ENTOMOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN THE UNITED 



STATES. 



By Eric S. Cogan, M.A., Ph.D. 



America now justly and rightly enjoys the title of being the 

 home of applied entomology. While it seems but a short space 

 of time since rhe first pioneer efforts at insect control were com- 

 menced, yet our knowledge of the subject has advanced steadily, 

 and in the main along general and specialized lines, till it has 

 reached its present pro^x^rtions. Founded on the excellent work 

 of Say, Harris, Fitch, Le Baron, Walsh, Riley, and Lintner, 

 the study of entomology has progressed, and to this progress the 

 educational institutions have contributed no small portion. The 

 advance of our knowledge of agriculture, with its specialized 

 methods and its many phases which require scientific research 

 and ardent investigation, has created a demand for trained 

 entomologists, and to meet the requirement, the universities and 

 colleges have instituted special courses of instruction. The 

 amazingly rapid development of the agricultural resources of 

 the L^nited States has created the necessity for trained men to 

 cope with the many diverse insect problems of the land. Apart 

 from agriculture, our knowledge of the role which insects play 

 in the transmission of disease has almost made it imperative that 

 some attention be paid to the training of men to deal with such 

 problems, which affect the health of man so closely. So that 

 it is no wonder that one finds to-day in the American universities 

 experienced teachers and investigators, with well-equipped 

 laboratories, giving- of their knowledge to the coming generation. 



It is not within the scope of this paper to deal at length with 

 the educational methods or the system of education in the 

 American universities, but the aim is to present some idea of the 

 courses given and where they are best obtained, together with 

 some of the opportunities for learning, which are offered. But 

 before doing so, it will perhaps be 'better to explain that in the 

 main universities and colleges in the United States may be 

 roughly divided into two sections, viz.. the State universities and 

 the privately endowed schools. Each State maintains at least one 

 university, and sometimes more, as is the case in Ohio, where 

 there are four, and it is at these State universities Avhere one 

 finds the great attention paid to the study oi agriculture and 

 agricultural sciences. Generally working in co-operation with 

 the State university is the State experiment station, and fre- 

 quently the two are in one. The privately endowed universities 

 on the whole do not devote as much attention to agriculture, 

 although a great deal of scientific research along agricultural 

 lines is accomplished Avithin their walls. 



For purposes of discussion we may divide the universities of 

 the States, with respect to entomological education, into three 

 groups. Under the first group we may consider: Massachusetts 



A 



