Course Descriptions

Department of Entomology

T. L. Archer, D. E. Bay, J. S. Bernal, H. R. Burke, C. J. Coates, A. I. Cognato, R. N. Coulson, B. M. Drees, T. W. Fuchs, F. E. Gilstrap, R. E. Gold, L.A. Guarino, K. F. Harris, M. K. Harris, K. M. Heinz (Head), J. A. Jackman, J. S. Johnston, A.E. Knutson, M.E. Merchant, G. J. Michels, Jr., F.L.Mitchell, J. K. Olson, J. D. Oswald, T. Pankiw, M. Parajulee, P. V. Pietrantonio, J. A. Reinert, J. E. Slosser, M. D. Summers, P. D. Teel*, S. B. Vinson, M. O. Way, R. A. Wharton, L.T. Wilson, J. B. Woolley, K. Zhu-Salzman

* Graduate Advisor

The Department of Entomology offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in entomology, as well as Master of Agriculture degrees in Plant Protection and Economic Entomology. Within these programs, subject matter areas include arthropod ecology, biological control, integrated pest management, molecular biology, physiology, genetics and toxicology, plant resistance, systematics, and urban, medical/veterinary, and forensic entomology. Students come into the field of entomology with diverse interests, science backgrounds and career goals. Students are able to tailor their education and research interests for the respective degree program with the help of their major advisor and advisory committees. Graduates from these programs have become prominent leaders in entomological research, application, education, and regulatory affairs of private sector and government arenas, as well as international agencies and foreign countries.

The Master of Agriculture in Plant Protection degree is part of an Interdepartmental Program with the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology and the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, and can be completed almost entirely at a distance (http://insects.tamu.edu/distance_ed/index.html). This program is designed for students who desire graduate training emphasizing program development and delivery of integrated pest management within agriculture and related businesses involving IPM.

The department occupies five floors of the Minnie Belle Heep Building and nearby buildings that house the Entomology Research Laboratory, the Biological Control Laboratory and Urban, Veterinary and Medical Entomology. Texas A&M is only one of a select group of U.S. locations for a federally approved quarantine laboratory. In addition, the department houses the Center for Urban and Structural Entomology. The department also maintains three multi-room greenhouses. The Texas A&M University Insect Collection is housed in the Minnie Belle Heep Building. It is the largest and most actively growing arthropod collection in the Southwest, containing more than two million specimens representing more than 32,000 identified species. Graduate students often work with faculty located at 12 research and extension centers across Texas, each addressing entomological issues unique to their particular geographic region.

Comprehensive courses in the biological sciences, general chemistry and organic chemistry are required of all students. Specific course requirements in entomology are dependent upon previous training and professional experience. Prospective students are directed to http://insects.tamu.edu for additional information.

Entomology
(ENTO)

601. Principles of Systematic Entomology. (3-0). Credit 3.

An introduction to the principles and theory of systematic zoology and comparative biology including species concepts and speciation; methods for higher classification including phylogenetic systematics, phenetics and evolutionary taxonomy; introduction to zoological nomenclature. Prerequisite: Graduate classification in entomology or other biological sciences.

606. Quantitative Phylogenetics. (2-3). Credit 3.

Designed to provide students with the theory and tools required for inference of phylogenetic (evolutionary) relationships among biological taxa using various types of comparative data including morphological characters, biochemical and molecular characters, and DNA sequences; hands-on analysis of data using contemporary tools. Prerequisite: Entomology 601 or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with GENE 606.

608. Principles of Biological Control. (3-0). Credit 3.

Theory and practices relating to the role and use of natural enemies in arthropod and plant population regulation; review and analysis of projects in biological control; biology and behavior of entomophagous arthropods. Prerequisite: ENTO 201 or equivalent or approval of instructor.

610. Host Plant Resistance. (3-0). Credit 3.

Host plant resistance programs from the standpoint of the plant breeder, plant pathologist and entomologist; team taught with each discipline represented; roundtable discussion of assigned readings and lectures. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Cross-listed with AGRO 610 and PLPA 610.

