Master of Forestry (MF)
Objective
Preparation for professional careers in the management of forest resources.
The Master of Forestry degree is intended for students wishing to pursue professional careers in the management and policy of forest resources, across the span of urban to rural environments. These professional opportunities can be private-sector forest management—corporate or consulting; public-sector forest management—federal, state, county, local government; stewardship and conservation of forest resources - government, private or non-profit sector; or education. The goal is to prepare students to manage forest resources for various public and private values within a complex social, political, and ecological environment.
The curriculum draws from coursework in the natural and social sciences and focuses on the complex relationships among the science, management, and policy of forest resources. Students are also expected to hone their capacities as leaders and managers through summer internships, professional skills courses, and other opportunities.
Two themes dominate the structure of the Master of Forestry curriculum: multiple disciplinary exposure in the biological and social sciences, and progressive integration and synthesis of knowledge in resource measurement, analysis management and policy. The curriculum is designed in three educational stages along with an emphasis on professional skill development.
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STAGE THREE includes both Synthesis and Analysis of Knowledge and the Capstone. Generally, students take these courses during their second-year. Both are designed to address and prepare students for solving important real-world problems and resource conflicts. The courses fall into two main categories.
Master of Forestry One-Year Program
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 Committee. 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. The one-year Master of Forestry degree is not accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF).
Master of Forestry Curriculum
Master of Forestry Curriculum
Students are required to choose courses from the lists in each category as indicated below: basic knowledge (biological sciences, physical sciences, social sciences), frameworks and skills, resource management, and professional skills. The capstone course is a requirement.
- Students with previous relevant coursework may petition their advisor and the MF Coordinator to waive courses that they have had for requirements under basic knowledge and frameworks and skills. This has to be clearly apparent—for example: a student who majored in economics as an undergraduate should not need to do the economics requirement; or a student with a forestry undergraduate major should not need to take silviculture. No substitutions will be allowed for requirements under frameworks and skills, resource management, and professional skills. Nevertheless, no student will be required to repeat previously taken coursework.
- The resource management and leadership/project seminars will involve significant group and individual project components respectively.
- The MF coordinator in consultation with the MF Committee will determine each year which courses offered that year fit each of the topic descriptions.
- The one-year MF program is a custom program and will be developed between student and advisor, with program approval by the MF Committee. Joint degree programs are available with the School of Management, the Law School, the Divinty School, the School of Architecture, and the School of Public Health. Individuals participating in joint programs are subject to the joint school agreements and approval of the MF Committee.
Courses Offered That Meet the Master of Forestry Curriculum
Leadership and Management Experience
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.
