“The quality of the professors is astounding. I’d be looking in scientific journals and almost 100% of the time find my professor’s name. I don’t think I would’ve gotten that from a local state campus, even if they had a program like this.”
Jena Andrus is still beaming weeks after returning to her Utah home following her Gainesville, Florida, graduation ceremony. She’s justifiably proud of her new Master of Science in Entomology and Nematology and Graduate Certificate in Urban Pest Management. The experience of earning these credentials—and walking across the stage to collect them—has been life-changing.
An educator and busy mother of two, Andrus explained the appeal of urban pest management and why only the University of Florida’s online program made the grade for her.
Urban Pest Management: A Field With Great Potential
Choosing the right degree focus is crucial for any career-minded student. So, why did Andrus pursue urban pest management?
“I felt like it had the biggest possibility for employment,” she explained. “There will always be people living in an environment with bugs. So, I felt like it would be job security. And really, I just love bugs so much. It didn’t matter which area I decided to focus on—I knew I would like it.”
What Makes UF’s Online Entomology Program Different?
Andrus explored similar entomology programs but couldn’t match the unique combination of benefits UF offered.
“I chose UF mostly because the program was available 100% online, which was very convenient. All the courses were asynchronous, so I didn’t have a scheduled time.
“[The special lower tuition rate] was a huge advantage to me. I knew upfront that my diploma would not say that I was an online, non-thesis student. They still recognize me as a master’s graduate from the department. I valued that too.”
Andrus acknowledged that reputation was also a key factor in her decision. “I know UF. I respected UF and knew that it was a credentialed, respected university and had some clout versus others [where] people don’t recognize the name.”
Engaging Online Courses and Expert Faculty
Andrus singled out the Urban Pest Management courses, where she saw urban pest management in action, particularly with cockroaches and termites. But it wasn’t just the subject matter that she enjoyed.
“The professors were great. The slide deck was animated and really engaging. As an educator myself, I was just fixated on how the information was presented. It seemed a very modern approach.”
The instructors went beyond typical online instruction, with the subject matter brought to life in an unexpected way.
“They created a video for us where they took a really big cockroach out of the freezer and showed it to a UF professor from another department,” Andrus recalls. “They go above and beyond.”
While completing her degree, Andrus was also thrilled to receive an unexpected gift: a butterfly collection from a late collector’s family. Andrus organized and gathered data on the collection, which includes more than 4,000 butterflies from around the world, for her capstone project. The collection now resides in the Natural History Museum of Utah, where it’s undergoing further study.
An Extensive Professional Network
The program fostered connections that created a global network of pest management professionals for Andrus.
“You kind of learn your classmates’ interests and strengths. I’ve actually referred to some of those classmates outside of the specific class where I met them to help me with other classes. I had a classmate in Costa Rica. There was one in Greece. … And that’s part of going to UF too, is that you know your network is going to be dynamic and great.”
Online Learning Benefits for Different Learning Styles
Andrus found that online classes gave her even more control over her learning experience. “I have a learning disability, so having the ability to pause my professor [was a big advantage]. Having recorded lessons was so helpful, especially for my statistics courses. I prefer the online environment, so I can have that ability.”
Graduation Day: The Ultimate UF Experience
“I finally went to campus for graduation,” Andrus said with great joy. “That was the icing on the cake … And I kind of get emotional about it because this degree was a family endeavor. I have two young children and a husband that travels for his employment.”
“That graduation experience—I just keep telling people I felt like a VIP! All weekend I met my professors. They gave me tours. They spent so much time with me and my family. I was shocked by how complimentary they were of who I am and what I accomplished … I just have the biggest crush on UF still. I love it so much.”
The distance education program’s academic advisor, Allyson Fleischer, guides online students on tours of the department’s facilities, introduces them to their instructors in person, and concludes the visit with a walk-through of the Arthropod Petting Zoo. Zoo highlights include Rosie, the Chilean rose-haired tarantula, Herman (the collective name for the Madagascar hissing roaches), and a variety of other fascinating insect and arthropod friends.
Career Opportunities After Graduation
Andrus is currently a technical writer for a turf research company and adjunct faculty for the botany department of a local college. But she’s looking ahead and well-equipped to succeed wherever her career takes her.
“I definitely think my entomology degree gave me a good foundation, especially since I didn’t have any in UPM,” she said. “It gave me great resources to refer back to. There are so many different bugs, and you can’t keep track of them all. But it helped teach me how to find information. I feel like I would be a great new hire!”
Advice for Future UF Online Entomology Students
What would Andrus tell prospective students? “I highly, highly, highly recommend it. I tell everybody I can about it. I feel like I’m the biggest advocate for the program and the school. I had such an incredible experience. It can be difficult, but learning and growing and developing are supposed to be that way. Just do it! Yes, yes, yes! And stay motivated. You have to have buy-in from your community, whether that’s your family or your friends.”
See all four UF online entomology degree specializations now.
