Graduate Programs

Degrees Offered:

The Master of Science (M.S.F. or M.S.) is awarded in four discipline areas, as noted below:

• Master of Science in Forestry – Forest Resources Management or Wood Science and Technology
• Master of Science – Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources
• Master of Science – Wildlife and Fisheries Resources

The Ph.D. in Forest Resources Science is awarded with emphasis in one of the following disciplines:

• Forest Resources Management
• Wood Science
• Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources
• Wildlife and Fisheries Resources

M.S.F./M.S. Programs

Master of Science in Forestry (M.S.F.)

Students seeking admission for the degree of Master of Science in Forestry (M.S.F.) should have completed an undergraduate curriculum in forestry. A student whose undergraduate degree is in a field other than forestry will ordinarily be required to take supplemental undergraduate courses. Candidates for the degree may major in forest biometry, forest ecology, forest economics, forest management, silviculture, or wood industry. The candidate must complete 30 hours of approved study, six hours of which shall constitute a thesis. The program ordinarily requires two years of residence.

Master of Science – Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources (M.S.)

For students who wish to major in recreation, parks, and tourism resources, the graduate program emphasis includes, but is not limited to, recreation administration and policy, environmental education and interpretation, and recreation planning and resource management. Degree requirements are either 30 semester hours of approved study, including a six credit-hour thesis, or 36 semester hours without a thesis but including a three credit-hour problem paper. This program ordinarily requires two years of residence.

Master of Science – Wildlife and Fisheries Resources (M.S.)

Students interested in graduate studies in wildlife and fisheries management may elect either 30 semester hours of approved study, including a six hour thesis or 36 hours of approved study without a thesis but including a three hour problem paper. This program ordinarily requires two years of residence. For further information concerning graduate course descriptions, consult the individual Programs.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master’s program leading to the M.S.F. or M.S. degree requires:

• a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) during the last two years of undergraduate studies,
• an earned bachelor’s degree,
• completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE),
• three letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to evaluate the student’s potential for masters studies and independent research,
• a typed composition of at least 600 words indicating the student’s purpose and objective in undertaking graduate studies as related to major issues in that area,
• a faculty member in the student’s major area of study willing to serve as major professor and favorable approval by the professors in the area of interest,
• a minimum TOEFL score of 550 as required by the University (for international non-English native language students only).

Ph.D. Program

Field of Study

A student seeking admission to work toward the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Resources Science in the College of Agriculture and Forestry may choose as the major field of study Forest Resources Management; Wood Science; Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources; or Wildlife and Fisheries Resources. Within these major fields of study, specialization is limited only by the range of competencies in the graduate faculty.

Admission to the doctoral program leading to the Ph.D. degree in Forest Resources Science requires:

1. a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) during the last two years of undergraduate studies or a master’s degree,
2. completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE),
3. three letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to evaluate the student’s potential for doctoral studies and independent research,
4. submission of copies of previous publications and a typed composition of at least 600 words indicating the student’s purpose and objective in undertaking graduate studies as related to major issues in that area,
5. a faculty member in the student’s major area of study willing to serve as major professor and favorable approval by the professors in the area of interest,
6. a minimum TOEFL score of 550 as required by the University (for international non-English native language students only).

Curriculum Requirements

Curriculum requirements for all candidates include a block of graduate courses in the major field, which will constitute a comprehensive review of the significant knowledge in that field, and a block of graduate courses in a minor field of study. A minimum of 60 semester hours beyond the bachelor’s degree and exclusive of the dissertation is required.

Dissertation and Final Examination

The research work for the doctoral dissertation must show a high degree of scholarship and must present an original contribution to the field of forest resources science. In addition to course work and the dissertation, the candidate is required to pass a qualifying examination and a final examination.

WVU Guide to the Preparation of Master’s Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

For further information concerning graduate course descriptions, consult the individual departments below:

• Forest Resources Management
• Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources
• Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
• Wood Science and Technology