Degree Offered
- Master of Science in Forestry
Major Fields of Study Offered
- Forest Resources Management
- Wood Science and Technology
Nature of the Program
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 pursue an emphasis in forest resources management or wood science and technology. Within their selected area of emphasis, candidates may focus their studies on arboriculture, bio-energy, bio-fuels, forest biometry, forest business, forest ecology, forest economics, forest hydrology, forest management, forest operations, forest soils, silviculture, wood composites, wood marketing, wood science and technology, or urban forestry.
Admissions for 2025-2026
A regular graduate student is a degree-seeking student who meets all the criteria for regular admission to a program of their choice and be under no requirements to make up deficiencies.
For regular admission, a student must:
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from a college or university and have at least a grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (or an average of 3.0 or higher for the last sixty credit hours).
- Provide three letters of reference from persons acquainted with the applicant’s professional work, experience, or academic background.
- Submit a written statement of 500 words or more indicating the applicant’s goals and objectives relative to receiving a graduate degree, and identify a potential faculty advisor.
* International students must meet WVU's minimum score requirements for English language proficiency.
Students seeking admission for the M.S. Forestry degree should have completed an undergraduate curriculum emphasizing Forestry or Wood Science. A student whose undergraduate degree is in a field other than these two areas of study will ordinarily be required to take supplemental undergraduate courses.
Candidates may emphasize study in arboriculture, biocomposites, forest biometry, forest ecology, forest economics, forest hydrology, forest management, forest operations, forest products marketing, silviculture, sustainable construction, or urban forestry.
Major Code: 1728
A candidate for the M.S.F. degree in Forestry must meet all University, College, Division, and Program requirements as outlined in the WVU Graduate Catalog.
Program Requirements
All M.S.F. degree candidates are required to follow a planned program of study. The student develops the plan of study during their first year in the program in conjunction with the graduate committee. The plan must be approved by the Director of the Division and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the Davis College.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required in all courses applied toward degree requirements. | ||
| Course Requirements as determined by the Plan of Study * | 24 | |
| Research | 6 | |
| Research | ||
| Plan of Study | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- *
Students must complete a minimum of 30 total hours, of which at least 24 hours must be coursework other than research, project, internship, etc. credits. Of the 24 credit hours, no more than 3 credit hours of 590, 690, or 790 can be taken.
Candidates for the degree may emphasize in forest biometry, forest ecology, forest economics, forest business, forest management, forest hydrology, silviculture, wood science and technology, forest operations, wood composites, wood marketing, bio-energy, or bio-fuels. The candidate must complete thirty hours of approved study, six hours of which shall constitute a thesis. The program ordinarily requires two years of residence. The Division of Forestry and Natural Resources in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design requires three letters of recommendation and a one-page goal statement which identifies the area of specialization the student desires to study.