Preprofessional

This biological science includes the study of insects, mites, ticks, spiders, and nematodes. These creatures can have both helpful and harmful effects on food, environment, and health. Entomology and Nematology students study ecology, medically significant arthropods, social insects, insect management, physiology, behavior, evolution, natural ecosystem cycles, and systematics.

About this Program

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

Department Information

The Entomology and Nematology Department prepares students for exciting careers in a variety of fields. Entomology and Nematology majors can enter medical, dental, or veterinary school; progress to graduate study in any of several biological sciences such as ecology, nematology, entomology, horticulture, or zoology; or move directly to a variety of careers in fields such as pest management, ecotourism, or biosecurity.
Website

CONTACT

Email | 352.273.3923

P.O. Box 110620
1881 Natural Area Drive, Bldg. 970 
STEINMETZ HALL
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-0620
Map

 Curriculum

The Department of Entomology and Nematology offers the major. Faculty within the department cover areas in systematics, ecology, medically significant arthropods, social insects, insect management, physiology, behavior, evolution and natural ecosystem cycles. The department has a long tradition of sending students to medical, veterinary and dental school. Graduate school prospects are also high and employment options using entomology are versatile.

Preprofessional

This option provides preparation for programs in medicine, dentistry, optometry, veterinary, chiropractic, osteopathy and podiatry. Students should refer to the preprofessional information in the college's admission section and they should contact the Office of Health and Legal Professions Advising in the Academic Advising Center, 100 Farrior Hall.

Except with undergraduate coordinator permission, students are expected to complete the following courses on campus; other ENY courses can be taken online:

ENY 3005Principles of Entomology2
ENY 3005LPrinciples of Entomology Laboratory1
ENY 4161Insect Classification3
ENY 4660Medical and Veterinary Entomology2
ENY 4660LMedical and Veterinary Entomology Laboratory1

Minimum grades of C are required for all core courses. Students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA for specialization electives with no individual course grade less than C-.

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

Semester 2

  • Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
  • 2.5 GPA on math and science courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

  • Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
  • 2.5 GPA on math and science courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

  • Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
  • 2.5 GPA on math and science courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

  • Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
  • 2.5 GPA on math and science courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required
  • 2.0 upper division GPA required

Semester 6

Semester 7

  • Complete 1 additional major elective course, excluding labs
  • 2.0 UF GPA required
  • 2.0 upper division GPA required

Semester 8

  • 2.0 UF GPA required
  • 2.0 upper division GPA required

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) 3
CHM 2045
2045L
General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Physical Sciences)
4
Select one: 3
Expository and Argumentative Writing
Technical Writing
Professional Writing in the Discipline (State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement)
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics) 4
 Credits14
Semester Two
Select one: 3-4
Economic Issues, Food and You
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Food and Resource Economics (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences)
AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication 3
CHM 2046
2046L
General Chemistry 2
and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Physical Sciences)
4
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (Gen Ed Mathematics ) 3
State Core Gen Ed Humanities 3
 Credits16-17
Semester Three
AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences 3
Select one: 3-4
Integrated Principles of Biology 1
and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 1 (Critical Tracking)
Introductory Botany (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences)
CHM 2210
Organic Chemistry 1
or Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry 1
3-4
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement 3
 Credits15-17
Semester Four
Quest 2 (Gen Ed International or Diversity) 3
BSC 2011
2011L
Integrated Principles of Biology 2
and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences)
4
CHM 2211
Organic Chemistry 2
or Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry 2
3-4
CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2
Elective 2
 Credits14-15
Semester Five
AGR 3303 Genetics 3
ENY 3005
3005L
Principles of Entomology
and Principles of Entomology Laboratory (Gen Ed Biological Sciences; must be taken on campus)
3
PHY 2053
2053L
Physics 1
and Laboratory for Physics 1
5
Approved electives 4
 Credits15
Semester Six
Select one: 3-4
Social Insects
Beekeeping I (Critical Tracking)
Invertebrate Biodiversity
MCB 3020
3020L
Basic Biology of Microorganisms
and Laboratory for Basic Biology of Microorganisms
4
PHY 2054
2054L
Physics 2
and Laboratory for Physics 2
5
Approved elective (Critical Tracking) 3
 Credits15-16
Semester Seven
Select one: 4
Fundamentals of Biochemistry
Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1
ENY 4161 Insect Classification (Gen Ed Biological Sciences; must be taken on campus) 3
ENY 4660
4660L
Medical and Veterinary Entomology
and Medical and Veterinary Entomology Laboratory (Critical Tracking; must be taken on campus)
3
Approved electives (Critical Tracking) 6
 Credits16
Semester Eight
Select one: 3-4
Behavioral Ecology and Systematics
General Ecology
Agricultural Ecology
ZOO 4307C Vertebrate Biodiversity 4
Approved electives (Critical Tracking) 8
 Credits15-16
 Total Credits120
1

Not required if CHM 3217/CHM 3218 was taken. 


The Entomology and Nematology curriculum develops an excellent knowledge base and an understanding of concepts and fundamental practices. Through formal courses, laboratory experimentation, and individual research experience, students will learn how the scientific method is applied to the biological world at the whole organism and population levels. Students will learn to evaluate hypotheses, to acquire and interpret experimental data, and to communicate results effectively in appropriate styles. Special focus will be information on insect identification, morphology, behavior, physiology, and ecology.

Before Graduating Students Must

  • Pass the Entomology and Nematology competency exam, which will be tailored to individual specializations.
  • Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

  1. Identify insects and describe and explain insect morphology, physiology, and behavior.

Critical Thinking

  1. Acquire, analyze and synthesize entomological information.

Communication

  1. Communicate proficiently in the sciences in oral and written forms.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Courses SLO 1 SLO 2 SLO 3
AEC 3030C A
AEC 3033C A
ENY 3005 I, A I, A I
ENY 3005L A A
ENY 4161 R, A R, A

Assessment Types

  • Assignments
  • Exams
  • Course grades
  • Research collection