Master of Forestry (M.F.) in Silviculture

Overview

The M.F. in Silviculture program provides graduate-level preparation in the full range of disciplines essential for analyzing opportunities, solving problems, and making decisions in silviculture and forest resource management. Graduates from this program must demonstrate competence in the preparation of well-documented silvicultural prescriptions and in the supervision of prescription implementation. The program also provides the background for sustained career development in forest resource management.

This program is jointly administered by the Departments of Forest Ecosystems and Society and Forest Engineering, Resources and Management. It is accredited by the Society of American Foresters and is designed for practicing foresters who wish to upgrade their professional skills and knowledge of silviculture and forest resource management. The program is aimed at career-oriented persons wishing to expand their ability to analyze silvicultural opportunities in the context of economic production objectives while maintaining sensitivity to physical, biological, social, and environmental forest resource values.

Applying for Admission

To be admitted to the M.F. in Silviculture degree program, students must have either:

Applicants without this background may be admitted on a provisional basis (see Minimum Educational Background), as certified by the student's advisory committee and the Department Head. For information on eligibility for admission, students should contact the Graduate Program Coordinator, who will advise them about the suitability of their degrees and forestry-related work experience. Applicants also must meet standards and requirements of the OSU Graduate School. Read more»

Minimum Educational Background

Committee Composition

The major professor must be a member of the graduate faculty in either Forest Ecosystems and Society or Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management and must be approved to be a major professor for M.F. committees. The committee consists of the major professor and at least two other members of the graduate faculty, including one each from the Departments of Forest Ecosystems and Society and Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management. Committee members from the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society are responsible for ensuring that students integrate their areas of specialization into the broad field of forest resources management.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete 45 credits from the approved curriculum. Each student will be assigned an on-the-ground forestry situation for which a silvicultural prescription must be prepared. Some of the information and data will be provided; some must be researched and developed by the student. The written prescription must be of professional quality and sufficient depth to earn seven (7) credits in the FOR506/FS506 "Projects" class at a grade of "B" or better. The written prescription will be graded after review by the student's committee and, if practical, by at least one practicing silviculturist selected from list of approved collaborators for this program.

Program of Study

Students take courses from each of five categories, as indicated below. Any undergraduate courses taken to meet the minimum background in forest resources management and forest biology (listed in Application section) are not counted toward the minimum requirement of 45 credits needed to complete the degree.