The WSU Department of Entomology has for over 50 years had tremendous impact on Washington state agriculture, education, and scientific knowledge. The work of our faculty and trainees has resulted in providing solutions to important agricultural and ecological problems in our state, nation and world. With over 300 specialty crops in Washington state, the work of our entomologists impacts every mouthful of food that people around the world eat. Our entomologists are also at the forefront of ensuring that our food supply and environment are safe and productive. We teach hundreds of undergraduates every year in courses ranging from Entomology 101: Insects and People to Entomology 539: Taxonomic Entomology. The full course list can be found here.
Our outstanding faculty lead several important and nationally recognized programs including the Washington Storm Water Center, the Washington State Decision Aid Systems, the Washington State Integrated Pest Management Extension Implementation Program, and the Washington State Pesticide Resource and Education Program.
WSU is an exceptional place to study and conduct research because of our facilities including greenhouses, an apiary, well-equipped labs, the Honey Bee & Pollinator Research, Extension, and Education Facility in Othello, and the 3+ million specimen M. T. James Entomological Collection & Museum, and access to grower fields and over 10,000 acres of farms across Washington state.
Our faculty are housed at the main campus in Pullman, one of our branch campuses in Tri-Cities, and at Research and Extension Centers throughout the state. The diversity of our faculty, both in terms of geographic distribution and discipline provide students exceptional classroom and research opportunities. Additionally, we have a group of exceptional affiliate and adjunct faculty, several of which are located at the USDA/ARS Yakima Agricultural Research Lab located in Wapato, Washington, with whom students may study.
The Department of Entomology’s Signature Areas and Initiatives are: (1) biocontrol, biodiversity and conservation, (2) arthropod integrated pest management and education, and (3) pollinator biology. Recently we have added courses and in Public Health-One Health entomology and Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management.
We encourage you to explore your options and opportunities with Entomology at Washington State University.