Master of Science in Forest Resources

As a graduate student you will work closely with your faculty adviser and committee members in designing a program of study and research adapted to your interests. We encourage you to explore with faculty who are pursuing research in topics of interest to you to determine whether they have the time and financial resources to serve as your adviser during your graduate program. In addition, you may wish to contact the ESM Graduate Student Organization (ecosystem.gsogmail.com) and visit with a couple graduate students who are members of the department to gain insights about the departmental strengths that may be of interest to you. You can also check out the ESM GSO website, it has some useful links and information for graduate students.

Applicants may apply for admission to only one (1) program at a time.
For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either 1) a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or 2) a post-secondary degree that is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree earned from an officially recognized degree-granting international institution.
Ordinarily, an entering student must have completed in a satisfactory manner a minimum of course work in designated areas, the specific courses and amount of work depending upon the intended field of advanced study.
Admission is granted jointly by the Graduate School and the graduate program in which the student plans to study. The establishment of standards by which applicants are admitted is the responsibility of the graduate program.
Scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are not required for admission but may be submitted if desired by the applicant.

For admission, an applicant should have at least a 2.75 grade-point average, a 3.00 junior/senior average (on a 4.00 scale), and courses that are basic to the individual's field of specialization. Ordinarily, these include:

12 credits in communication,
12 credits in social sciences and humanities,
10 credits in quantification, including calculus and statistics,
8 credits in chemistry and/or physics,
8 credits in biological sciences, and
18 credits in forest products, forestry, fish, wildlife, or related courses.
Individuals who have earned baccalaureate degrees in forest science, wildlife and fisheries science, wood products programs, or other related science disciplines typically meet the course subject area requirements for our graduate programs. However, students with undergraduate degrees in different fields are still encouraged to apply, but may be accepted on a provisional basis contingent upon addressing any deficiencies. If admitted provisionally, the student will work with a faculty adviser to establish specific conditions that must be fulfilled in order to transition to a regular graduate degree program. Ultimately, the student's graduate committee will have the final say on any course deficiencies that need to be addressed. It is important to note that provisional status is not intended for individuals with poor academic records seeking entry into Ph.D. programs. Our goal is to ensure that all students admitted to our graduate programs have a strong academic foundation in their chosen field of study.
Three reference letters and a brief statement describing the applicant's academic goals, career interests, and special qualifications are required. The best-qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces available. Exceptions to admission requirements may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests, at the discretion of the program.
International applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the Internet-based test (iBT). Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may be considered for provisaaional admission, enrollment, and, if necessary, remedial course work. The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. Revised TOEFL PBT July 2017 and later 60