DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY
GRADUATE PROGRAM

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  DECEMBER 15

Under exceptional circumstances, students may apply and be admitted at other times of the year. Please consult with the current Director of Graduate Studies, David Ragsdale

Minimum Admission Requirements

In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School, students should have a firm background in biology, with fundamentals of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biochemistry. Opportunities exist early in a student's program to take background courses, including a general course in entomology, if some undergraduate course work is lacking. A 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for undergraduate work, and 3.5 for prior graduate work are the preferred performance levels for admission.

Graduate Record Exams (GRE’s) are required for admission. Our preferred performance level on the GRE’s is about the 70th percentile in each of the Verbal and Quantitative exams; however, admissions decisions are not based solely on GRE scores. We consider all credentials provided in the application packet in reaching an individual admission decision for each applicant. 

For non-English speaking students, a minimum score on the TOEFL exam of 550 (or 213 on the computer-based exam), 80 on the MELAB, or 6.5 on the IELTS is the preferred performance level for admission. For more information on these tests see the Graduate School's web page at http://www.grad.umn.edu/prospective_students/Application_Information/TOEFL.html

Admission to our department is contingent on academic potential, and the ability of a potential advisor to provide multi-year funding.

Application Forms

1.  The first step is to apply online using the Graduate School's Web application. 

•  Graduate School On-line Application

Make sure to request three (3) letters of recommendation.  These letters can be submitted on-line.  If the letters will be mailed, please ensure the letters are sent directly to the Department of Entomology.

2.  The second step is to complete an additional form specific to our Entomology program:  Prospective Grad Student Information(pdf file)

3.  The final step is to make sure you have the following items sent directly to the Department of Entomology:

• Letters of Recommendation (3 required)
• If these forms are sent on-line, they will automatically be available to Entomology. If mailed, they should be sent to the Entomology address.
• Copies of transcripts from all previous academic work.
• Original transcripts should be sent to the Graduate School. However, we request that you please send unofficial copies directly to Entomology to facilitate the application process.

• GRE scores
  • Please have your GRE scores sent to Entomology

ENTOMOLOGY ADDRESS:
Director of Graduate Studies
University of Minnesota
Department of Entomology
219 Hodson Hall
1980 Folwell Ave.
St Paul, Minnesota 55108