CFRES Graduate Handbook | College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

Welcome to the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES)!

We are excited to be a part of your career in sustainable natural resources, and are here to help you reach your goals. The goal of this page is to assist graduate students with their adjustment to Graduate School and to outline the requirements and procedures for obtaining an advanced degree in CFRES. The information supplied herein is more specific than that on the Graduate School page, as it applies to our programs only. Students should familiarize themselves with this handbook and the general regulations of the Graduate School as found in the Graduate School’s Academics web pages, which covers policies and procedures, degree requirements, necessary forms, and more. The Graduate School website also contains a wealth of information for current students

The information supplied here applies to our research-based degree programs:

MS in Forest Ecology and Management,
MS in Applied Ecology,
MS in Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology,
PhD in Forest Science,
PhD in Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology

As well as our professional degree programs (i.e., coursework-only options):

Master of Forestry (MF)
Master of Geographic Information Science (MGIS).

College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science Personnel

If you need help with...	Contact	Title
Signing and submission of all milestone forms Graduate courses and milestones Any issues RE: grad school experience & advisor Grad school policies and procedures Academic or research progress	Molly Cavaleri macavale@mtu.edu	Director of Graduate Studies, Associate Dean
Purchasing Payroll Travel Reimbursements Tuition	Marjorie Banovetz marjorie@mtu.edu	Graduate Assistant /Administrative Aide
Registration issues Booking rooms in CFRES building Office assignments Key requests	Kat Hanson khanson1@mtu.edu	Academic Advisor, Undergraduate Students
Scheduling safety training Lab and field safety Running samples in LEAF lab shared facility	Jennifer Eikenberry jreikenb@mtu.edu	Safety coordinator, LEAF Technical Staff
Greenhouse space	Tom Panella, tepanell@mtu.edu	Greenhouse Coordinator
Housing at Ford Center Operations at Nara Family Maple Center	Jim Tolan jetolan@mtu.edu	Operations Manager, Ford Center
Research at Ford Center	Mark Rudnicki mrudnick@mtu.edu	Director of the Ford Center and Forest
Scheduling meetings with the Dean	Phyllis Williamson pcwillia@mtu.edu	Director of Administration

Keys and Space Assignment

Each graduate student in residence is provided a desk for personal use in a research lab or graduate student office. The student's Tech Express identification card, which you received at orientation (or from the IT desk in the Library), is used for after-hours access to the CFRES building. Office keys must be approved by the advisor and are ordered by the Space Coordinator. You will receive an email from Public Safety when your key is ready to be picked up from the Public Safety building. Requests for new keys, replacements for lost keys, or swipe-card access to restricted areas should be made to the Space Coordinator. Keys must not be passed on to anyone else or duplicated under ANY circumstances. Lending or duplication of keys is grounds for dismissal. Lost keys need to be reported to supervisors as soon as they are noticed to be missing. A $100-$150 fee is assessed for any key lost/replaced or not returned to Public Safety when no longer needed.

Advisors and Advisory Committees

Advisors

All CFRES graduate students must choose an advisor who is a member of the Michigan Tech graduate faculty and holds a regular or adjunct faculty appointment. Advisors provide guidance to students on course selection and supervise their research. This task must be completed by the end of the second semester in residence by filling out the following Advisor and Committee Recommendation Form with only the advisors name (the same form will be submitted again, revised with names of committee members by the 3rd or 4th semester)

Advisory Committee, Qualifying Exam, and Proposal Defense

The primary purpose of the Advisory Committee is to guide and monitor the research work of the student. Every MS, MGIS, or MF student is required to have an Advisory Committee consisting of at least three members, including their advisor or co-advisors. An external faculty member is not required for Masters degree programs. MF and MGIS students can initially have the program coordinator(s) as their primary advisor, but they may select another faculty member as their primary advisor if they choose to, ideally by their second semester.

