Discover Entomology at Texas A&M University

For a current list of courses, see the TAMU Course List at courses.tamu.edu

For information about undergraduate or graduate programs, e-mail Ms. Rebecca Hapes or phone her at 979.845.9733.

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Undergraduate Course Descriptions (ENTO)

201. General Entomology
208. Veterinary Entomology
285. Directed Studies
289. Special Topics in ....
300. Field Studies
301. Biodiversity and Biology of Insects
305. Evolution of Insect Structure
306. Insect Physiology
311. Biodiversity and Biology of Insects Laboratory
313. Biology of Insects
315. Biotechnology and Society
320. Honeybee Biology
322. Insects and Human Society
330. Aquatic Entomology for Anglers
401. Principles of Insect Pest Management
402. Field Crop Insects
403. Urban Entomology
405. Horticultural and Floricultural Entomology
423. Medical Entomology
424. Insect Ecology
428. Insect Biotechnology
429. Insect Biotechnology Lab
431. Forensic Entomology
432. Applied Forensic Entomology
435. Problem Solving in Entomology
450. Caribbean Conservation
451. Caribbean Research Seminar
481. Seminar
482. Occupational and Professional Development
484. Professional Internship
485. Directed Studies
489. Special Topics in ...

201. General Entomology. (2-2). Credit 3.
An introduction to insect evolution and biology, with a guide to basic insect taxonomy and a survey of the insect orders.

208. Veterinary Entomology. (2-2). Credit 3.
Classification, biology and control of insects and other arthropods associated with livestock and poultry production; identification emphasized in laboratory.

285. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4.
Directed individual study in entomology. Prerequisites: Freshman or sophomore classification; approval of instructor and department head.

289. Special Topics In ...Credit 1 to 4.
Selected topics in an identified area of entomology. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

300. Field Studies.  (3-0). Credit 3. Integration of principles of animal and plant ecology with environmental factors to characterize wildlife populations.  Intensive analysis of specific areas will emphasize either the development of a wildlife management plan or a general vertebrate natural history survey.  Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.  Cross-listed with WFSC 300.

301. Biodiversity and Biology of Insects. (3-0). Credit 3. II Introduction to orders and most important families of insects; order-level morphology and family-level natural history. Prerequisites: 6 hours of biological sciences; ENTO 311 or concurrent enrollment; junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

305. Evolution of Insect Structure. (2-3). Credit 3.
External morphology of insects; evolution of form and function.
Prerequisite: 6 hours of biological sciences.

306. Insect Physiology. (2-3). Credit 3.
Physiology of insects; structure and function of internal organ systems and their role in insect success.
Prerequisite: ENTO 201 or equivalent.

311.  Biodiversity and Biology of Insects Laboratory. (0-3). Credit 1.      Laboratory studies of topics covered in ENTO 301; introduction of orders and most important families of insects; order-level morphology and family-level natural history; collection of insects identified to family level provides introduction to collection methods and specimen preparation.  Prerequisites:  ENTO 301 or concurrent enrollment;  6 hours of biological sciences; junior or senior classification.

313. Biology of Insects. (2-3). Credit 3.
Study of the orders and important families of insects and related arthropods, including general biology, relationships with plants and other animals, and characteristics used in identification.
Prerequisite: 3 hours of biological science.

315. Biotechnology and Society. (3-0). Credit 3. I. Understanding the technology and principles of biotechnology; interpreting and communicating biotechnology reports of both popular press and peer-reviewed scientific articles.  Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

320. Honey Bee Biology. (3-0). Credit 3. II Introduction of honey bee biology and beekeeping practices to science and non-science majors; honey bees as the model insect to introduce general principles of biology and entomology.  Prerequisite:  Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

322. Insects and Human Society. (3-0) Credit 3.
Emphasis on the role insects have played in the development of human cultures; aspects include health, food production and storage, art, music and architecture; overview of historic, present day, and future roles insects will have on environmental movements (green societies), and in underdeveloped, developing and developed societies.

330. Aquatic Entomology for Anglers. (3-0). Credit 3. I. An overview of the aquatic insects will be presented with emphasis on anatomy that allows you to recognize the insect groups. Insect biology and behavior will be included to improve your fishing skills and lure selection. Labs emphasize fly tying to create your own lures. Prerequisite: None.

401. Principles of Insect Pest Management. (2-3). Credit 3.
Basic tenets of integrated pest management emphasizing ecological principles; integration of chemical, biological, cultural and physical tactics into an overall strategy for the agroecosystem; chemical pesticides, cultural practices, host resistance, biological control, sterility principle, economics of pest control and pest/host relationships.
Prerequisite: ENTO 201 or equivalent.

