Preparation for professional careers in the management of forest resources.
The MF degree is intended for students wishing to pursue professional careers in the management and policy of forest resources. These professional opportunities can be private-sector forest management—corporate or consulting; public-sector forest management—federal, state, county, local government; stewardship, education, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations. Two themes dominate the structure of the Master of Forestry curriculum: multiple disciplinary exposure and progressive integration and synthesis of knowledge.
These themes are represented by three educational stages:These projects are intended to be of high professional/academic caliber, publishable as part of the School’s communications or in recognized journals. Another category concerning professional knowledge strives to provide aspects of forestry that broaden and add to the student’s knowledge base from a professional perspective. The topic areas selected do not necessarily address basic or advanced perspectives within a discipline or management issue.
The Capstone course in our program addresses leadership, among other management skills, a characteristic that we have sought to strengthen in all of our students since the inception of the School. This can be a formal seminar or a project course that strengthens an individuals analytical, communication, and publication skills. In addition all MF students are required to take an evening session on professional ethics and encouraged to take a session in conflict resolution.
During summers students are encouraged to learn technical and management skills through the Apprentice Forester Program at the School Forests, and independent management and research projects that can lead to publications.
Electives allow the student to choose a variety of courses, or to concentrate on a particular area as a specialization. Specializations are constructed by the students and his or her advisor. Their focus should be a particular land use or management issue concerning forest resources. The flexibility of course choice within the required topic areas of the mf curriculum also allow the student to tailor required courses to a desired specialization. Sample specializations: 1) community development and social forestry in urban or rural environments; 2) protected areas management; 3) extension and education; 4) finance, consulting and business around forest products and services; 5) watershed health, ecosystem services, and restoration; 6) tropical forest ecology and management; and 7) agroecology and agroforestry
The Master of Forestry is a professional degree reviewed and accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). It is the policy of the School to insure that each student’s program conform to the Standards set by the SAF. The Master of Forestry program coordinator is Professor Mark Ashton. Students should formally notify the program coordinator of their intent to do the MF. Should you have questions about the program course requirements please seek advice and counsel from the program coordinator in consultation with your advisor. Forms may be obtained from the program coordinator for crosschecking each student’s individualized course of study against SAF Standard II. (See http://www.safnet.org/educationrecognition.cfmfor further details).
Professionals pursuing the one year Master of Forestry degree are interested in acquiring new skills and broadening their perspectives, are people whose career objectives are in the general area of forest management and administration, and wish to fill known voids in their educational backgrounds. Admission to this program will be granted by the admissions committee only to individuals who appear to be able to achieve the level of professional competence represented by the Master of Forestry degree in one year of residence work. A minimum of one year in residence and eight full courses (24 credits) is required for completion of this program.
Students in this program are not required to elect any specific courses, or meet any course distribution requirements. Participation in all or part of the summer training modules in technical skills is optional. Students will be required to elect one-half of their courses in the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and will have to develop course programs acceptable both to their faculty advisor and to the MF Coordinator. Deviations from the four full course (12 credit) school requirement that have faculty advisor support can be made only via petition to the curriculum committee.
(Bracketed courses [ ] will not be offered during the academic year 2012–2013.)
Topic Area 1 Tree Physiology, Morphology and Taxonomy
Topic Area 2 Forest Ecology and Forest Dynamics
Topic Area 3 Wildlife and Community Ecology
Topic Area 4 Forest Health
PHYSICAL SCIENCES (Two courses in total from any of three different topic areas)
Topic Area 1 Soils and Geology
Topic Area 2 Hydrology
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Two courses in total from different topic areas)
Topic Area 1 Social and Political Ecology & Anthropology
MEASUREMENT (One course)*
SILVICULTURE (One course)
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (One Course)
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FIELD TRIPS*
(One course)
(Examples–most advanced level courses are acceptable)
*Students are strongly encouraged to go on at least one extended (week plus) field trip concerning forest resource management
CAPSTONE (One course)
Or a project course (or equivalent) with a significant product that is published and presented at a professional meeting.
In between the first and second years, students are strongly encouraged to select internships such as those offered by the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry, the Tropical Resources Institute and the Urban Resources Initiative. These internships provide real field and professional experience and compliments student coursework and area of focus. One such opportunity that most Master of Forestry students take is the Apprentice Forestry Program organized by the School of Forests.