Skip to content

Studies & Degrees in Entomology

Entomology is the study of insects. Insects belong to the arthropods, animals with an external skeleton and jointed legs, and more than one million species have been described so far, according to the Royal Entomological Society. The society describes entomology as crucial to the understanding of human disease, agriculture, evolution, ecology and biodiversity. One example of why it matters: 84% of the crops grown in Europe rely on pollinators such as bees, flies, wasps, beetles, butterflies and moths.

Students learn how insects are built and classified, how they behave and reproduce, and how they interact with plants, animals and people. Applied courses deal with pests of crops and buildings, insects that carry disease, pollination and conservation. At The Ohio State University, for example, undergraduates study the roles of insects in agriculture, pollination and biodiversity, health and sustainable systems. Departments often cover other arthropods too: Colorado State University mentions ticks and mites, and the University of Florida combines entomology with nematology, the study of nematode worms.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. A few universities, mainly in the United States, offer entomology as an undergraduate major. Ohio State has a major and a minor, with four tracks: Sustainable Insect Management, Insects in Human and Veterinary Medicine, Insect Ecology and Conservation, and Individualized Insect Studies. Purdue University calls its undergraduate degree Insect Biology. Elsewhere entomology is a minor or a set of courses inside biology or agriculture; Colorado State offers an Entomology Minor.
  • Master's degree. Most master's programmes are research degrees with a thesis. Ohio State and Purdue offer a master's in entomology. At Colorado State the route is an M.S. in Bioagricultural Sciences with an Entomology Specialization. Ohio State also has a professional Master of Plant Health Management without a thesis.
  • Doctorate. A PhD is the usual route to lead research. Ohio State, Purdue and Colorado State all offer doctoral study in the field.
  • Online study. The University of Florida states that degrees in its Entomology and Nematology Department can be earned online, at undergraduate and graduate level.

Professional certification exists in the United States but is separate from a degree. The certification body of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) offers the Board Certified Entomologist (BCE) credential for professional entomologists with degrees in entomology or a closely related field, and the Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) credential for pest management professionals, which does not require an advanced degree.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 10 active schools for entomology. Nine are in the United States and one is in Ghana, so the listed programmes are taught in English. The directory currently has no school in Spain for this subject.

The US schools are The Ohio State University in Columbus, Purdue University in West Lafayette, the University of Florida in Gainesville, Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Oregon State University in Corvallis, the University of California, Davis, the University of Minnesota, West Virginia University in Morgantown and Broward College in Fort Lauderdale. Several are public land-grant universities with colleges of agriculture. Departments there do more than teach: Purdue's, for example, also has an entomological research collection, an insect identification service and extension work. The school in Ghana is the University of Cape Coast.

When comparing programmes, look at the exact degree title (entomology, insect biology or a specialisation inside another degree), the research areas of the department, access to laboratories, collections and field stations, and the funding available for graduate research.

Careers

Entomologists work in agriculture and crop protection, public health and the control of disease-carrying insects, pest management, conservation, museums and collections, government agencies, and university teaching and research. The ESA, founded in 1889, is the largest organisation for the profession and has nearly 7,000 members.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not publish separate figures for entomologists. It includes them among zoologists and wildlife biologists, who typically need a bachelor's degree for entry-level positions, may need a master's degree for higher-level jobs and typically need a PhD to lead research projects. Employment in that group is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035. For agricultural and food scientists the BLS projects growth of 6 percent over the same period and names the need to address pests and disease as one of the reasons. Ohio State's department states that 98% of its recent graduates entered the workforce or graduate school.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study entomology as a bachelor's degree?

Yes, at some universities. The Ohio State University offers an entomology major and Purdue University an Insect Biology degree. At many other universities entomology is a minor or a specialisation within biology or agriculture.

Do I need a PhD to work as an entomologist?

Not for every job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a bachelor's degree is typical for entry-level positions in zoology and wildlife biology, a master's degree may be needed for higher-level jobs, and a PhD is typically needed to lead research projects.

Can entomology be studied online?

The University of Florida states that degrees in its Entomology and Nematology Department can be earned online. Ask the school which programmes and levels this covers.

Where is entomology taught?

The SpainExchange directory lists 10 schools: nine in the United States and one in Ghana.