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Graduate Programs

Entomology (MS, PhD)

The Entomology (ENT) Program offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs. Either option requires the completion of a research thesis (M.S.) or dissertation (Ph.D.)

Students earning a graduate degree in Entomology will be prepared for careers in academia, industry, and extension. A successful graduate will demonstrate expertise in arthropod identification, ecology, physiology, and biodiversity, as well as modern methods of pest management.

  • Specialization & Research Emphasis

    Areas of specialization within entomology are aligned with those of the major advisor (advisory committee chair). The most common areas of specialization include research topics in:

    • integrated pest management
    • arthropod biodiversity
    • urban entomology
    • insect physiology
  • Admission Requirements

    (in addition to Graduate School requirements) 

    • A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required. There is no minimum score requirement, but scores exceeding 150 for verbal and quantitative components, and 4.0 on the analytical writing portion, are typical for successful applicants.
    • For students from countries where English is not the official language, TOEFL or IELTS scores must be reported; TOEFL scores should generally exceed 90 (combined) IELTS scores should generally exceed 7.0.
    • Ordinarily, a Master's Degree with a thesis requirement is expected of students applying to the Ph.D. program. Students who wish to transit directly to a Ph.D. degree Program from a B.S. or B.A. must demonstrate competence in independent research and exceptional academic ability.
    • Strong letters of recommendation from at least two referees familiar with the applicant's academic history.

    Other expectations:

    • A Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) or its equivalent in undergraduate coursework during the last two (2) years of continuous enrollment or the last 60 credit hours of discontinuous enrollment (M.S. degree candidates), or a GPA of at least 3.00 or its equivalent in graduate coursework.
    • In nearly all cases, an applicant should have identified and contacted a prospective major advisor from among the Entomology faculty, whose areas of specialization closely correspond to the applicant’s goals, and who should have established some plan for funding the student’s tuition and research work.
    • Some of the above expectations may be offset by other evidence of accomplishments, such as high-quality publications or other evidence of involvement in entomological research; or by strong recommendations by one or more Entomology Graduate Program faculty with whom the student would work.

    All applicants are strongly urged to visit Clemson University and meet the Entomology Graduate Program's faculty, staff, and students.

  • Requirements for Degree

    MS – A minimum of twenty-three (23) semester hours of graduate credit (exclusive of thesis research) and seven (7) semester hours of thesis research (ENT 8910) are required. At least one-half of the total graduate credit hours (exclusive of research credits) required by the advisory committee must be selected from courses numbered at the 8000 level or above.

    Ph.D. – The Graduate School requires that Ph.D. students receive ≥30 hours of coursework beyond the M.S. degree (if previously awarded), or ≥ 60 hours beyond that of the B.S./B.A., if the student has not previously obtained an M.S. Doctoral degree advisory committees are encouraged to require courses other than those that directly support the dissertation research. Twenty-six (26) or more hours of doctoral research (ENT 9910) are required, along with Entomology Graduate Program Core Courses and any other requirements established by the student's Advisory Committee.

    Please reference the complete Entomology Graduate Student Handbook for the full degree requirements.

  • Financial Information

    No Program-specific Fees apply to the Entomology Graduate Program.

    The most common mechanism of support is a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA). Interested students are encouraged to contact prospective advisors regarding GRA availability and eligibility. These assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis directly by the Principal Investigator of each research project.

    Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) are sometimes available but are much less common than GRAs. Some students may have the opportunity to combine GRA and GTA support.

    A few recruitment fellowships and other merit-based scholarships are also available to be awarded on a competitive basis. Prospective advisors should inform interested students of these opportunities as appropriate.

    The Entomology Program is fortunate to have several awards and grant opportunities for enrolled graduate students. Review guidelines and application details for available Assistantships, Fellowships and Awards.

    Assistantships, Fellowships and Awards
  • Job Placement

    Graduates of the Entomology graduate program may enter careers in

    • academia
    • agriculture
    • public and private museum science
    • pest diagnosis and control
    • forestry
    • wildlife biology
    • military and other health management organizations
    • biotechnology
    • a wide variety of government regulatory agencies
  • Contact Information

    Program Coordinator: Dr. Michael S. Caterino
    Email: mcateri@clemson.edu
    Office: E254 Poole Ag. Center
    Phone: 864-656-3105

    Program Admin. Assistant: Ms. Tracy Reynolds
    Email: tracyr@clemson.edu
    Office: Poole 171
    Phone: 864-656-4964

entomology students with a professor looking at specimens.jpeg
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live tarantula on a shirt with the entomology club logo on it

Entomology Club

The Clemson University Entomology Society (Entomology Club) is open to anyone in the Clemson community with an interest in insects. Full-time students make up the core membership, but faculty and staff also participate in Entomology Club events.

