Integrated Pest Management Curriculum at Mississippi State University
Overview
Five concentrations allow students to gain additional expertize in one area of pest management. Within the IPM curriculum, each student selects one concentration. The basic curriculum is the same for all concentrations, but the courses available as restricted electives (17 credits) differ for each concentration, allowing students to specialize in the area of pest management that interests them.
Agricultural Resources – Ideal for one preparing for crop consulting and related fields.
Agricultural Business – Designed for the pest manager who also needs business skills.
Applied Precision Agricuture – Develops skills in site-specific pest management.
Environmental Resources – Designed for pest managers of natural and forested habitats.
Urban Resources – Provides pest management training for urban and surburban landscapes.
Curriculum
Freshman YearPlant Pathology Fund. of Public Speaking
Survey of Chemistry I & II Principles of Zoology
Experimental Chemistry Intro. to Ag. Economics
English Composition I & II Computer Elective
College Algebra
Sophomore YearGeneral Entomology Small Group Comm.
Fine Arts Elective Intro. to Plant Pathology
Soils Intro. to Statistical Infl
Elem. Organic Chemisry Social/Behav. Sci. Elective
Humanities Electives(1,2) Co-op Experience(1)
Junior YearGeneral Plant Physiology Genetics I
Intro. to Technical Writing Restricted Electives(1,2)
Weed Biology & Ecology Unrestricted Electives(1,2)
Prin. of Insect Pest Mgt. Co-op Experiences(2,3)
Senior YearDiseases of Crops Plant Diseases Mgt.
Herbicide Technology Senior Seminar
Soil Fert. & Fertilizers Restricted Electives(3,4,5)
Gen. Plant Ecology Unrestricted Electives(3,4)
Co-op Program
An integral part of the IPM curriculum is the required cooperative work program. These scheduled work semesters allow students an opportunity to gain practical experience through productive employment under realistic, competitive circumstances. It also provides students with a means to apply and test the theory and training they have received in the classroom.
Through the co-op program, students network with others in their field and develop contacts and references that can be utilized for years to come. Co-op students are compensated by their employer with wages determined by the employer.
Tags: ag economics, agricuture, crop consulting, experimental chemistry, expertize, pest managers, plant physiology, unrestricted electives, urban resources, weed biology