The Master of Science in Forestry program includes required course work, research, and the defense and submission of an original thesis (Plan A) or paper (Plan B).

The MS Plan A option includes a significant research component that leads to the production and defense of a thesis, which is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for approval and then archived at the library. Students complete a required 6–15 thesis research credits, which support the development of their research and thesis. Thesis chapters frequently form the basis of papers prepared and submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals by the student. Almost all MS students in the Wildland Resources department pursue a Plan A.

The MS Plan B option includes an extensive literature review that forms the basis of a paper. Plan B papers are defended but are not subject to the School of Graduate studies approval before submission to the library. Plan B students are required to complete 2-3 thesis research credits and take more coursework to fulfill the remaining credits.

Regardless of plan type, you will work closely with your major advisor and your supervisory committee to determine the trajectory of your research and the course work that will be most beneficial to you.

Department Requirements:

Completion of 30 required credit hours: Only courses included on a supervisory committee approved Program of Study will count towards an MS degree. Please see specific course requirements under MS Plan A and MS Plan B below.
Presentation of Research Proposal: Students must present a research proposal at the department Graduate Research Symposium.
Successful defense: Students must successfully defend a Plan A research thesis or a Plan B paper.
Submission of thesis or paper: Students must submit a Plan A research thesis or a Plan B paper to the School of Graduate Studies and library for review and approval. All thesis and paper submissions must follow the School of Graduate Studies Publication Guide and departmental requirements.

School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Requirements:

Completion of Required Forms:
- Supervisory Committee Approval
- Program of Study
- Master’s Thesis Proposal/Project Approval
- Appointment for Examination
- Record of Examination (submitted by department office)
- Format & Style form
- Authorship & Copyright form
- Title Page form
- Application for Graduation
Completion of Required Trainings: Students must complete all School of Graduate Studies required trainings, including Responsible Conduct of Research training.
Degree Verification: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to and completion of a graduate program.
Minimum GPA Requirement: Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree.
Course Number Acceptability: The Program of Study for a master’s degree must include at least 18 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above. Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 5000.
Matriculation Start Semester: A master’s degree must be completed within six years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.
Coursework Validity: Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.

Forestry - MS

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Program Overview

Program Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes