples to meet course requirements. Topics other than those listed are possible, but must be approved by the course instructors.

Education and Outreach

  • Development of an insect-based curriculum
  • Web-based curriculum or interactive exercises
  • Development and delivery of outreach programs
  • Experiential learning activities for K-12 with documented assessment
  • Educational materials, activities, games, or programs

Forensics

  • Natural History investigation of forensically important insects
  • Geographic or phenologic surveys of forensically important insects
  • Photography, drawings, identification keys, or similar materials relating to forensically important insects

Pest Management

  • Development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs for urban, school, or agricultural situations
  • Training materials on insect or arthropod pests
  • Program development for an insect complex or cropping system
  • Pest management tools including EIL calculators and sampling programs
  • Training programs for IPM scouts, non-entomologists, etc.
  • Comparisons of pest management programs to alternative management strategies
  • Clientele surveys regarding attitudes towards management alternatives
  • Analyses, surveys, and outreach materials on pest management in alternative production systems

Public Health

  • Public information materials
  • Veterinary pest systems
  • Public surveys on insect pests leading to the development of educational materials
  • Program development for an insect system or a geographic location
  • Training materials in medical or veterinary entomology

Scholarly

  • Literature review on an entomological topic (not a term paper) which explores the literature and synthesizes information to provide new insights
  • Research activities in areas such as insect conservation, biology, specific insects, or cultural entomology

Other Areas

  • Artistic or creative activities that relate a scientific understanding of insects to a cultural or artistic one
  • Production of books, articles, videography, film, games, and other significant materials pertaining to entomology
  • Resource library of materials from popular culture or educational media

caution sign  Project Categories that Should Not be Considered  caution sign

  • Something submitted in a previous course
  • Extensive, original scientific research (thesis-style) projects
  • Course outlines, syllabi, presentations, or similar materials that lack sufficient depth
  • Handwritten materials