Every Ph.D. student is required to have an Advisory Committee consisting of at least four members, including their advisor or co-advisors. For Ph.D. students, one of the four members needs to be an external committee member. A committee member is classified as external if one of the following is true:

• They do not have an academic appointment in the student’s home department or college,

• Their academic appointment is less than 50% in the student's home department or college, or

• They are affiliated faculty in the student's home department or college, or

• They are adjunct faculty.

Committee members that are outside of MTU may be considered external committee members as long as they do not have an official academic appointment in CFRES, such as Assistant Research Professor or Adjunct Faculty. An advisor or co-advisor may be from outside the student’s home department or college, but cannot serve as the sole external member of the committee.

All committee members for every degree program must have full or associate Graduate Faculty Status. To determine whether an individual is a member of the Graduate Faculty, go to Graduate Faculty Locator. To request that an individual be considered for Graduate Faculty Status if they do not already have it, you must fill out and submit the following Faculty Status Form.

Faculty Status Form

Policy to Change Academic Advisor

Students are encouraged to practice effective communication and openly discuss with their current advisor any significant changes in their research area. If there are compelling reasons for changing an advisor during the graduate study, the student or the advisor can initiate the change process in consultation with the Graduate Program Director and/or the CFRES Dean. If the student or advisor feels that there may be a conflict of interest on the part of the Graduate Program Director or CFRES Dean, an outside representative from the Graduate School may be requested.

Ph.D. students, in consultation with their advisor and with the approval of the graduate studies committee/CFRES Dean, may select new or additional Advisory Committee members and file the Advisory and Committee Recommendation Form with CFRES and the Graduate School. The Advisory Committee for the Qualifying Exam need not be the same as the Advisory Committee for the research proposal defense, and in some cases the proposal defense may occur prior to the qualifying exam. A graduate faculty member external to CFRES is required for the final dissertation defense.

If the student is under research support from the current advisor, that support is not transferred to the new advisor. However, if the student is under teaching assistant support from CFRES, the support will be transferred to the new CFRES advisor dependent on continuing satisfactory progress by the student as required by the College. If the student is receiving external funding support directly through fellowships, such as NSF, specific fellowship guidelines must be followed. If no guidelines are specified, the student will maintain funding independent of the advisor, pending approval of the funding agency.

Timely Written Feedback

All graduate programs at the university provide constructive written feedback to students who are completing a report, thesis, or dissertation, at least annually. This formal process ensures that both students and advisors are aware of the student's academic progress and plans for the future. The form used in CFRES can be found online at Degree Requirements and is typically due at the end of April of each year. The form is completed by both the student and advisor. If deficiencies are identified in a student’s performance, written feedback will be provided twice yearly, specifically addressing the area(s) of deficiency, timeline for making up the deficiency, and consequences for continued unsatisfactory performance, and copies will be provided also to the Director of Graduate Studies. These deficiencies are interpreted broadly, but generally include a level of student performance that may put funding and/or successful continuation in the program in jeopardy.

Work Expectations (hours devoted to research vs. TA, etc.)

Students who are enrolled are expected to work on their research or coursework according to the General Requirements of Credit Expectations. In summary, these guidelines state: "One credit should average 3½ hours of a student’s time per week for one semester. One hour in class and 2½ hours in individual study is a typical division." The 3.5 hours commitment per credit holds as well for students enrolled in research credits. Thus an *average* graduate student enrolled in 9 credits of research should spend *on average* 9*3.5=31.5 hours per week on their research.

Students who are supported by a GRA, GTA, GTI, GADI, etc. are expected to perform work for the University at the rate of 20 hours per week (for a full appointment). This 20 hours per week is in addition to the amount of time a student spends working on their coursework or research for the credits in which they are enrolled. These graduate appointments are considered to be part-time jobs which provide some financial assistance to students so that they can pursue their degrees on a full-time basis.

