The Master of Plant Protection and Pest Management (MPPPM) at the University of Georgia is a hands-on, non-thesis professional master’s degree designed to prepare students for careers in Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Started in 1973, it has a long track record of helping graduates land jobs in a wide range of IPM-related fields. In fact, it was one of the very first programs of its kind in the U.S.
The MPPPM program is not a research-oriented degree. While there is no thesis requirement, an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) oriented internship is part of the program of study.
Although students pursuing the MPPPM degree can be located on the Athens, Griffin or Tifton campuses, this program is not an online degree program. Most courses will require a physical, on-campus presence for lectures and laboratory sections.
What are the goals of the MPPPM program?
· To produce graduates with comprehensive, multidisciplinary training in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of insect, plant disease, and weed pests of agricultural, commercial, and home commodities.
· To train students to be proficient in solving the types of pest management problems routinely encountered by growers and other agricultural professionals, as well as urban pest control.
· To teach IPM using a blend of pest control strategies including pesticides, transgenic crops, cultural operations, and biological control.
What are career opportunities with a MPPPM degree?
MPPPM graduates are trained for employment as IPM professionals across a wide range of industries, including the pest control sector, pesticide and fertilizer services, Cooperative Extension, and government or regulatory agencies. They are also well-prepared for careers in crop protection services, greenhouse and controlled-environment agriculture facilities, and as research technicians supporting academic, private, or industry-based research programs. Many go on to work with leading IPM-focused companies such as Syngenta, BASF, Bayer Crop Science, and Corteva Agriscience, as well as with innovative ag-tech startups and environmental consulting firms.
What is the internship requirement?
Since the MPPPM program is a professional degree, an internship is required instead of research for a thesis. The internship is designed to strengthen a student’s background in IPM and to provide practical experience, such as with a research scientist, the agrichemical industry, or the Cooperative Extension service.
Prior to the internship, the student will meet with their advising professor and discuss aspects such as the general mission of the employer, nature of anticipated work, and goals of the institution related to IPM. These and other types of information will need to be collected during the internship for inclusion in a written report. If possible, the student and advising professor should meet 4 to 6 weeks after initiation of employment and evaluate the student’s progress. It may be desirable to alter the original goals and to be observant for different IPM principles during the remainder of the internship. Internships should be completed by the first week of the last term in the student’s program of study. An internship report is required and should be reasonable concise, substantial in character, and reflective of biological principles related to IPM.
What exams are required?
- Program admission:
- The GRE is NOT required for the MPPPM degree. Other requirements and admissions procedures can be found on UGA’s Graduate School website. International applicants can find information and resources here.
- Program graduation:
- In addition to the internship report, students must complete exit exams in each of the three disciplines (Crop & Soil Sciences, Entomology, and Plant Pathology) at the end of their last semester.
What are the graduation requirements?
The MPPPM program consists of 33 graduate credit hours with at least a 3.0 GPA in addition to the internship report and exit exams.