Visit the Ent. Club's Website

Graduate Faculty and Staff

Clemson’s Entomology program dates to the University’s founding as the ‘Clemson Agricultural College’. Clemson entomologists take an integrative approach to a diverse array of basic and applied research questions. The program resides within the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, providing students and faculty opportunities for close interactions with a wide variety of environmental and natural resource scientists.

Faculty expertise is concentrated in three Emphasis Areas, Biodiversity, Systematics & Evolution; Agricultural & Applied Ecology; and Urban & Medical Entomology. The Entomology group also supports research programs in Insect Genomics & Physiology and Apiculture.

  • Faculty - Active

    Brett R. Blaauw
    Assistant Professor (UGA/Clemson split appointment)
    Office: 413 Biological Sciences Bldg., Athens, GA
    Phone:
    Email: bblaauw@clemson.edu
    Research:

    • Peach entomology
    • Integrated Pest Management of insects and pollination ecology on peaches, particularly in Georgia and South Carolina

    Thomas R. Bilbo
    Assistant Professor
    Office: Coastal REC, Charleston, SC
    Phone: 843-402-5393
    Email: tbilbo@clemson.edu
    Research:

    •  Sustainable pest control in vegetable and small fruit crops.

    Carlyle C. Brewster
    Professor and PES Chair
    Office: 172 Poole Ag. Center
    Phone: 864-656-4964
    Email: carlylb@clemson.edu
    Research:

    •  Applied Ecology

    Michael S. Caterino
    Professor
    Office: E254 Poole Ag. Center
    Phone: 864-656-3105
    Email: mcateri@clemson.edu
    Research:

    • Biodiversity, Systematics & Evolution
    • Systematics and evolution of beetles; population genetics and phylogeography; insect conservation.

    Juang-Horng Chong
    Professor
    Phone: 843-662-3526 Ext. 224
    Email: juanghc@clemson.edu
    Research:

    • Agriculture/ Applied Ecology & Urban Entomology
    • Ecology, biodiversity and management of insect pests and their natural enemies in turfgrass and ornamental plant systems.

    Elizabeth J. Cieniewicz
    Assistant Professor
    Office: 216 Biosystems Research Complex
    Phone: 864-656-6930
    Email: ecienie@clemson.edu
    Research:

    •  Ecology of plant viruses and virus-vector interactions.

    Jeremy K. Greene
    Professor
    Office: Edisto Res. & Ed. Center
    Phone: 803-284-3343 Ext. 245
    Email: greene4@clemson.edu
    Research:

    • Agriculture/ Applied Ecology
    • Dr. Jeremy Greene has statewide responsibilities for research and Extension programming for insect management in cotton and soybean. 

    Francis P. F. Reay-Jones
    Associate Professor
    Office: Pee-Dee Res. & Ed. Center
    Phone: 843-662-3526 Ext. 208
    Email: freayjo@clemson.edu
    Research:

    • Agriculture/ Applied Ecology
    • Ecology and management of stink bugs. Sampling and spatial ecology. Corn insect pest management. Tobacco insect pest management.

    Matthew W. Turnbull
    Associate Professor
    Office:327 Jordan Hall
    Phone: 864-656-2328
    Email: turnbul@clemson.edu
    Research:

    • Insect Cell Biology & Physiology
    • Insect physiology, immunology, cell biology; evolution and role of gap junctions in development and cellular organization.
  • Faculty – Emeritus

    Peter H. Adler
    Professor Emeritus
    Office: Cherry Farm Insectary
    Phone: 864-656-5044
    Email:  padler@clemson.edu
    Research: 

    • Biodiversity, Systematics & Evolution
    • Ecology of medically important insects, vectors, and pathogens; interactions with endangered vertebrates; ecology, and systematics of black flies; and the butterfly proboscis as a model for nanofluidic medical probes.

