Program Overview

Master of Pest Management Program

The Master of Pest Management (MPM) program is a professional graduate degree that focuses on the management of pests in various environments, including agricultural, forest, and urban settings. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of pest management principles, practices, and technologies.

Program Requirements

The MPM program requires a minimum of 34 units, including:

• Four classroom-based graduate courses
• Two graduate field courses
• A research-based thesis
• BISC 800 - Skills for the successful scientist

Detailed Course Requirements

The MPM program uses an applied approach to the learning and discussion of biological principles, and includes a combination of theoretical and field-based courses.

Field-based Courses

The MPM requires two field courses (8 days each):

• BISC 601 (2) - Agriculture, Horticulture and Urban Pest Management
• BISC 602 (2) - Forest Pest Management

MPM field courses combine classroom lectures with field demonstrations and problem-based learning. Field courses provide an overview of pest control methods as they are currently practiced in agriculture, forestry, and urban environments and include visits to working farms, commercial forest operations, grain elevators, and research laboratories.

Classroom-based Courses

Four classroom-based graduate courses are required, including:

• BISC 847 (3) - Pest Management in Practice
• BISC 844 (3) - Biological Controls
• two additional 800 level MPM-related courses

*A 3-unit 800 level elective or STAT 603 (5) can be substituted for one of these courses.

Thesis Course

Completion of a laboratory or field-based research thesis is required as part of the MPM program:

• BISC 849 (18) - Master of Pest Management Thesis

MPM Program Guidelines & Resources

The MPM program provides students with access to various resources, including:

• Supervisory Committee Guidelines
• Annual Progress Report
• Thesis Preparation & Defense
• Transfer from MPM to PhD Studies

MPM Research & Collaborators

MPM Research focuses on various areas, including:

• apiculture
• behavioural ecology
• biological control and biotechnology
• chemical ecology and toxicology
• insect biochemistry and molecular biology
• disease vectors
• vertebrate pests
• plant pathology, stress physiology and ecology

The MPM program collaborates with various organizations, including:

• Abbotsford Spraying Service Ltd.
• Agriculture Canada Plant Health/Plant Protection Divisions
• Airspread Services Ltd.
• Alberta Agriculture
• Applied Bio-Nomics Ltd.
• Arbour-Care Tree Service
• B.C. Forest Service
• B.C. Hydro
• B.C. Lettuce Co-operative Association
• B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks
• B.C. Ministry of Forests
• Bloedel Conservatory
• British Columbia Coast Vegetable Co-operative Association
• British Columbia Fruit Growers Association
• British Columbia Greenhouse Vegetable Research Council
• British Columbia Honey Producers Association
• British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
• British Columbia Ministry of Environment
• British Columbia Ministry of Forests
• British Columbia Ministry of Health
• British Columbia Vegetable Marketing Commission
• Brooks Diagnostics Ltd.
• Burnaby School District
• Canada Grain Commission
• Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
• Canadian Forest Service
• Canadian Pacific Forest Products Ltd.
• Capilano Pest Control
• Chai-Na-Ta Ginseng Products Ltd.
• Coast-Agri
• Cranberry Growers Association of British Columbia
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans
• Department of National Defence
• DowElanco Canada Ltd.
• E.S. Cropconsult Ltd.
• East Chilliwack Co-op
• Fletcher Challenge Canada Ltd.
• Forintek Canada Corporation
• Green Timbers Reforestation Centre
• Haney Farms
• Integrated Crop Management Services
• Integrated Pest Management Services
• International Forest Products Ltd.
• International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria
• MacMillan Bloedel Ltd.
• Monsanto Canada
• Natural Resources Canada
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
• Northwood Pulp and Timber Ltd.
• Novartis Inc.
• Novo Nordisk Bioindustrials, Inc.
• Okanagan Valley Tree Fruit Authority
• Okanagan-Similkameen Co-op Growers Association
• Pacific Biology Station
• Pacific Forest Products Ltd.
• Pacific Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service
• PCO Pied Piper Ltd.
• Peninsul-Lab
• Pest Management Alternatives Program
• Phero Tech Inc.
• R.K. Silviculture Ltd.
• Richmond Health Department
• Ridpest Service Ltd.
• Sagahlie Biological Consultants
• Science Council of British Columbia
• Service Packing Co. Ltd.
• Similkameen Okanagan Cooperative Growers Association
• Similkameen Okanagan Organic Fruit Producer's Association
• Simon Fraser Health Unit
• Sterile Insect Release Program
• Surrey Nursery
• The Cariboo Lumberman's Association
• The Council of Forest Industries of British Columbia
• The Interior Lumber Manufacturers' Association
• Timber West Forest Ltd.
• Tolko Industries Ltd.
• Traas Nursery Ltd.
• United Flower Growers Association
• University of British Columbia
• University of Lethbridge
• Vancouver International Airport
• Vancouver Parks Board
• Western Biologicals Ltd.
• Western Forest Products Ltd.
• Western Greenhouse Growers Co-operative Association
• Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd.
• Wright Institute, SFU

MPM Program Timeline

Review the courses offered and consult with your supervisor as to which courses are recommended.