The sum of #1 and #2 above is more than 40 hours per week, but less than 60 hours per week. I want to add however that the most successful students are those who focus their attention on achieving the intended outcomes for their courses and research. For students supported on an hourly basis, all hours worked must be reported and paid per labor laws. International students are limited to 20 hours per week while classes are in session during fall and spring semesters.

Leave of Absence

Graduate students may encounter circumstances which make it difficult for them to make progress toward their degree. These circumstances may include, but are not limited to, financial difficulties, personal challenges, bereavement, or medical care for a family member. Although continuous enrollment is expected to make progress toward the degree, in some situations, it will be in a graduate student’s best interests to take a leave of absence so they have the necessary time to resolve these circumstances. Graduate students eligible to enroll may apply for a leave of absence from their graduate program for any future semester. A leave of absence may be requested for up to one academic year and may be extended once. While on leave, students will be exempt from continuous enrollment, and the deadline to complete qualifying and research proposal exams will be extended.

Leave of Absence Info

How to Schedule a Defense

Final oral examinations (“defenses”) can be scheduled on MyMichiganTech. This applies to students scheduling a defense of their dissertation, thesis, or report. Students will log into MyMichiganTech to complete a scheduling request, and their advisor will log into the Workflow system to review that request and decide. A student tutorialand advisor tutorial with screenshots are available on the Graduate School blog, as well as a presentation in the seminar archive. A complete overview of the process to complete a dissertation, thesis, or report is available online.

A few things to note:

Students who have already completed their defense or have a defense already scheduled with the Graduate School do not need to repeat this process on MyMichiganTech.
Faculty will need to log into the Workflow system to approve defenses. Please refer to advisor tutorial.
The Graduate School will continue to accept PDF forms this semester if a student has already started that process with their advisor.
Please delete any PDF forms that have been saved to use later. Always go to our website for the most current information and forms.
This process applies to the final oral examination, and not to other examinations such as a qualifying examination or research proposal examination.
Graduate programs should remove references and links to the “pre-defense form” from their website and handbooks, as this process replaces the form.

Recommended Timeline for Graduate Degree Milestones for MS and PhD

All work must be completed within the specified time frame starting from the first enrollment in the degree program or the earliest course listed on the degree schedule, whichever is sooner.

Master’s degree must be completed within 5 calendar years.
Ph.D. must be completed within 8 calendar years.

Below is a general list of time frames for each task that needs to be completed for your degree, in addition to coursework. Personalized upcoming and completed tasks may be viewed in your MyMichigan Tech account on the Current Students page.

