MASTER OF SCIENCE (ENTOMOLOGY)

Study Duration
Minimum 2 semesters (1 year)
Maximum 4 semesters (2 years)

Intake
Intake – 2 times a year (March & October)
*subjected to UKM academic calendar

STPD6024 Research Methodology
This course provides guidance in planning, implementing and succeed in scientific research. Students are introduced to the philosophy of science and ethics necessary to be adopted by researchers. Students are given exposure to determine and manage risks in scientific research. Apart from that, issues and rules related to research such as intellectual property, copyright, plagiarism etc. will be discussed.  Subsequently, students are guided to plan their research and prepare a research proposal. For this, students are trained with techniques in information search both manually and on-line, identifying issues and research objectives, planning research and experimental design within their period of study. Students are required to prepare their research proposal according to the format and free from plagiarism. Students are given the opportunity to present and defend their proposal in a seminar. Students will be evaluated based on written and oral presentation of the research proposal, and final examination

STAB6614 Insect Systematics
The course will first discuss the introduction of systematics, its historical development and systematic activities including the systematics of Malaysian insects. Students will be exposed to ways on how to increase their knowledge on taxonomy by studying the principles and concepts of systematics which involve grouping, classification and naming according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). They will also be exposed to aspects of evolution, ecology, ethology, biogeography and other related aspects. To really understand the systematic activities, three major aspects will also be emphasized, namely the morphological characters, reproductive and molecule (DNA). An introduction and application of computer software such as PAUP will be taught especially in erecting a phylogenetic tree of a given insect group. Students will be requested to write taxonomic manuscripts and erect a phylogenetic tree of their own selected insect group or taxa, which in turn will be their term paper for this course.

STAB6624 Insect Ecology
This course will discuss the habit and role of insects from an ecological perspective. The discussion on the ecological aspects that cover insect growth, development, survival, reproduction, role of host, abiotic and biotic factors, adaptation, genetic variation, life support system and distribution pattern in nature and for application perspective will be heavily emphasized. The concept of insects in ecosystem, diversity and tropic structure, role as decomposer, pollinator, vector and the dynamic and regulator of insect pest population will also be discussed. The diversity and conservation aspects with examples of highly valuable insects ecologically, economically, medicinal and aesthetic as well as those of protected species will also be discussed.

STAB6633 Insect Morphology and Anatomy
This course discusses external and internal structure of insects as insects (arthropods with body divided into 3: head, thorax and abdomen) that have basic structures and appendages with modifications/ adaptations which enable insects to function, survive, and adapt as organisms most successful and diverse on this earth, in the context as basic understanding of insect biology, ecology, classification and physiology. Of those discussed include: structure, body wall (exoskeleton), segmentation; structure and appendages in head (including eyes, antennae, mouthparts and feeding mode adaptation), thorax, (including wings and flight, legs and movement, spiracles and respiration) and abdomen (including spiracles, reproductive appendages, genitalia and non-reproductive). Exposed includes knowledge of internal structures: endoskeleton, muscular system, (and movement); digestive system (according to feeding mode); circulatory system (opened and blood); respiratory system (tracheal, terrestrial, aquatic and parasitic); excretory system; reproductive system (male and female) and development; nervous system (and sensory organs).

STAB6673 Molecular Entomology
Molecular entomology will give the opportunity to students to keep abreast with current trend of using molecular biology tools to comprehend better understanding about insects. Students will be exposed to techniques of how to manipulate insect for disease control both on human and crops as well to improve integrated insect pest management programme. As such, this course will initially introduce students with a basic knowledge of molecular biology of insects
and other eucaryotic organisms followed by how to apply the molecular technologies and biotechnologies to entomological topics including molecular genetic of insect behavior, systematics and evolution, transfection of plant with insecticidal genes, transgenic insect,
improving virulence of biological control and molecular mechanism of pesticides resistant. Analysis of molecular processes unique to insects, and their potentials for genetic engineering will also be taught. This course will exclusively be taught by lectures and discussions. Students
will also have the opportunity to visit a molecular biology laboratory to exchange views with other molecular biology students and they use molecular biology tools in their work.

STAB6644 Insect Pest Management
This course will discuss the principles of Integrated Insect Pest Management (IPM). The important components that ensure the success of IPM, such as basic biology, ecology, insect behavior, biotic and abiotic factors, types of damage, economic threshold levels, monitoring, sampling, strategies and techniques of pest control that are environmental friendly using biological control agents (predators, parasitoids, pathogens and microbial insecticides) will be discussed. Students will also be introduced to the concept of on-line and modeling
development for ‘Integrated Pest Management Program’ (IPM), and how best to implement (including on aspects of agricultural law) and evaluate socially, politically and environmentally acceptable in a borderless economic era. The law of pesticide development, usage and selling and aspect of insect quarantine will also be discussed. Additionally, students will be introduced to contributions of biotechnology methods and techniques to the progress and success of IPM. At the end of the course students are required to develop an IPM for the current three species of major insect pests of their selected crops.

STAB6654 Insect Physiology
This course will discuss the internal processes that make it possible for an insect to survive and reproduce. The basic physiological processes in insect include nutrition and digestion, excretion (salt and water balance), respiratory and circulatory system, reproduction, muscle and movement, sensory and nervous systems, as well as exo- and endo-drine systems. Students will also learn about the electrical events in cells, fat content and its metabolisme, integument and molting process, brain and sensory intergration in coordinating physiology and functions. Students will also be exposed to the molecular aspects of egg yolk and chitin development as well as insect resistance to chemical and microbiological insecticides. At the end of the course, students are required to write a term paper of a chosen topic related to insect physiology.    

STAB6664 Medical and Urban Entomology
This course will discuss the introduction and classification of insect of medical importance (human, domestic and husbandry animals), structural insect pests as well as those infesting food, stored products and other materials. Students will also be exposed to biological, ecological and behavioral aspects of medical and urban insect pests, and the latest control approaches (integrated management) especially using methods and strategies that are environmental friendly, easy to be used, cheap and socially acceptable. In addition, legal aspects and the impact of each control method to the economy and politics will also be discussed. The discussion will focus more on mosquitoes, flies (including Drosphila melanagaster), cockroaches, termite, fleas, bedbug, tick and mites. Visit to centres or research institutes related to this course will be conducted to give opportunity to students to relate what is taught in classes with what has been or being done to insects of medical, urban
or structural, stored product importance. At the end of the course students are required to prepare a term paper with the topic of their choice related to insects that have been discussed in this course.

• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field with minimum CGPA 2.50 or equivalent, from any institutions of higher learning  recognized by the UKM Senate; or
• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field with minimum CGPA 2.00 – 2.49 or equivalent, with minimum of 5 years working experience or research project in relevant field. Proof of the working experience of a foreign candidate should be acknowledge by the embassy of the respective country; or
• Fulfill Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL A) for local candidates only:
  • should be more than 30 years of age in the year of application; and
  • possess at least STPM or diploma in relevant field or other equivalent qualification recognized by the Government of Malaysia and approved by the UKM Senate; and
  • possess a certificate of MQA APEL with MQF Level 7

• An international student shall obtain minimum results of either

  1. Higher Education English Test (HEET) score 7, or
  2. TOEFL iBT score 46 or
  3. IELTS band 5.5 or
  4. An international student who comes from a country where English is the official language, or
     who has obtained academic qualifications from any institution of higher learning that uses
     English as the medium of instruction may be exempted from the requirement for HEET /
     TOEFL / IELTS).

• Medical or Public Health Entomologists
• Forensic Entomologists
• Research Entomologists
• Agricultur al Entomologists