Masters degrees in Pest Science equip postgraduates with a working knowledge of different varieties of pests, their roles as disease vectors and agents of damage, and how to manage them appropriately.
Related postgraduate subjects and specialisms include Infectious Diseases, Public Health Science, Parasitology and Entomology - as well as more vocational topics such as Pest Control and Agricultural Manegement. Entry requirements normally include an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject.
Are you interested in crop protection and sustainable agriculture? Are you looking for a research career working in agriculture and related areas? Do you want to do something positive for the environment? Then this is the postgraduate course for you:
The continuing production of safe, wholesome food in an environmentally sensitive manner is a major political issue for national governments and internationally within global commodity markets. A report produced by the UK Cabinet Office in 2008 (Food Matters: Towards a Strategy for the 21st Century) predicts that the global population will rise to 9Bn by 2050 rising from a current estimate of nearly 6.8Bn. This increase in population size will substantially increase the demand for food. The global estimates vary in magnitude, but it is thought approximately 25% of crops are lost to pests and diseases, such as insects, fungi and other plant pathogens (FAO Crop Prospects and Food Situation 2009).
The Crop Pest and Disease Management course will offer students training in techniques to facilitate crop food production. The course covers a broad range of topics in applied entomology, plant pathology and nematology and all students receive training in fundamental skills which will enable them to enter either a pest/disease management work environment or a research career in applied entomology, plant pathology or pest management. There is, however, considerable flexibility within the course thus enabling each student to focus on specialist subjects consistent with their interests and future career intentions.
Research projects are available in a wide range of subjects covered by the research groups within the Crop and Environment Sciences Department and choices are made in consultation with expert staff. Projects at linked research institutes in the UK and overseas are also available. The course is underpinned by an extensive programme of research at Harper Adams and long-standing collaborations with research institutes and other organisations in the UK and overseas.
A distinctive and integral feature of our MSc is the high degree of input from entomologists, plant pathologists and pest managers in collaborating governmental organizations and commercial biological control companies. This participation takes a variety of forms, including guest lectures, field visits and specific training courses, but may also include providing research projects in their organizations.
Examples of collaborating organizations include, CEH Wallingford, Forest Research, Horticultural Development Company, The International Pesticide Application Research Centre, The Natural History Museum London, Rothamsted Research, and Wye Bugs.
Having completed the MSc you will be able to identify the underlying causes of major pest and disease problems and recognize economically important insects, plant diseases and weeds.
You will also be able to apply integrated pest control methods and oversee their application. The course will focus on the ecological and management principles of pest control and you will learn to evaluate the consequences of pesticide use and application on the biological target. You will also receive training in the evaluation of the economic and environmental costs of integrated approaches to pest control in relation to biological effectiveness. Ultimately, the course will enable students to produce integrated pest and disease management solutions that pay due regard to agricultural, horticultural, social and environmental requirements.
In addition, there is considerable flexibility enabling each student to focus on specialist subjects consistent with their interests and future career intentions
The research project for the MSc will allow you to test hypotheses relevant to pest and disease management research by designing, carrying out, analysing and interpreting experiments or surveys. You will learn to evaluate and interpret data and draw relevant conclusions from existing pest and disease management case studies.
The MSc covers a broad range of topics relevant to pest and disease management and all students receive training in fundamental skills which will enable them to enter a vocational work environment or pursue a research career. There is, however, considerable flexibility enabling each student to focus on specialist subjects consistent with their interests and future career intentions.
The Horticultural Development Council typically fund three bursaries each of £5,000 to support the MSc IPM course. Visit the scholarship page for further details and application information.
The full-time and two year part-time courses are eligible for a postgraduate loan.
(Reaping the benefits: Science and the sustainable intensification of global agriculture - October 2009, Royal Society)
This programme is delivered jointly by the School and the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). It addresses a broad range of topics under the One Health paradigm and provides a foundation in the principles of diseases in the context of sociological systems, global health and food safety. Students develop skills related to methodology, transdisciplinary interactions and using a systems approach.
This course is also available as a Postgraduate Diploma
Graduates from this programme will have the knowledge and skills provided by experienced scientists in order to be able to respond rapidly and effectively to outbreaks of disease as well as controlling endemic disease at the interface between humans, animals and the environment.
