The Master of Forest Resources (M.F.R.) is a professional degree designed for students who want to specialize in fields of wood products marketing or industries, forest management, silviculture, urban forestry,watershed management, or wildlife and fisheries management. This degree differs from the research-oriented Master of Science degree programs in the School of Forest Resources, because the M.F.R. emphasizes applications, analysis, and synthesis of knowledge rather than creating new information through more traditional types of research. This program is especially attractive to returning students interested in gaining state-of-the-art information rather than thesis research in their specialized field.
Students who have baccalaureate degrees in forestry, wood products, or wildlife and fisheries may complete the M.F.R. degree requirements in one year, whereas those with degrees in related fields generally require longer because of deficiencies in prerequisite undergraduate courses.
A minimum of 30 graduate credits (400- to 500-level courses) is required, of which 20 credits must be earned at an established graduate campus of the University, with at least 18 credits as formal courses (excluding paper writing, colloquia, and independent studies) related to forest resources, wood products, and wildlife and fisheries. At least 18 credits at the 500 level or above (with at least 6 credits in 500 level) must be included in the program, including 6 credits of formal courses. A paper (3 to 6 credits of FOR/W P/W F S 596) and formal oral presentation (1 credit of FOR/W P/WFS 596) are required as part of the 30 credits that demonstrate ability to apply the knowledge gained during the program to the specialized field of interest. The program must also include 3 credits of statistics at the graduate level.