MSU Entomology Welcomes Largest Freshman Cohort in Department History
Print
EmailThis fall, the Department of Entomology has welcomed the largest group of first-year majors in the department’s 119-year history.
The 2025–26 school year is underway, and Michigan State University (MSU) Entomology has welcomed the largest group of first-year majors in the department’s 119-year history.
This fall, 15 new entomology majors and 12 minors are joining Team Emerald Ash Borer, bringing the department’s total number of undergraduate majors across to 48.
Enrollment has grown steadily in recent years, with the number of admitted students nearly doubling over the past three years. Likewise, the total number of majors in the department has doubled in that same time.
This increase in interest may reflect rising awareness of sustainable agriculture and the critical role insects play in ecosystems.
"One of the superpowers of entomology as a science is that we work on arthropods across all scales, from microscopic genes to vast landscapes,” says Entomology Chairperson Hannah Burrack. “Students have the opportunity to learn across all these scales—looking at the organisms that are everywhere and touch every part of our lives! I think this tangible, real-world connection is very appealing to students looking at college programs.”
MSU Entomology is a national and international leader in the study of arthropod biology, ecology and management. The department offers Bachelor of Science degrees (major or minor), as well as master’s and doctoral programs. Faculty, students and staff conduct research with real-world impact, from agriculture to natural and urban ecosystems, and share their expertise across Michigan through Extension and worldwide through global collaborations. Graduates of MSU Entomology go on to lead in agriculture, policy, education and science.
As enrollment grows, so does the department’s commitment to equipping students with the tools to make lasting contributions in science, policy and education.
