Program Requirements for M.S.

Overview

The M.S. in Forest Science is appropriate for students who desire more than one year of formal graduate work and who wish to develop a research specialization. Independent research is reported in a formal Master's thesis. This program may be either a terminal degree or the first step toward a doctorate degree.

The M.S. degree is granted in six areas of specialization, which include forest ecology, forest genetics, forest physiology, silviculture, integrated forest protection and agroforestry/sustainable forestry.

Applying for Admission

An undergraduate degree in forestry is not a requirement for admission to the M.S. program; however, students must demonstrate a basic knowledge of forest resource management before a degree will be granted. This background may be developed concurrently with a student’s graduate work.

Applicants for admission to graduate degree programs must first meet the University requirements as set forth in the Graduate Catalog. They are then considered by the departmental Scholastic Committee, which is chaired by the Graduate Program Coordinator and includes two faculty members and one student representative. This committee examines applicants for scholastic ability as evidenced by the required application documents. Read More »

Graduate Advisory Committee Composition

The graduate advisory committee is composed of a major professor, a minor professor, a Graduate Council Representative, and one other faculty member from the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. Additional members may also be appointed.

Degree Requirements for M.S.

For M.S. students, the program must include a minimum of 45 credits, at least 15 of which must be in a declared minor. Six to twelve credits are usually allowed for thesis. A minimum of 30 credits must be completed on campus ("in residence"). Although it is theoretically possible to complete the M.S. degree in three terms, the average time for completion in this department is two years.

The M.S. program offers course work and thesis research in several specializations. The courses listed in these specializations are offered as a suggested curriculum and may be amended by the student's graduate advisory committee. The degree, regardless of area of specialization, is designated as "Forest Science" on the student's diploma.

Areas of Specialization:

Competency Requirements

The department requires few specific courses for completion of a degree. Instead, it requires competency in several areas, which may be achieved through a variety of means. It is the responsibility of the student, major professor, and graduate advisory committee to see that a student's program leads to satisfactory competence in the required areas.

For all students, the committee members who are Forest Science faculty determine whether the departmental requirements - including all competency requirements - have been met. This determination is made by the Graduate Program Coordinator at the final examination for Master's students. The department provides a Competency Requirement form, and the graduate advisory committee determines whether competencies have been fulfilled.

Thesis

Students pursuing M.S. degrees in Forest Science are expected to conduct creative and scientifically sound research leading to a defensible thesis and scientific publications. This entails careful articulation and testing of well conceived and clearly stated hypotheses. The thesis is the capstone of the student's graduate program and should represent the student's best efforts.

Students and their major professors, in cooperation with the student's graduate advisory committee, select appropriate topics for thesis research. By the third term of residency for M.S. students, a thesis research plan must be filed with the department. This plan, which may be completed as part of FS 521, Natural Resource Research Planning, should include clear objectives (for testing specific hypotheses) and a design and methods section appropriate for the planned analysis. The major professor reviews and may aid in the design of the plan. Approval from the student's committee, as well as from a departmental statistical consultant, is recommended. The plan may be subsequently amended, based upon experience gained through research and further education.

The Forest Ecosystems and Society faculty encourages graduate students to prepare their theses in a style suitable for submission to a journal. For some theses, this may result in more than one manuscript. If the manuscript form is used, the thesis must include separate Introduction and Conclusions chapters. The student's committee may require that additional material be incorporated into a Literature Review or Appendices.

Examination (Thesis defense)

The final examination is a University requirement and is scheduled and administered according to the rules of the Graduate School. The examination includes a public presentation of the thesis or paper, as well as a private defense and examination by the Graduate Advisory Committee. Students are examined primarily on their theses and on related topics, but questions on any subject pertinent to their area of specialty may also be included. In addition, all appropriate areas of competency may be examined, particularly those not touched upon in previous examinations and those in which a deficiency has been identified. The private portion of the exam will be conducted by the student's Graduate Advisory Committee.