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Master of Forestry
The University of Maine's School of Forest Resources offers a program of graduate study leading to a Master of Forestry (MF) degree. The MF program is a professional, non-thesis master's program.
The MF program prepares students for a rewarding career in forest management by enhancing the abilities of professional foresters with prior experience and by allowing a career change for non-foresters. Many of the graduate-level forestry courses, as well as other graduate-level courses, are offered weekly, in the evening, to enable working professionals to complete the requirements on a part-time basis.
Admissions:
Applicants for the MF program must apply to the University of Maine Graduate School Applications and admission is handled by the Graduate School. Information and application forms are available at: http://www.umaine.edu/graduate/
Recommendations for admission are made by the School of Forest Resources based on academic records, results of the Graduate Record Examination (required), experience, and recommendations.
The curriculum is designed for fall admission, but spring semester admission is possible, with the understanding that more than four semesters may be required for students without a prior forestry degree to complete the program. Applications for fall admission should be submitted by the end of March; those for spring admission by the end of November. Those wanting to be considered for Teaching Assistantships should submit applications by February 15.
Requirements:
1) Form an Advisory Committee: The Master of Forestry Advisory Committee is made up of three graduate faculty members, including one that must be outside the student’s discipline.
2) Course Requirements: For persons with a professional forestry degree, thirty (30) total credit hours are required for the MF degree. At least twelve (12) credits must be in graduate courses, including FTY 690 a three (3) credit problem course on a topic selected by the student and Advisory Committee. The remaining courses are selected by the student with the approval of the Advisory Committee.
Students with no forestry degree must first take a series of undergraduate courses to qualify as professional foresters. These students must have a minimum of a BS or BA degree or its equivalent from a recognized University or College and have completed courses in introductory calculus, principles of statistical inference, introductory biology, introductory chemistry, and introductory economics. View a sample curriculum for students needing the undergraduate forestry courses (PDF file).
3) Independent Study: The FTY 690 problem course is an independent study on a topic approved by the Advisory Committee. This is not a thesis based on research, rather a professional report which will be reviewed as critically as a thesis by the student’s Advisory Committee.
4) Final Examination: Student will be given an oral examination as a portion of the formal report. The Advisory Committee must approve this report.
Fees and Expenses:
Tuition varies with residency. Current rates are published in the Graduate Catalog. Financial aid may be available.
Assistantships:
All applications may be considered for the several teaching assistantships available each year.
