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Doctor of
Philosophy (PhD)
The Doctoral program in Forest Resources is intended for persons seeking careers in teaching and research. The program emphasizes a strong research specialization while maintaining an understanding and appreciation of broader management and resource-use issues. The thesis and associated research play a dual role by enabling the student to develop in-depth knowledge of specific technical areas, while at the same time gaining experience in conceptualizing, planning, conducting, and reporting a major research project. Specialized areas (fields of concentration) for thesis research include Forest Biometrics, Forest Economics, Forest Modeling, Forest Operations Research/Management Science, Forest Social Science, Forest Recreation, Remote Sensing and GIS, and Silviculture.
The Department also is authorized to grant a Ph.D. degree in General Economics. The requirements for this degree are specified in the Graduate Economics program brochure available from the Chair of the University Graduate Faculty of Economics.
Admission to the Program
Applicants for the Ph.D. degree must meet requirements of the Graduate School (see OSU Graduate Catalog) in addition to those of the Department. An applicant generally must hold a Bachelor's degree in Forestry or a related area from an institution accredited by the Society of American Foresters and have a high scholastic record (a grade point average of 3.00 or higher). Students are encouraged to complete a Master's degree before entering the program. In rare cases an applicant who does not meet these requirements may be provisionally admitted where, in the opinion of the Graduate Admissions Committee and Associate Department Head, his or her accomplishments indicate high potential for success as a Ph.D. candidate.
The Associate Department Head assigns a major professor to each student when admitted, making every effort to accommodate the student's expressed interests within the limitations of faculty work load and research programs.
Program of Study
The cumulative equivalent of one full-time academic year of regular non-blanket coursework (defined as 36 credits) must be included in a Doctoral program.
As soon as possible after the student's arrival at OSU, but within no more than one year, an advisory committee is selected jointly by the major professor and the student. It will consist of FIVE MEMBERS OF THE GRADUATE FACULTY: TWO FROM FOREST RESOURCES (ONE BEING THE MAJOR PROFESSOR), ONE FROM EACH DECLARED MINOR FIELD, AND A GRADUATE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE. At least one member should be from a department outside the College of Forestry. The Department Head is a de facto member of all doctoral committees.
During the student's first year of enrollment, the committee and the student will select an area of concentration, develop a program of study, and submit it to the Department Head and Graduate School for approval.
Minimum Educational Background
Each student must demonstrate competence in broad areas of forestry knowledge through the completion of appropriate coursework for a prior degree or while in residence at OSU, as determined by his/her advisory committee. The background courses may be different for each field of concentration. All concentrations require background in Forest Ecology, Silviculture, Forest Policy, Forest Economics, and Statistics.
All graduate students must complete FOR 561, Forest Policy Analysis, and one additional course in the Forest Resources Department taught exclusively at the graduate level, plus two additional College of Forestry graduate courses (exclusive of FS 521).
Competence
In addition, each student's program will be designed to ensure competence in the following areas:
1. Coursework and examinations in the field(s) of concentration,
2. Research methods,
3. Seminar,
4. Breadth requirements.
Research
Statistics: Coursework in general probability theory and statistical inference equivalent at a minimum to ST 511, 512 and one of the following: ST 513, 553, or 555. Social Science students may also choose from SOC 516 or SOC 518. ST 557 (or equivalent) is also required.
Computer Science: Working knowledge of or coursework in programming and computer systems.
Research Methods: Coursework in investigative techniques appropriate to the chosen field(s) of concentration as approved by the advisory committee. This must be in addition to those courses selected to fulfill the Statistics and Computer Science requirements. At the discretion of the committee, these may or may not include a foreign language.
Research Project Planning
Including at a minimum FS 521, Natural Resource Research Planning (or an equivalent course).
Seminar
Each student must complete two credit-hours of seminar and must give at least one seminar on his/her own research while in residence at OSU. Options for completing the seminar requirements are FOR 607, FS 607, or other arrangements approved by the advisory committee.
Breadth Requirements
A Ph.D. program involves a process of concentration in an effort to acquire high levels of skill and competence in relatively narrow areas. In addition, successful application of these skills requires that individuals have or develop some perspective on the place of their work in the broader social and environmental context. Our faculty expect that at a minimum each doctoral candidate should understand who will use his/her work and for what purposes, how these applications might affect society and the natural environment, and what controversies may attend these applications.
Fields of Concentration
Each student in conjunction with his/her committee will specify, at the time of filing a program of study, a dissertation research area, and one or more fields of concentration within that area. This selection will be recorded in a memorandum of understanding between the committee and the student and will be attached to the departmental copy of the program of study in the student's file. It is possible that in some dissertation research areas the faculty will require more than one field of concentration.
