Students who specialize in pests, pathogens, and invasive species are prepared to design and implement pest management programs and conduct basic and applied research using multidisciplinary approaches. Students receive interdisciplinary education in entomology, plant pathology, weed science and invasive species management.
Student Learning Objectives
Upon completing the BS in Tropical Agriculture and the Environment, students will be able to..
Demonstrate the ability to identify problems associated with agriculture, and apply the scientific method and practices to develop sustainable solutions from urban to rural environments.
Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate scientific evidence, identify gaps in knowledge, and apply evidence-based arguments to solve issues associated with agriculture in a dynamic world.
Demonstrate responsible and ethical conduct, leadership, collaboration, respect for a diversity of viewpoints, and the capacity for life-long learning appropriate to professional and community-based practices.
Demonstrate understanding of the science of agriculture and its interaction with the environment from molecules to ecosystems.
Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written communication for both professional and general audiences.
Pests, Pathogens, and Invasive Species Advisors
Contact for assistance with course selection, career advising, or any curriculum inquiries.
AgroSecurity – Dr. Michael Melzer
Sustainable Pest Management – Dr. Koon Hui Wang
Pathogen Biology – Dr. Miaoying Tian
Program Documents
General Education Requirements
Students must complete the UH Mānoa General Education Requirements, alternatives are available to the Hawaiian/Second Language requirement. An updated list of the courses recommended to satisfy the requirements is available from the undergraduate advisor. Courses at 200-level or above usually require prerequisites.
The TAE core course requirements:
- TPSS 200 (SUST 211) [DB] – Agriculture, Environment, and Society
- BIOL 265 [DB] – Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- NREM 310 – Statistics in Agriculture and Human Resources
- or HDFS 380 | 380 L – Research Methodology / Research Methodology Lab
- TPSS (NREM) 304 | 304 L (DP | DY) – Fundamentals of Soil Science / Fundamentals of Soil Science Lab
- PEPS 421 [DB] – Foundations of Pest Management
- TPSS 470 – 470L (DY) – Plant Physiology / Plant Physiology Lab
- PEPS 495 – Capstone Project
- TPSS 499 – Directed Studies
‣ Students are required to complete 120 credits to graduate with a BS in TAE.
Requirements for the Specialization in Pests, Pathogens, and Invasive Species
Students selecting this option must complete the following courses:
- MATH 140 – Precalculus: Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry
- or NREM 203 – Applied Calculus for Management, Life Sciences, and Human Resources
- *BIOL 171 – 171L – Introduction to Biology / Introduction to Biology Lab
- and *BIOL 172 – 172L – Introduction to Biology II / Introduction to Biology II Lab
- *CHEM 161 – 161L – General Chemistry I / General Chemistry I Lab
- and *CHEM 162 – 162L – General Chemistry II / General Chemistry II Lab
*or their equivalent
Some of these courses will fulfill part of the Natural Science requirement of the UH Manoa General Education Requirement, and are considered prerequisite to some courses in the major.
Major course requirements
- PEPS 350 – Invasive Pest Species
- PEPS 363 – 363L – General Entomology / General Entomology Lab
- PEPS 405 – Plant Pathogens and Diseases
- PEPS 422 – Biocontrol of Invasive Species
- TPSS 430 – Plant Disease Management
- TPSS (PEPS) 481 – Weed Science
Elective Courses
In addition to the core courses, students must take at least 12 credits from a list of over 8 choices. The options available are listed on the Bachelor Degree Program Sheet.