Forestry Major, MS

Admission

For admission, the student must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in forestry, wildlife, fisheries, or another natural resource area. Applicants must complete the general Graduate Record Examination with minimum scores required. Graduate Rating Forms or letters of recommendation from three individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic ability are required. To the Office of Graduate Admissions submit online application, application fee, official transcripts, and scores from the general portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Requirements

Both thesis and non-thesis options are available for the major in forestry.

Thesis Option

• Prior to research for the thesis, the student is required to develop a detailed written research proposal. Registration for 6 credit hours of thesis (FORS 500 ) is required.
• A graduate committee of no fewer than three faculty members must be selected by the second semester of residence. At least one member must be from outside the department. In addition to the thesis requirement, a minimum of 24 credit hours of graduate course work is required. This work must be approved by the student’s committee and no more than 10 credit hours of the minimum 30 can be below the 500 level. The committee may require additional course work if the student’s progress or background indicates such need.
• All students are required to include FORS 512 - Seminar , in their program. All thesis-option M.S. students must complete the course twice during their program.
• An oral examination covering the thesis and course work is required.

Non-Thesis Option

• Thirty five (35) credit hours of graduate course work, of which 23 must be at the 500 level or above is required.
• A graduate committee of no fewer than three faculty members will be selected. At least one member shall be from outside the department. The committee will meet and schedule the student’s program during the first semester in residence.
• Three credit hours of FORS 511  are required.
• Nine credit hours of course work in the department must be at the 500 level or above, exclusive of Forestry 511 .
• Final comprehensive written and oral examinations shall be taken upon completion of no fewer than 28 credit hours of approved study.

Bio-Based Products and Wood Science and Technology Concentration

Students in this concentration must complete a thesis. The concentration in bio-based products and wood science and technology is designed to prepare graduate students for analytical and research careers in the public and private sectors and to prepare students interested in entering a PhD program. The same minimum hour requirements as the major (thesis option) apply. For this concentration, requirements include: 18 credit hours of wood science, chemistry, engineering, or forestry-related courses; 6 credit hours of statistics or other quantitative methods related to the candidate’s thesis; 6 credit hours of thesis, and two credit hours of FORS 512 .