Specialization details which follow are sample programs for Ph.D. degrees in Forest Resources. Actual requirements for these areas of concentration are set individually by the student's advisory committee.
Example Concentration Requirements
Forest Measurements
Remote Sensing, GIS and Landscape
Ecology
Economics
Forest Operations Research/Management
Science
Forest Social Science
Forestry/Wildlife
Silviculture
Qualifying
Examination for Advancement to Candidacy
Satisfaction of this requirement will be judged in part by the student's performance on broad, integrative questions in the preliminary written and oral qualifying examinations. Prior to these examinations, however, it is the responsibility of the student's advisory committee to evaluate the student's breadth of background and understanding and recommend additional work if needed. Additional work may include (but need not be limited to) additional coursework, conduct of or attendance at seminars intended to provide a broadening experience, service as a teaching assistant, and/or organized Readings and Conference. The committee will submit the recommendation in writing to the Department Head and the departmental Graduate Affairs Committee for their review following the meeting to approve a program of study.
Each student will take a Forest Resources preliminary examination prior to advancement to candidacy for the Doctorate degree. The examination is normally taken near the completion of the student's coursework. The examination consists of two parts: written and oral. The purpose of this exam is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the student's competence in the theory, application, and research methods appropriate to the concentration area, and the dissertation topic selected within that area. It should assess the student's general understanding of these subjects as well as determine the student's capability for conducting original research. Demonstration of a general knowledge of the field of forest resources is also expected.
The Departmental preliminary examination is in addition to any "preliminary" or "comprehensive" examinations required in various concentrations such as Economics and Forest Economics (Economic Theory, Quantitative Methods), Forest Biometrics (Statistical inference, Statistical theory), Forest Modeling (Statistical Inference), and Forest Operations Research/Management Science (Operations Research).
Written Preliminary Examination
Successful completion of a Departmental Written Preliminary examination is a prerequisite to taking the comprehensive Oral Preliminary examination. When a student in a PhD area of concentration is ready for a preliminary examination, the major professor will determine the format of the examination, which may include timed sit-down or multi-day take-home examinations, either open- or closed-reference.
Once the examination format is established and specified in writing, the major professor will solicit written questions from the student's committee and other faculty as appropriate. After the exam has been completed, copies of the student's answers will be distributed by the major professor to all faculty contributing to the examination. Each question will be graded by its proposer. The grade categories will be Fail, Marginal Fail, Marginal Pass, Pass Satisfactory, and Pass Excellent. If the student Fails or Marginal Fails any question, then a second opinion on that question will be solicited from a qualified faculty member. Marginal Pass on the sum of the questions posed is deemed the minimum passing grade. Students will have the opportunity to retake the exam once. Results of the examination will be recorded in the student's file.
Oral Comprehensive Preliminary Examination
The Oral Comprehensive Preliminary Examination is conducted by the student's advisory committee. It usually occurs soon after the written exam has been passed, and may cover the same topics as the written exam, or it may extend into other relevant areas. The major goal of the exam is to ensure that the student has a comprehensive grasp of the general field of Forest Resources and is prepared to conduct original research in the chosen area of concentration. The examination must comply with all pertinent rules of the Graduate School, including provisions for scheduling.
The examination should be at least two hours in duration, no more than half of which should be devoted to specific aspects of the prospective Dissertation research. No more than one negative vote is allowed to successfully pass this exam, and it must be passed by the third time unless the Department stipulates fewer re-examinations. The results of this exam will be recorded in the student's file, and successful candidates will be advanced to candidacy for the Doctorate degree.
Thesis and Final Oral Examination
The student and his/her major professor, in cooperation with the advisory
committee, will select an appropriate topic for the Thesis research. A formal
record of the proposed Thesis, including the Thesis title and a Prospectus or
outline, is retained in the student's file. When the student completes the Thesis,
a final Oral Examination will be scheduled and conducted in accordance with policies
and procedures of the Graduate School. The examination generally concentrates
on the thesis research, but may cover other areas as well. When the final examination
and Thesis are completed to the satisfaction of the Advisory Committee, and as
stipulated by the rules of the Graduate School, the candidate is certified for
award of the Ph.D. degree. For the Doctoral degree, there is no time limit on
course work but the continuous enrollment policy applies. At least one complete academic term must elapse between the time
of the preliminary oral examination and the final oral examination. The final
oral exam must be taken within 5 years after the preliminary oral exam. If more
than 5 years elapse, the candidate will be required to take another preliminary
oral exam.
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Doctor of
Philosophy (PhD)