Degree Overview
Smart solutions for safer food
Pest management does not mean poisoning food—period. Our Master’s Specialization trains students in science-based, environmentally responsible practices like Integrated Pest Management (IPM), precision agriculture, and ecosystem-based strategies. It’s about making data-driven decisions to protect crops, reduce chemical use, and support sustainable food systems. We’re educating tech-savvy scientists, not just applicators—people who think critically about food safety, environmental impact, and global agricultural sustainability.
Learn to sustain our food supply and provide agricultural biosecurity
Insects, plant diseases, and weeds cause major annual losses in food production worldwide. The Pest Management M.S. degree is the only internship-based M.S. in the United States that provides training on all biotic stresses faced in food production, including entomology, plant pathology, and weed science.
The Pest Management M.S. degree is a Plan B M.S. coursework and internship-based program that prepares students to work to sustain our food and fiber supply, provide agricultural biosecurity, and protect our natural ecosystems from pests, plant diseases, and weeds. Students complete coursework, an internship, and a professional paper.
A systems-based emphasis on environmental sustainability
At the core of this program is a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. Sustainability isn't an afterthought — it's woven throughout the curriculum. Courses such as Advanced Integrated Pest Management, Herbicide Selectivity and Action, Environmental Plant Stress Physiology, and Soils and Global Change underscore the program’s focus on managing pests while protecting ecosystems. Students learn how to reduce chemical dependency, support pollinator health, and align pest control strategies with sustainable agricultural practices.
Whether applying molecular science to pest resistance or developing ecological approaches to invasive species, students are prepared to lead efforts in protecting both crop productivity and the long-term health of our environment.
A career path with growing industry demand
There is a great need for people with advanced training in agriculture and food systems, and the number of people currently prepared to work in these fields is lower than the number of jobs available.
Top 1%
of universities worldwide, according to The Center for World University Rankings.
85%
of CSU grads secure a job related to their career plans within six months of graduation.
A+
More than nine out of ten Rams would select CSU again.
17:1
Average student-to-faculty ratio.