| Entomology
Gilmore 310
3050 Maile Way
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-6737
Fax: (808) 956-2428
E-mail: ta_ento1@avax.ctahr.hawaii.edu
Faculty
*M. L. Goff, PhD-acarology, medical and forensic entomology
*J. K. Grace, PhD-termite biology and control, insect behavior
*A. H. Hara, PhD-horticultural entomology, postharvest insect control, regulatory entomology (Hilo)
*M. W. Johnson, PhD-biological control, insect pest management
*V. P. Jones, PhD-insect pest management, insect ecology
*R. F. L. Mau, PhD-agricultural entomology, extension entomology, insect biology
*S. D. McCombs, PhD-biotechnology, genetics
*R. H. Messing, PhD-fruit fly ecology and management (Kaua'i)
*S. H. Saul, PhD-insect genetics
*J. R. Yates III, PhD-urban pest management, termite biology and control
Cooperating Graduate Faculty
B. M. Brennan, PhD-insect physiology, pesticide regulation and use
J. K. Fujii, PhD-insect pathology, termite biology (UH Hilo)
R. G. Gillespie, PhD-evolutionary biology and conservation of arthropods
K. Y. Kaneshiro, PhD-systematics, evolution, insect behavior
G. K. Roderick, PhD-population ecology and evolutionary genetics
J. Seifert, PhD-insecticide toxicology
L. Arita Tsutsumi, PhD-insect behavior, honeybee ecology (UH Hilo)
Affiliate Graduate Faculty
J. W. Armstrong-quarantine biology (USDA-ARS, Hilo)
N. Evenhuis, PhD-systematics of Diptera (Bishop Museum)
P. A. Follett, PhD-commodity quarantine treatments, tropical tree fruit IPM (Hilo)
E. J. Harris, PhD-ecology and control of fruit flies (USDA-ARS)
R. G. Hollingsworth, PhD-ornamental IPM (USDA-ARS, Hilo)
F. G. Howarth, PhD-systematics (Bishop Museum)
E. B. Jang, PhD-insect physiology, fruit fly control (USDA-ARS)
D. O. McInnis, PhD-insect genetics (USDA-ARS)
N. J. Reimer, PhD-ant biology and control, biological control of weeds (Bishop Museum)
G. A. Samuelson, PhD-systematics (Bishop Museum)
R. I. Vargas, PhD-ecology, mass-rearing techniques (USDA-ARS)
*Graduate Faculty
Degrees Offered: BS in entomology, MS in entomology, PhD in entomology
The Academic Program
Entomology (ENTO) is the study of insects and related organisms, such as spiders and mites. Entomologists seek to understand the role of insects in the natural world and their interaction with humans. They work to find environmentally safe, effective, and economical solutions to insect pest problems in agricultural and urban environments.
Hawai'i is an excellent place to study entomology. The uniform tropical climate permits students to observe and collect insects year-round. For those with interests related to evolutionary biology, the unique endemic insect fauna of Hawai'i offer many exciting opportunities for original research.
In the area of applied entomology, insects associated with Hawai'i's tropical and subtropical agricultural and urban environments provide a wealth of challenging problems in pest management research. In Hawai'i, such research strongly emphasizes biological control, biotechnological, and other non-chemical methods in order to minimize negative environmental impacts. The development of entomological technology to support low-input sustainable agriculture is another important area in pest management research. Motivated students will find an abundance of challenging opportunities that can help them develop professional competence in the science of entomology.
Advising
All undergraduate entomology majors are advised by a faculty member who has been appointed by the department. New candidates for the graduate program are assigned an interim adviser and committee until such time as a permanent adviser and committee are selected.
Undergraduate Study
Bachelor's Degree
Requirements
- General Education Core requirements
- CTAHR agricultural science required courses
- ENTO 263
- ENTO 374/374L
- ENTO 462
- ENTO 492
- 15 or more credit hours from an approved list of courses (determined in consultation with undergraduate adviser)
- Additional credit hours to total 128
All entomology majors are required to consult with the undergraduate adviser concerning their program prior to registration each semester.
Graduate Study
The department offers graduate programs leading to the MS and PhD degrees in entomology. They encompass independent study, course work, and research in acarology, biological control of insect and weed pests, biotechnology and insect genetics, forensic entomology, insect ecology, insect evolution, insect genetics, insect physiology, insecticide toxicology, insect transmission of plant pathogens, medical and veterinary entomology, pest management, systematics, urban entomology, and tropical economic entomology.
Intended candidates for graduate programs in entomology must present a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 18 undergraduate credit hours in entomology and zoology, including general zoology, general entomology, economic entomology, insect morphology, and systematic entomology. In addition, they must have had credit for two years of chemistry (including inorganic and organic), one year of physics, MATH 140 or equivalent, and courses in botany, genetics, and microbiology. All deficiencies in undergraduate preparation must be satisfied.
The MS and PhD in tropical entomology are recognized Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) regional graduate programs. Residents of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming are eligible, upon admission, to enroll at Hawai'i-resident tuition rates.
Master's Degree
The MS degree program is offered under either Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis). All students in this program are first enrolled under Plan A. Transfer to Plan B is permissible only after consultation with the candidate's adviser and approval by the chair of the graduate field of study.
A total of 32 credit hours are required for each degree plan. Specific degree requirements are listed below.
Graduates with the MS degree should possess general knowledge of entomology, including basic principles of insect identification, biology, and control. Prospects for employment are in private industry, service-oriented entomological programs of government agencies, and research institutions.
Requirements
Plan A (thesis)
- 16 credit hours of course work
- 2 credit hours of ENTO 699 directed research
- 2 credit hours of ENTO 687 Entomology Seminar
- 1 credit hour of ENTO 690 Foundations in Entomology each year
- 10 credit hours of ENTO 700 thesis research
- Final oral defense of the thesis research
- Submission of an acceptable thesis
Plan B (non-thesis)
- 26 credit hours of course work
- 2 credit hours of ENTO 699 directed research
- 2 credit hours of ENTO 687 Entomology Seminar
- 1 credit hour of ENTO 690 Foundations of Entomology each year
- Final oral defense of the directed research project and on other aspects of entomological training undertaken by the candidate
Doctoral Degree
Intended candidates for the PhD program should have earned the MS degree in entomology or equivalent from a recognized institution. Those with a BS or BA may petition for admittance into the PhD program only after enrolling in the MS program.
Graduates with the PhD degree should possess broad general knowledge in all areas of entomology, in-depth knowledge in at least one area of specialization, and capability for independent research. Prospects for employment for PhD graduates are in teaching, research, and extension at universities and in research with private industries and government agencies.
Requirements
- 4 credit hours of seminar
- 1 credit hour of ENTO 690 each year
- Diagnostic examination on the basic principles of entomology within two semesters after admission into the program
- Oral and written comprehensive examination in the candidate's area of specialization administered by the doctoral committee
- Preliminary oral defense of the dissertation research for the doctoral committee
- Final oral defense of the dissertation research
- Submission of an acceptable dissertation
Additional course work required for the degree is determined by the candidate's doctoral committee. |