402. Field Crop Insects. (2-3). Credit 3.
Application of management strategies for insect/mite pests of small grains, corn, cotton, rice, sorghum, stored products and sunflower; nature and symptoms of damage, life history and habits of common pests. Laboratory consists of pest and pest damage identification supported by field trips.
Prerequisite: ENTO 201 or equivalent.

403. Urban Entomology (2-3) Credit 3, II
Biology, economic importance and control strategies for arthropod pests commonly invading households and commercial structures in urban environments.  Laboratory consists of urban pest identification and special presentations and demonstrations covering topics related to urban pest problems and their control.
Prerequisite: ENTO 201 or equivalent or approval of instructor.

405. Horticultural and Floricultural Entomology. (2-3). Credit 3.
Nature of injury, life history and control of common insects attacking ornamentals, fruits and vegetables in the field and greenhouse; pest identification and development of management strategies demonstrated in laboratory.
Prerequisite: ENTO 201 or equivalent.

423. Medical Entomology (2-3). Credit 3. I.
Biologies, disease relationships and control of insects and other arthropods parasitic on or in humans; aspect of the fields of clinical preventive medicine; survey, collection and taxonomy of medically important arthropods in laboratory sessions. 
Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

424. Insect Ecology. (2-3). Credit 3.
Provides basic ecological background with an applied interpretation, emphasizing influences of insect populations and communities on ecosystem processes that influence landscape structure, function and change.
Prerequisites: 3 hours of biological sciences and ENTO 201 or equivalent.

428. Insect Biotechnology. (3-0) Credit 3. I. Applications of genetic engineering and biotechnology; specific problems dealing with insects and control of insect pests. Prerequisite: GENE 301 or 315 or 320; junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

429. Insect Biotechnology Laboratory. (0-3). Credit 1. I.
Basic technical experience in insect molecular biology and biotechnology, including genomic DNA isolation, PCR, cloning, sequencing and gene manipulation techniques; focus on insect applications for improvement of human and health and agriculture.  Prerequisite: ENTO 428; concurrent enrollment in ENTO 428; junior or senior classification.

431. The Science of Forensic Entomology. (3-0). Credit 3. II.
 Explores the science, methodology and technology employed to gather, preserve and present information about insects and other arthropods in such a manner that this information can be used in courts of law as evidence and testimony to help resolve issues of a criminal or civil nature.
Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

432. Applied Forensic Entomology. (0-3). Credit 1. II.
 Laboratory-based course offering students practical experience using scientific information, methodology, technology and legal procedures inherent to the field of forensic entomology; emphasis on collecting, preserving and identifying information as evidence and expert witness testimony in courts of law. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in ENTO 431; junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

435. Problem Solving in Entomology. (3-0). Credit 3. II. Development of reasoning strategies; investigate a series of entomological case studies; challenges to solving real-world entomological problems as part of a team of investigators. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

450.  Caribbean Conservation.  (0-6). Credit 2. Provide students with experience in and appreciation for diverse tropical habitats and the problems associated with conserving these habitats; design and conduct individual research projects on topics of their choice with approval from the instructors on project design and feasibility.  Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in ENTO 300 and 451; junior or senior classification.  Cross-listed with WFSC 450.

451. Caribbean Research Seminar.  (1-0). Credit 1. Document research activities; keep a journal of activities and research methods during study abroad trips.  Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in ENTO 300 and 450; junior or senior classification.  Cross-listed with WFSC 451.

481. Seminar. (1-0). Credit 1.
Report of original investigations, current literature and special features of entomology.
Prerequisites: ENTO 201 or equivalent; junior or senior classification.

482. Occupational and Professional Development. (2-0). Credit 2. I
Organized instruction in written and oral communication; acquaint students with private and public-sector companies and agencies as well as leading professionals from these firms to reinforce academic instruction and prepare students for the transition to employment, graduate and professional schools. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with FIVS 482.

484. Professional Internship (4-0). Credit 1 to 4. Independent study and supervised field experience related to a professional area of interest in entomology. May be taken two times for credit. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

485. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4. I,II,S
Individual problems for beginners in research.
Prerequisites: ENTO 201 or equivalent; junior or senior classification; approval of instructor and department head.

489. Special Topics in ... Credit 1 to 4.
Selected topics in an identified area of entomology. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

Field Entomology
Field projects in entomology.

491. Research. (4-0). Credit 1 to 4. Faculty supervised research in entomology.  May be taken two times for credit.  Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.