Concerned about how insects impact human and animal health? Want to use your expertise to make a difference? The medical entomology specialization in UF’s online entomology graduate program was designed for busy professionals like you.
Prepare to shine in public health, entomology and related fields. Our flexible online programs let you tailor coursework to your professional and personal interests. (And yes, UF has the world’s top-ranked entomology and nematology program!)
Dr. Cynthia Lord, associate professor, helped us break down both of UF’s online medical entomology programs, plus career paths and advantages.
Quick Facts
- 100% online
- No GRE required
- Year-round start dates
- Virtual, at-home and optional in-person labs
Medical Entomology Degree and Certificate Options
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What is medical entomology?”, we’ve got a simple answer: integrated pest management through a public health lens. Medical entomologists use science to control disease-carrying insects and protect communities.
UF students can pick from two online graduate medical entomology programs:
- Graduate Certificate in Medical Entomology (15 credits)
- Standalone credential with practical applications for working professionals
- Master’s Degree (30 credits)
- Entomology master’s degree that includes the medical entomology graduate certificate
- Earn both credentials at graduation
In both programs, you’ll explore:
- Which insects make humans and animals sick
- How mosquito populations grow
- Ways to identify disease-causing arthropods
Who Should Earn UF’s Master’s Degree in Medical Entomology?
Dr. Lord recommends this master’s degree specialization if you want to:
- Pursue a research or education career
- Work in public health
- Go on to a related doctoral program
“It’s really about people’s interests and the career path they’re in,” Dr. Lord said. “For many careers, the master’s will give them a better advantage. For some, the certificate will give them what they need, particularly for more entry-level jobs. And then they can see what they need going forward.”
Who Should Earn UF’s Graduate Certificate in Medical Entomology?
Dr. Lord recommends the graduate certificate for those who:
- Don’t want to complete a capstone/research project
- Want to learn new skills without committing to a degree
- Are undecided about the medical entomology field
She also noted a unique perk for graduates of the certificate program: upgrading to the master’s program and transferring your earned credits. “It’s very easy to apply and enroll in the master’s, combine them and finish off that way.”
Why Medical Entomology Jobs Are Growing
Is now a good time to specialize in medical entomology? Absolutely.
Climate change is expanding the habitat and population of biting insects like mosquitoes. This can increase the spread of vector-borne diseases — a battle that public health professionals will have to lead.
Careers in Medical Entomology
Earn your medical entomology degree or certificate online with UF and qualify for public health-related roles in areas like:
- Medical, veterinary or forensic entomology
- Epidemiology
- Mosquito control
Dr. Lord emphasizes that pursuing medical entomology won’t limit your options—it will give you even more ways to make an impact. “Even though the specialty sounds narrow, there’s a really wide range of things that it intersects with … A lot of people that it’ll be useful for — especially if they have some interest in public health.”
Graduates can find new opportunities or expand their skills in diverse research and education roles like:
- Biologist
Study pest control effectiveness. - Military medical entomologist
Protect troops during training and field operations. - Research technician
Collect insects and conduct experiments. - Lab manager
Oversee lab operations and ensure safety and regulatory compliance. - Teacher
Get ideas for your own entomology course materials. - Extension agent (faculty)
Use what you learn to educate the public.
Explore more medical entomology jobs here.
Why Choose UF’s Online Medical Entomology Program?
Dr. Lord highlighted our:
- Diverse, accessible faculty
- Flexible curriculum
- Unique offerings
“UF has the largest entomology department in the country,” Dr. Lord explained. “We also have one of the largest combined entomology and nematology departments in the world. So, you’ve got a broad range of expertise, which provides a lot of depth for people looking to do a capstone project.”
Online Access to Exceptional Staff and Facilities
Dr. Lord praised UF’s diverse entomology faculty, all of whom hold multiple roles. There are coordinators for each specialization and one for distance education.
“We also have the Florida Medical Entomology Lab — about 10 researchers who all focus on medical entomology,” she said. “We have people ranging from field biologists to molecular geneticists to various types of modelers all working on some aspect of the field.”
Project Collaboration With Top Researchers
Dr. Lord emphasized how valuable a resource UF’s faculty are to students, even beyond the virtual classroom:
“Students looking to do the capstone are free to contact any faculty in the department and ask if they’re willing to be their capstone chair. We have many people who do this for the medical entomology program specifically.”
“The format of the capstone is pretty open,” Dr. Lord said. “It can be essentially a research project if that’s what students want to do and they’ve arranged for local facilities.”
There’s even a course with a live, in-person lab component for those able to attend.
An Online Program Only UF Offers
For Dr. Lord, there’s one reason to choose UF’s online medical entomology programs that’s more compelling than all the others: They’re one of a kind.
“In terms of medical entomology, there really isn’t anything like it,” she said. “To my knowledge, there’s no other certificate or master’s distance program. Some have specific courses, but not the longer certificate or full master’s program.”
How This UF Program Can Help You Make a Difference
The world needs more trained medical entomology professionals. Climate change is expanding insect habitats, vector-borne diseases are spreading — and there aren’t enough qualified people to fight them. Together, these factors create a major global health threat.
As Dr. Lord showed us, there are many ways you can be part of the solution. All of them start with a UF medical entomology degree or certificate.
