Entomology and Plant Pathology Major, MS

Admission

For admission to the Master of Science program, a student must meet all requirements of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Graduate School and must have completed at least 24 hours of biological and physical sciences at the undergraduate level. To the Office of Graduate Admissions submit online application, application fee, official transcripts, and scores from the general portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The online application procedure will also direct the applicant to submit three letters of reference (or three Graduate Rating Forms) from persons capable of assessing the applicant’s suitability for graduate work, and a statement of career goals and interests in entomology or plant pathology. In the statement letter the concentration of interest and intended major professor should be indicated.

Requirements

The program requires a written thesis based on original research and the completion of a minimum of 24 hours of course work for graduate credit, approved by the student’s advisory committee. Included in the course requirements are two acceptable seminar presentations for 1 credit hour each. An oral final exam must be passed to the satisfaction of the advisory committee after the thesis has been completed. A minor is not required but may be selected at the option of the student. A minor includes 6 to 10 hours of graduate-level credit in the minor department. The student’s committee must include a member of the faculty from the minor department to assist in designating courses required for the minor.

Bioinformatics and Genomics concentration
In addition to a solid biological background in entomology, plant pathology or a combination of the two, students will gain foundational knowledge in bioinformatics and genomics. Students concentrating in bioinformatics and genomics can study biological sequencing and analysis of DNA and RNA, epigenetics, metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, phylogenomics, genotyping by sequencing, differential gene expression, population genomics, gene interactions and/or proteomics.

Core Curriculum
The committee may decide that foundational knowledge of plant pathology and/or entomology is necessary. In this case students may need to enroll in or audit EPP 313 and/or EPP 321. In cases where students believe they have had equivalency, the faculty may administer a proficiency exam.

Required: