Iowa State has the distinction of being the first University to have offered a course in Entomology, under the auspices of Dr Herbert Osborn, more than 125 years ago. The mission of the Department of Entomology is to continue in this spirit of commitment to student learning by developing and disseminating knowledge through research and teaching about insects at the suborgansimal, organismal, and population levels. Students enrolling in courses taught by the department include undergraduates and graduate students of ISU, vocational/continuing education students, and distance learners. Students experience a variety of learning situations including traditional lectures, hands-on laboratory work, field trips, interactive web-based distance education, and informal online learning. Outside of the formal classroom, the Department maintains a creative, highly visible problem-solving Cooperative Extension program which strives to provide current, top-quality information, related to entomology and pest management, to citizens, including urban dwellers, growers, and members of industry. Regardless of student status, every student passing through the department will leave with an understanding of the complex inter-relationships that exist between humans, insects and the environment.