Master of Forestry

Use your bachelor's degree in another field as a springboard to enter the workforce as an accredited forester.

Mark timber stands, determine how much to remove, and plan how to remove it. Work with private and public landowners, including loggers and environmental groups. Join a professional trail crew. Be a forest firefighter. Work as an arborist, climbing, pruning, and treating trees for pests and diseases. Credentialed by the Society of American Foresters, this professional degree—different than a traditional master of science degree—prepares you for a career in forestry working where you want to be: outdoors.

For specific requirements of this graduate program please see the CFRES Graduate Handbook | Printable.

An accelerated option is available to Michigan Tech students pursuing undergraduate forestry degrees. The current curriculum is for students beginning Fall of 2017. In order to keep up with accreditation standards, a revised degree schedule will be in place for Fall 2018.

MF Program Mission

Our goal is to train foresters to effectively manage our lands and natural resources using strong field and analytical skills, disciplinary knowledge, and professionalism. Accredited by the Society of American Foresters, the MF curriculum includes coursework enriched with cutting-edge science in the areas of forest ecology and biology, measurement of forest resources, forest management, forest policy and administration, and professional ethics. The MF experience culminates with a semester-long integrated field practicum, and developing and communicating a professional forest management plan.

Program Strengths and Opportunities

Two pathways, 30 hours: Students who have already graduated with an SAF-accredited bachelor's degree enhance their credentials and employability with training in advanced technologies, natural resource policy, business economics, and engineering technologies.
Students earning their SAF-accreditation complete the requirements through a comprehensive forestry curriculum including identification of biology of forest vegetation, ecological processes of forests, soil science, remote sensing and GIS, and timber harvesting.
Both pathways include a field-based component, including University and community recreational, research, and industrial projects with our Forest and Environmental Resource Management program (aka the FERM).
6,500 feet of lab space, 2,000 of greenhouse, 4,609 acres of research forest.
We focus on your ability to use and apply emerging technologies, including remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), statistical modeling, and business principals in forest management situations.
Course work is completed in three semesters, with new students starting in fall semester. There is a set curriculum, but many students have flexibility in course selection because they have already satisfied some required courses and skills.
Students can include extra classes in their particular field of interest and choose to include a research project.

Master of Forestry: Report Option

This option requires a report describing the results of an independent study project. The scope of the research topic should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in twelve months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in coursework other than the project:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	24 Credits
Report	2-6 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

Master of Forestry: Coursework Option

This option requires a minimum of 30 credits be earned through coursework. A limited number of research credits may be used with the approval of the advisor, department, and Graduate School. See degree requirements for more information.

A graduate program may require an oral or written examination before conferring the degree and may require more than the minimum credits listed here:

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	18 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

"SAF serves as an opportunity for myself and others to forge new connections, engage on diverse topics, and give back to the forests that provide for us, by providing resources for the landowners and managers that take care of them. It truly is an honor to be a part of this profession. I hope I’ve been able to model some of that engagement to students that are going to be our forest professionals"Tara Bal, SAF Vice President, CFRES Assistant Professor of Forest Health

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

3 Letters of Recommendation (1 Letter of Recommendation for Michigan Tech students)
Résumé / Curriculum vitae
Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
Please view our faculty webpage and identify three faculty members that you would like to work with
GRE not required

International Students

TOEFL: Required Score of 79 iBT
IELTS: Required Overall Band Score of 6.5

Michigan Tech requires a minimum of 79 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

Made on a rolling basis.

Recommended Deadline

Apply at least a semester in advance of projected admission to improve your chances of receiving funding.

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Master of Forestry Learning Outcomes

Disciplinary Knowledge - Students develop an advanced knowledge of the field of forestry.
Field and Analytic Skills - Students develop a strong set of field and analytic skills related to natural resource management.
Solve Problems - Students provide and evaluate alternative solutions based on advanced application of the scientific method to problems in forestry.
Professionalism and Teamwork - Students develop skills that enable them to communicate with a high level of professionalism and conduct work effectively as part of a team.
Employment Readiness - Students are prepared to move into full-time permanent positions in the field of forestry through a combination of their graduate studies, undergraduate studies, and work experience.

Accelerated Master of Forestry

An accelerated master's program available to Michigan Tech students—complete the requirements with 30 credits beyond an undergraduate degree

Earn a master's degree from Michigan Tech with one additional year of study beyond your bachelor's degree in forestry. Selective timber harvesting. Reforestation, forest restoration, inventory, and health. Remote sensing. Managing forests, and all the services they provide for now, and the future. This professional degree expands your qualifications and experience in mapping, analyzing, managing, and communicating forest and environmental resources issues. To identify And to work where you want to be: outdoors.

This program is offered only as a coursework option—no thesis or report.

Program Strengths and Opportunities

Enhance your SAF credentials with training in advanced technologies, natural resource policy, business economics, and engineering technologies.
Save time and tuition dollars earning your graduate degree.
Maintain continuity with facilities, faculty, and colleagues.

Funding Opportunities

We work one-on-one to match students with funding that fits your needs, including assistantships and grants. Talk to us.
Qualify to receive scholarships and financial aid while you have both undergraduate and graduate student status (based on eligibility).
Michigan Tech Graduate School has scholarships and numerous other opportunities available.

How to Get Started

During your junior year, talk to the Master of Forestry Program Director and your academic advisor to ensure you’re on track for meeting graduate school prerequisites and degree requirements. Apply early to start taking classes and meeting your degree requirements during your senior year. All admissions standards for the Graduate School apply.

Accelerated MF Requirements

Credit Requirements

A minimum of 150 credits must be completed for the combined bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

30 credits are required for the master’s degree.
9 credits may be applied to both the bachelor’s and master’s degree. Prior to completing the master’s, students must indicate on their master’s degree schedule which undergraduate-level courses and credits (up to 9), should be applied to both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. These classes will be classes required of the undergraduate forestry major.
4 of the remaining 24 credits can be completed as an undergraduate under senior rule, but the credits cannot be applied toward a bachelor’s degree.

Up to 12 credits of the 30-credit total may be at the 3000 or 4000 level. The 9 credits counted for both the bachelor’s and master’s degree count toward these 12 credits if they are at the 3000 or 4000 level.

GPA Requirements

Only students in good academic standing, as defined by the Graduate School, are eligible to enter the accelerated MS program. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.

Admission Requirements

Program Specific

1 Letter of Recommendation
Overall GPA of 3.0 or greater
Résumé/curriculum vitae
No GRE required

Eligible Undergraduate Majors

CFRES majors who have been to a Field Camp