Entomology and Nematology Department

Graduate Studies

Join our department to complete your M.S. or Ph.D. degree in Entomology and Nematology. Your research can be conducted with faculty on the main campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville or with faculty located at any of the 13 Research and Education Centers around the state. You can complete a non-thesis M.S. degree in Gainesville or entirely online from anywhere.

You will learn at the side of faculty who conduct world-class research and engage in impactful teaching and Extension activities. You can see our faculty members’ major research areas and current highlights here.

Application Procedures

WHEN TO APPLY?

Applications for the fall semester, with full consideration for all fellowships and assistantships, are due by January 15. We accept applications for spring, summer and fall admissions, and suggest that you apply as early as possible. If necessary, we can process completed applications up to six weeks before a semester begins. International students should complete their applications at least five months before their desired matriculation semester to allow time for processing visa requests.

HOW TO APPLY?

Prospective students must apply online by visiting the University of Florida admissions website, where information is available to guide the student through the application process

Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.

Admission Requirements
University of Florida Graduate School Admission Requirements
- Upper-division undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher for domestic applicants
- Four-year baccalaureate degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited university
- For international students, official scores from a standardized test of English language ability, such as the TOEFL (iBT or PBT only) or IELTS
- If the transcripts and diploma or degree certificate are not in English, certified copies of English translations must be included. Send documents to the Office of Admissions at 201 Criser Hall, PO Box 114000, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-4000
Helpful Tips for Applying:
- How to calculate your upper-division GPA:
1. You MUST self-calculate your upper-division undergraduate GPA if your U.S. university grades on a 4.0 scale. International students will always choose non-traditional and do not need to self-calculate a GPA. Not calculating a GPA will greatly slow your application process.
2. You can use the GPA calculator from the Academic Advising Center to do this calculation: https://www.advising.ufl.edu/resources/gpa-calculator/
3. You must count all courses taken during your bachelor’s degree, beginning with the semester after you have 60 credits earned towards your degree (this is your upper-division undergraduate GPA).
4. Count all credits for which you received E or F grades (O GPA points) as well. Count grades for all courses, even if you took them more than once.
5. Miscalculating your GPA, especially if it ends up being lower than the required 3.0 GPA, will delay your admission to the Graduate School.
- How to select your Major, Concentration, and Location:
Please note that for the Major you should select ENTOMOLOGY AND NEMATOLOGY, and under Concentration select NO CONCENTRATION. For Location select Gainesville (select this if you will be on main campus OR at an REC location). Do not select “ARD – PS1” – this is for admission into the self-funded, non-thesis, online program.

Entomology and Nematology Department Admission Requirements
- Please include the following in your online application:
- Three letters of recommendation from persons in a position to evaluate the student’s academic potential.
- One-to-two page Statement of Purpose written by the student, which should indicate previous training and experience, interests, and educational and career goals as an entomologist or nematologist.
To expedite review of the application, the applicant can send scanned copies of the transcripts in addition to arranging for official copies to be sent to the Office of Admissions (code 5812).

If the bachelor’s degree is in a non-science field, it should be supplemented with the following coursework:
- One year of general biology (two semesters)
- At least one semester of general chemistry
- Algebra and trigonometry
- At least one semester of physics (recommended)
- Introductory statistics (recommended)
Direct Admission to the Ph.D. Program (without M.S. degree)

Only the most academically talented students will be considered for acceptance into the research-intensive Ph.D. program without first completing the M.S. (thesis) degree. We believe that the M.S. degree is very good training for research and should not be bypassed, except in exceptional circumstances.
- The following academic and research achievements are highly recommended in order to be considered for direct admission to the Ph.D. program:
1. Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5
2. In lieu of a M.S. thesis, students must document significant research-related activities and a solid understanding of the scientific process. Documentation should include multiple examples in the following categories: undergraduate thesis, peer-reviewed published paper(s), and oral or poster presentations at scientific meetings.
- Applicants should provide a clear and focused statement of purpose (i.e., letter of intent; personal statement). This should address the rationale for pursuing doctoral study without first completing a Master’s degree, the area in which they wish to specialize, their professional goals and how graduate study will help them accomplish those goals, and their particular qualities and experience that make them a good fit for the department research program that they are hoping to join.
- Letter(s) of recommendation from former research supervisor(s) must be detailed and strong, indicating ability of the student to proceed to the doctoral program without a Master’s degree.
- Letter of support from proposed University of Florida mentor must indicate diligence in contacting references and arranging Skype, phone, or personal interviews with the applicant, strong confidence in the student’s ability to complete a Ph.D. successfully, and a willingness to support financially the student who may need more than four years of funding to complete the Ph.D. without a prior M.S.
Members of the departmental Graduate Admissions committee will judge the application of each student on its own merits and admission will require a majority vote of the graduate committee members. Admission decisions are made based on the individually-perceived likelihood of the applicant’s success in their proposed graduate program.

Program Handbooks

How to Fund Your Program

Most students doing an M.S. (thesis) or Ph.D. will be offered employment as a graduate research assistant by the faculty member for whom they will be working. This assistantship will provide a stipend, health insurance, and waiver of tuition fees. A limited number of positions is available every semester.

We have a limited number of graduate school fellowships that are provided to only our most highly qualified Ph.D. program applicants. Fellows can only matriculate in the fall semester and must apply by January 15. Some graduate students are funded by their place of employment (e.g., USDA, State of Florida) or by scholarships or fellowships from their governments. The Entomology and Nematology graduate committee will not vote on applications until the prospective student has found a research advisor and has identified a source of funding. The graduate coordinator or the academic program assistant can help prospective students find research advisors and a source of funding. Self-funding for non-thesis programs is acceptable, and prospective students should investigate student financial aid options.

See other funding options here.

Other Graduate Programs
In addition to traditional M.S. and Ph.D. programs, you may be interested in these other graduate education options.

Our department is pleased to offer place-bound students the opportunity to pursue an online non-thesis M.S. degree or certificate. These same certificates are available for our on-campus students as well!
Our department also provides an active, lead role in the UF/IFAS, CALS Doctor of Plant Medicine (DPM) Program. The DPM program has different program entry requirements and application procedures from what you may have found on this page for the Entomology and Nematology Department’s graduate programs.

Questions?

If you have any questions about application procedures or our graduate programs, please contact our academic program assistant or the graduate coordinator.

Academic Advisor
Ms. Elena Alyanaya
(352) 273-3903
ealyanaya@ufl.edu

Graduate Coordinator
Dr. Marc Branham
(352) 273-3915
marcbran@ufl.edu

Entomology and Nematology Department

Entomology and Nematology Department

Graduate Studies

WHEN TO APPLY?

HOW TO APPLY?

Questions?

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