Visit the website https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/one-health
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- understand the One Health concept and approach problem solving using a transdisciplinary methodology
- understand the origin, context and drivers of infectious disease at the human, animal and environment interface
- evaluate impacts of multi-host infections on human, animal and ecosystem health and economics directly, or indirectly via food, vectors or the environment
- develop a One Health systems approach to complex disease issues in monitoring, surveillance, diagnosis, prevention and control
- critically review published literature
- design and complete a research project (MSc only)
Term 1:
There is a one-week orientation period that includes an introduction to studying at the School and the Royal Veterinary College, followed by four compulsory modules:
- Foundations of One Health
- Introduction to Disease Agents for One Health
- Infectious Disease Emergence
- Introduction to One Health Epidemiology
Terms 2 and 3:
All students take three compulsory modules:
- One Health Economics
- One Health Skills
- Medical Anthropology and Public Health
In addition, students choose a fourth module from the following:
- Vector Biology and Vector-Parastite Interactions
- Environmental Epidemiology
- Epidemiology and Control of Communicable Diseases
- Globalisation and Health
Project report (MSc only):
During the summer months (July - August), students complete a research project on a topic in one health, for submission by early September.
Assessment:
Assessment takes place by eight end-of-module examinations, in-course assignments and by project report and an oral examination.
Undergraduate medical students can take a year out either to pursue related studies or work. The School welcomes applications from medical students wishing to intercalate after their third year of study from any recognised university in the world.
Why intercalate with us?:
Reputation: The School has an outstanding international reputation in public health & tropical medicine and is at the forefront of global health research. It is highly rated in a number of world rankings including:
- World’s leading research-focused graduate school (Times Higher Education World Rankings, 2013)
- Third in the world for social science and public health (US News Best Global Universities Ranking, 2014)
- Second in UK for research impact (Research Exercise Framework 2014)
- Top in Europe for impact (Leiden Ranking, 2015)
Highly recognised qualification: possessing a Master's from the School will give you a focused understanding of health and disease, broaden your career prospects and allow you to be immersed in research in a field of your choice.
Valuable skills: you will undertake an independent research project (summer project) in your chosen topic, equipping you with research skills that will distinguish you in a clinical environment. While your medical qualification will give you a breadth of knowledge; undertaking an intercalated degree will allow you to explore your main area of interest in greater depth.
Alumni network: the School has a strong international and diverse alumni community, with more than 20,000 alumni in over 180 countries.
MSc vs. BSc: undertaking an MSc is an excellent opportunity to develop in-depth specialist knowledge in your chosen topic and enhance your skills in scientific research. Postgraduate qualifications are increasingly sought after by clinicians and possessing a Masters qualification can assist you in your future career progression.
Find out how to apply here - http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/onehealth.html#sixth
Foodborne diseases are a growing public health concern worldwide. The contamination of food with microorganisms or chemicals may occur at any stage in the process from food production to consumption (“farm to fork”) and as a result of environmental contamination, including pollution of water, soil or air. The global burden of foodborne diseases worldwide is very high affecting every year around 600 million people with 420,000 deaths. Therefore, the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted the importance of producing safe food that saves human lives, saves resources and has a positive impact on the economy of every country.
This is a online learning programme aimed at students with relevant agricultural and food related background keen to acquire in-depth knowledge on food safety. The MSc is specifically designed to provide a true holistic food safety approach to the food chain that incorporates to the pre and post-harvest stages of food production, crop safety, animal welfare and economics of the supply chain.
This programme would be suitable for those with an undergraduate degree in agricultural sciences, biological science, food systems, veterinary medicine and human medicine, as well as professionals from agriculture, rural industries, the food industry, government officials, international organisations, researchers in food safety and the third sector.
Year 1 will consist of 4 core courses: Food Supply Chain and Food Safety, Data Analysis for Food Safety, Food Safety Hazards and Food Safety Management Systems, Food Production Systems. These courses will be developed and delivered by specialists in the field from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (RDSVS), the Roslin Institute and the Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). Students successfully completing Year 1 and exiting the programme will be awarded a PG Certificate (PG Cert) in Food Safety.
Year 2 will consist of 2 core courses: Food Processing and Waste Management, and Research Methods and Statistics. You will also choose 2 to 3 elective courses (10 or 20 credits) from the Postgraduate Taught (PGT) portfolio of courses. These include: Zoonotic Disease, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Animal Welfare and Food Production and Food Security.
Students successfully completing Year 1 and 2 and exiting the programme will be awarded with a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Food Safety.
Year 3 will consist of a final dissertation to gain the award of MSc.
Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through a postgraduate-level course(s), without the time or financial commitment of a full Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.
All applicants must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of their English language ability:
Degrees taught and assessed in English must be no more than three years old at the beginning of your degree programme. Language tests must be no more than two years old at the beginning of your degree programme.
Find out more about our language requirements:
