Graduate Certificate in Entomology
The Department of Entomology is now offering a graduate certificate in Entomology. This new certificate is available to online and on-campus students and may be earned by successfully taking 15 credits.
The graduate certificate is designed to familiarize students with entomology and the importance of insects in the ecosystem and for human resilience. The flexibility of this program is expected to attract students who want to advance their careers in academia or industry. Students will be able to apply the program's coursework directly to their professions.
The certificate may also interest others in the post-baccalaureate community, including employees in the pest control industry and the military, science teachers, lab technicians, extension agents, or conservation biologists. The online courses provide flexibility and opportunity for students to earn the certificate without leaving their jobs, communities, or families.
Pathway to an Online MS in Entomology
Students who have successfully completed the certificate are invited to apply for the online MS in Entomology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. With 15 credits, the certificate graduates will be halfway to earning their MS degree.
Areas of Specialization in Entomology
Students gain a well-rounded understanding of Entomology as a whole and are able to focus coursework in areas such as:
- Forensic and medical entomology
- Natural history
- Insects in education
- Insect pest management, toxicology and biological control
- Insect ecology, physiology and biochemistry
- Plant resistance
Admission Requirements for the Certificate Program
Students may apply to the certificate program through the UNL Office of Graduate Studies.
Applicants should have:
- a B.S. or B.A. degree from an accredited college or university - with a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale
- Course work in the following subjects:*
- introductory entomology
- general biology
- chemistry, and mathematics.
* If students are missing any of the pre-requisites, they may be admitted provisionally and complete these classes during the first year of the certificate.
Applicants must submit the following:
- Statement of Interests and Goals for pursuing the certificate
- 3 academic or professional letters of recommendation (no family members, please). Letters should show, explain, or demonstrate the student’s ability to be successful in graduate school.
- Unofficial transcripts (official transcripts required at a later date)
- English proficiency requirements
- $50 application fee
Program Completion Timeline
All coursework should be completed within five years.
| Colleges: | |
|---|---|
| Program: | Graduate Certificate in Entomology Faculty advisors: Erin Bauer & Tom Weissling |
| Application Deadlines: | Fall – July 1 Spring – Nov. 1 Summer – April 1 Check your application at https://go.unl.edu/gradappstatus. Learn more about: Tuition & Fees for Graduate & Professional Students. This admission category isn't an eligible degree program to receive federal financial aid; contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid for details. |
| Program Details: |
Entomologists are:
- Growing Food– working with farmers to manage insect pests and protect crops while simultaneously protecting beneficial insects and the environment.
- Saving Lives – finding ways to prevent insects from spreading diseases and helping to discover new medicines and treatments.
- Helping Animals – working with zookeepers, ranchers, forest rangers, and veterinarians to help them protect animals from dangerous insects.
- Understanding Nature – studying insects in their roles in the environment, such as pollinators, decomposers, parasites, predators, and sources of food for other animals.
- Discovering Species – finding new species allows us to better understand insect evolution, biodiversity, and the role of insects in nature.
- Saving our Forests – studying insects that harm wild plants and forests and ways to prevent and control them.
- Fighting Crime – examining bodies to find insects that may give clues to the time of death, and whether the body has been moved since then.
- Protecting the Quality of Life – Entomologists help us keep our homes, schools, hospitals, and recreational areas free of pests.
Career Outlook
- Middle and high school teachers
- Zoos, botanical gardens, butterfly houses
- Seed industry
- Agrochemical industry
- Food industry
- Crop consultation
- Urban pest control
- Military pest control