    Robert G. Bellinger
    Professor Emeritus
    Office: 258 Poole Ag. Center
    Phone: 864-656-5042
    Email: bbllngr@clemson.edu
    Research: 

    • Agriculture/ Applied Ecology
    • Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator;  Management of on-farm stored grain insects, forage insects, and forest insects; Integrated Pest Management (IPM) 

    Eric P. Benson
    Professor Emeritus
    Office: 266 Poole Ag. Center
    Phone: 864-656-7860
    Email: ebenson@clemson.edu
    Research: 

    • Urban/Medical Entomology
    • Extension and research responsibilities for urban pest management, specializing on termites, bed bugs, cockroaches and ants. Teaching responsibilities include urban entomology,  insect biology and insect diversity. 

    Gerald R. Carner
    Professor Emeritus
    Office: 265 Poole Ag. Center
    Phone: 864-656-5040
    Email: gcarner@clemson.edu
    Research: 

    • Agriculture/ Applied Ecology
    • Insect pathology and microbial control.

    Jay Chapin
    Professor Emeritus
    Office: Edisto Res. & Ed. Center
    Phone: 803-284-3343 Ext. 226
    Email: jchapin@clemson.edu
    Research: 

    • Agriculture/ Applied Ecology
    • Research and extension involving insects of cotton, peanuts, soybeans and wheat.

    Joseph D. Culin
    Professor Emeritus
    Office: 101 Barre Hall
    Phone: 864-656-2810
    Email: jculin@clemson.edu
    Research: 

    • Agriculture/ Applied Ecology
    • Population and community dynamics and arthropod biodiversity; biological control of the hemlock woolly adelgid; and biodiversity surveys in national and state parks in SC. 

    M. Hood
    Professor Emeritus
    Office: ENTOX Center
    Phone: 864-617-2251
    Email: mhood@clemson.edu
    Research: 

    • Apiculture
    • IPM involving pests of honeybees.

    John C. Morse
    Professor Emeritus
    Office: 310 Long Hall
    Phone: 864-656-5049
    Email: jmorse@clemson.edu
    Research: 

    • Biodiversity, Systematics & Evolution
    • Biology and systematics of caddisflies; stream ecology and conservation; and the use of insect communities to monitor water pollution. 

    Merle Shepard
    Professor Emeritus
    Office: Coastal Res. & Ed. Center
    Phone: 843-402-5393
    Email: mshprd@clemson.edu
    Research: 

    • Agriculture/ Applied Ecology
    • IPM and microbial control of insect pests; rice breeding; insect biodiversity of the South Carolina lowcountry. 

    Alfred G. Wheeler, Jr.
    Adjunct Professor
    Office: 261 Poole Ag. Center
    Phone: 864-656-5061
    Email: awhlr@clemson.edu
    Research: 

    • Biodiversity, Systematics & Evolution
    • Ecology of terrestrial Heteroptera, especially Miridae; insects of specialized communities; detection and distribution of adventive insects in North America.

    Geoff Zehnder
    Professor Emeritus
    Office: 162 Poole Ag. Center
    Phone: 864-656-6644
    Email: zehnder@clemson.edu
    Research: 

    • Agriculture/ Applied Ecology
    • Coordinator, IPM and Sustainable Agriculture Programs.

    Patricia A. Zungoli
    Professor Emeritus
    Office: 264 Poole Ag.
    Email: pzngl@clemson.edu
    Research: 

    • Urban/Medical Entomology
    • Ecology and management of insects in the urban environment.
  • Research and Administrative Staff

    Eddie Beard
    Research Technician
    Office: Cherry Farm Insectary
    Phone: 864-656-5070
    Email: cbrd@clemson.edu
    Research assistant, Adler Laboratory of biting fly ecology and systematics. 

    Rex Blanton
    Lab Specialist
    Office: 212 Poole Ag. Center
    Phone: 864-656-3501
    Email: rexb@clemson.edu 
    Research technician; building and grounds maintenance; safety and security coordination of Cherry Farm Insectary, Poole, and McAdams; departmental vehicle maintenance; equipment liaison; lab instructor. 

    Michael Ferro
    CUAC Collection Manager
    Office: 307 Long Hall
    Phone: 864-656-5035
    Email: mferro@clemson.edu
    Overseeing operations of the Clemson University Arthropod Collection; research on systematics and evolution of a wide variety of beetles, particularly those associated with dead wood.

    Tracy Reynolds
    Administrative Assistant
    Office: 171 Poole Ag. Center
    Phone: 864-656-4964
    Email: tracyr@clemson.edu
    Administrative assistance to PES Department Chair; PES graduate programs assistant.

eric benson looking at insects through a glass jar
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