Master
of Science
in Forestry (MSF) Program
Admission requirements Admission requirements are those of the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences. Candidates for the Master of Science in Forestry (M.S.F.) with an emphasis in Wood Science and Technology may major in wood science and technology, forest products, or forest operations. Within these major fields of study, specialization is limited only by the range of competencies in the graduate faculty. 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.
Background Requirements Graduate students enrolling in wood science will be excepted to have taken WDSC 223, Wood Anatomy and Structure, WDSC 232, Primary Conversion and Grading, and WDSC 401, Field Trip or their equivalents. (Equivalent courses are similar courses taken at other institutions or at WVU. Equivalency will be determined by the Wood Science faculty based upon the recommendation of the student’s major professor.) Graduate students are expected to make up deficiencies in undergraduate background as part of their program of study. The student’s graduate committee may specify other undergraduate courses in Wood Science or related areas that student will be required to take as part of their program.
Wood Science graduate students pursing an M.S.F. degree will fulfill the following course requirements <
- Statistics 511 and 512, 9 credit hours of 500 or better-level course work in Wood Science or related area of specialization, and
- 2 credit hours of WDSC 696, Graduate Seminar.
Doctoral Program
(Ph.D. in Forest Resources Science)
A student seeking admission to work toward the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Resources Science in the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences may choose as the major field of study forest science, wood science, or wildlife and fisheries management. Within these major fields of study, specialization is limited only by the range of competencies in the graduate faculty Curriculum requirements for all candidates include a block of graduate requirements course 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. 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. Admission requirements are those of the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences.
Background Requirements
Graduate students enrolling in wood science will be expected to have taken WDSC 223, Wood Anatomy and Structure, WDSC 232, Primary Conversion and Grading, and WDSC 401, Field Trip or their equivalents. (Equivalent courses are similar courses taken at other institutions or at WVU. Equivalency will be determined by the Wood Science faculty based upon the recommendation of the student’s major professor.) Graduate students are expected to make up deficiencies in undergraduate background as part of their program of study.
The student’s graduate committee may specify other undergraduate courses in Wood Science or related areas that student will be required to take as part of their program.
Wood science graduate students pursuing the Ph.D. will fulfill the following course requirements
- Statistics 511 and 512, 3 credit hours of WDSC 796, Graduate Seminar ,
- Courses appropriate to the student’s area of specialization (i.e., Advanced Physical Properties of Wood, Advanced Wood Mechanics, Operations Research, Wood Chemistry, etc.).
For additional information concerning the Wood Science and Technology graduate program, contact: James P. Armstrong or Loretta Hoover