Master of Forestry in FES
The M.F. degree builds skills and knowledge that graduates can quickly and directly apply to their careers.
Who applies to the M.F. program?
The M.F. degree is a non-thesis degree, typically designed for working professionals who are seeking continuing education. Some M.F. students are fully employed and remain fully employed for the duration of their program. Others may be seeking an opportunity to take their career to the next level or prepare for a career after completing an undergraduate degree.
What is a typical M.F. degree program like?
Unlike Master of Science students, M.F. students typically do not develop or conduct high-level research, and are not required to submit a research proposal, do a presentation of this proposal, or write a thesis (although some major professors and graduate committees may ask for a proposal and/or presentation). Instead, M.F. students must complete a capstone project with the guidance of their major professor and graduate committee. M.F. students typically need 3-5 terms (1-1.5 years) to complete their degree.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of their program (e.g., thesis/capstone, required courses), FES Master's students will be able to:
- Conduct research or produce some other form of creative work (category: Research Skills).
- Demonstrate mastery of subject material (category: Disciplinary Skills and Knowledge).
- Conduct scholarly or professional activities in an ethical manner (category: Ethics and Responsibilities).
- Integrate multiple disciplines and collaborate with colleagues from other disciplines (category: Interdisciplinary Collaborative Problem Solving).
- Communicate effectively in written and verbal formats (category: Communication Skills).
- Utilize critical thinking and awareness skills (category: Critical Thinking and Critical Awareness Skills).
- Integrate aspects of policy, law, or management (category: Policy Analysis and Interpretation).
- Teach or assist in teaching effectively (only if student teaches or is a teaching assistant) (category: Teaching).
Willamette University and Oregon State University have partnered to offer a 3+2 forestry joint degree program. The program combines the breadth of the Willamette undergraduate curriculum with highly focused graduate study at Oregon State University’s College of Forestry. Students will learn from expert faculty and have the opportunity to study in both the Willamette Zena and OSU Research Forests while earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
After completing three years of undergraduate coursework at Willamette University (WU) and maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0, Willamette students will choose to complete a Master of Forestry program in Forest Ecosystems and Society or Sustainable Forest Management at Oregon State University. Students must declare their intention to pursue this pathway by the start of the third year at WU and formally apply to OSU according to admission deadlines. If admitted to OSU, students will enroll with provisional graduate status in year four.
If you are a Willamette University undergraduate student in your first or second year and have interest in this 3+2 joint degree pathway, please connect with your WU advisor and contact:
Juliet Sutton
FES Graduate Program Coordinator
juliet.sutton@oregonstate.edu
541-737- 6088