612. Insect Evolution. (2-2). Credit 3.

Review current and historical ideas about the phylogeny and evolution of the major groups of hexapods; includes evidential basis for hypotheses of monophyly, competing phylogenetic hypotheses, major innovations and trends affecting the adaptive radiations of specific taxa, morphological character systems, and history of insect classification and the major character systems. Prerequisite: One semester of insect or invertebrate zoology.

615. Insect Physiology. (3-0). Credit 3.

Physiological processes of insects; metabolism, nutrition, neuro-endocrinology, nerve action, cell structure, respiration, circulation, excretion and flight; functional integration and regulatory processes of total organism. Prerequisite: ENTO 306 or equivalent.

617. Acarology. (3-3). Credit 4.

Systematics, morphology, physiology, and ecology of ticks and mites; management of acarine pests of humans, animals and plants; role of parasitic species in causation and transmission of diseases. Prerequisite: ENTO 208 or equivalent. (Offered in 2003-2004 and alternate years thereafter.)

618. Medical and Veterinary Entomology. (3-3). Credit 4.

Taxonomy, biology and epidemiological role of insects that directly and/or indirectly affect the health and well-being of humans and animals. Prerequisite: ENTO 208 or equivalent. (Offered in 2003-2004 and alternate years thereafter.)

619. Insect Toxicology. (3-3). Credit 4.

Classification and properties of major types of insecticides; chemistry, metabolism and mode of action; selectivity, use hazards, residues and resistance; environmental problems: biological magnification, persistence and effects on non-target organisms. Prerequisites: One course in organic chemistry and ENTO 615 or approval of instructor.

621. Biology and Systematics of Entomophagous Insects. (2-3). Credit 3.

Systematics of entomophagous insects at the family level; collecting and rearing parasitoids from their hosts; emphasis on groups used in biological control. Prerequisites: ENTO 301 or approval of instructor. (Offered in 2004-2005 and alternate years thereafter.)

623. Advanced Principles of Agroecosystem Management with Emphasis on Insects and Mites. (3-0). Credit 3.

Addresses agriculture from an ecological perspective; provides students with an understanding of how biological and physical components of a system are interconnected and affect the outcome of management decisions; an improved understanding of quantitative techniques used to estimate biological interactions. Prerequisite: ENTO 401 or 402 or 424 or approval of instructor.

624. Dynamics of Populations. (3-2). Credit 4.

Principles, models and methods for analysis of population dynamics; analysis of contemporary research emphasizing theory and its uses in evaluation and management of animal populations; laboratory emphasizes mathematical, statistical and computer modeling of population phenomena. Cross-listed with WFSC 624.

625. Landscape Ecology. (2-2). Credit 3.

Study of structure, function and change in a heterogeneous land area composed of interacting ecosystems; examine basic ecological principles dealing with landscape structure. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Cross-listed with GEOG 625.

628. Arthropod Genomes and Gene Expression. (3-0). Credit 3.

Introduction to the vocabulary and experimental procedures routinely used for molecular genetic studies using arthropod systems as model examples; discussion of germ-line transformation, transient gene expression, and the analysis of tissue-specific and genome-wide gene expression. Prerequisite: GENE 301 or equivalent.

681. Seminar. (1-0). Credit 1.

Oral reports and discussions of current research and developments in entomology and related fields; designed to broaden understanding of problems in field and to stimulate research. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.

684. Professional Internship. Credit 1 to 4 each semester.

On-the-job training in the fields of pest identification, home and garden pest control, medical and veterinary pest control, and pest management of food and fiber crop pests. Prerequisite: Graduate classification in the Master of Agriculture program in economic entomology or plant protection.

685. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4 each semester.

Entomological problems not pertaining to thesis or dissertation. Prerequisites: Graduate classification with major or minor in entomology; approval of department head.

689. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4.

Selected topics in an identified area of entomology. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.

690. Theory of Research. Credit 1.

Examination of concepts and theories in entomological research including applications of novel technologies and experimental approach. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.

691. Research. Credit 1 or more each semester.

Research problems on taxonomy, life histories, biological control, ecology and physiology of insects, and toxicology of insecticides. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.