Task	When	Forms or Links
Choose Major Advisor	1st semester (MS) 1st or 2nd semester (PhD)	Submit form to Director of Graduate Studies Advisor Form
Complete Basic Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), take FW5810 Research Methods in Natural Resources (MS and PhD)	1st or 2nd semester	N/A
Select Advisory Committee	2nd semester (MS) 2nd or 3rd semester (PhD)	Submit form to Director of Graduate Studies Advisor Form
Complete and submit annual progress report form and meet with advisor about form	End of 2nd semester, and every year thereafter (or more frequently)	Submit form to your advisor for feedback Progress Report
Present Research Proposal to Committee (MS-thesis only)	2nd semester	Submit form to Director of Graduate Studies Thesis Proposal
Complete Advanced RCR	2nd or 3rd semester	N/A
Take FW5800/6800 Graduate Seminar	2nd or 3rd year
Pass Qualifying Exam (PhD only)	3rd or 4th semester	Submit form to Director of Graduate Studies Qualifying Exam
Pass Research Proposal Examination (PhD only)	3rd, 4th, or 5th semester	Submit form to Director of Graduate Studies PhD Form
Submit Degree Schedule	Semester coursework will be completed	Submit form to Director of Graduate Studies MS Degree Schedule PhD Degree Schedule
Enter Research-only Mode (i.e., Candidacy)	Petition due one week before semester wishing to enter research mode. See eligibility here	Submit form to Director of Graduate Studies:
Meet with advisor to establish a detailed timeline degree completion Submit Graduate Application form	At start of semester in which defense and graduation is planned	Fill out Graduate Application Google form and submit directly Graduate Application
Schedule defense with committee and submit details to Grad School. Find and book a 3 – 3.5 hour block of time that works for all committee members	Schedule at least one month prior to defense date – ideally well before this as it is hard to find a time that works for all.	Once a date is agreed upon by committee, submit Oral Examination scheduling form in your MyMichiganTech portal.
Book rooms for both public (1 hour) and closed-door (2-2.5 hours) portions of defense -does not have to be the same room. The Graduate School will advertise public defenses in Tech Today. It is also advisable (though not required) for the student’s advisor to send an email to CFRES listservs to advertise the defense	Book room(s) at least one month prior to defense date – ideally well before this because rooms book up!	To book closed-door portion of defense: Stay in room of public defense (if it can be booked for that long) or sign up for CFRES rooms 119 or G004 by writing in one of Book public room
Submit report, thesis, or dissertation to Graduate School and to your committee	Submit at least 2 weeks before defense date.	Upload document in Pre-defense Dissertation Submission module on the Graduate Candidates course in Canvas. Email electronic versions and/or submit hard copies to committee members (ask them which they prefer)
Public and closed-door defense of research	Defense date should be at least 1 or 2 weeks prior to the final deadline to submit committee approved post defense dissertation, thesis, or report so you have time to revise based on Advisory Committee feedback (find relevant deadline in link in box below).	For MS and PhD Thesis defenses, submit form to Director of Graduate Studies For Courswork-only MS defenses, please fill out and submit the following form to the Director of Graduate Studies Defense Form
Submit committee-approved post-defense dissertation, thesis, or report	Specific deadlines	After all technical and formatting corrections are complete, students will submit their dissertation or thesis to Digital Commons and ProQuest
Submit Workspace Cleanout form	Prior to graduation and/or leaving the University premises.	Upload signed document to MyMichiganTech. Instructions

Other Resources

There are several offices around campus that are best situated to assist you with many other facets of your graduate education. These include:

• Center for Diversity and Inclusion Fosters student success through events, resources, counseling, and referral services that enhance retention and graduation outcomes.

• Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being Hands-on health & well-being education and support.

• Writing Center Writing Center coaches an help with: thesis/dissertation proposals and chapters, graduate coursework, CVs, manuscripts, procrastination and writer's block, grant and fellowship proposals, and more.

• International Programs and Services Forinternational students, the IPS will help you with visa issues, English language requirements, employment (e.g., post-completion optional practical training and curricular practical training), and other needs you may have.

• Residence Education and Housing Housing Services may also be able to help you find housing off-campus.

• Graduate Student Government All graduate students at Michigan Techare represented by the GSG. Each unit (including CFRES) chooses representatives to advocate for their interests (e.g., housing, health insurance, parental leave, etc.) and to bring issues back to the students in the unit. CFRES typically has between 50-100 graduate students enrolled, for which two GSG representatives are required.

• Student Organizations Michigan Tech has numerous student clubs and organizations focused on a variety of themes (e.g., intermural sports, professional societies, international affiliation, hobbies), and most are open to graduate students. These organizations are a great way to network with other students on campus and provide worklife balance that is so important to success!

General Credit Requirements for Master’s and PhD Students

These are the minimum requirements set by the Graduate School. Each degree may have additional CFRES requirements

Full time credit load for graduate students is 9 credits for fall and spring and 1 credit for summer semester. If students are supported with full stipends, they must maintain full time status. If students are fully supported, they should not take more than 9 credits. If they are paid “hourly,” they only need to maintain continuous enrollment of 1 credit per semester.
30 credits total (coursework + research) beyond the bachelor’s degree are required for a Master’s degree.
30 credits total (coursework + research) beyond the Master’s degree are required for a PhD.
60 credits total (coursework + research) are required for a PhD if a student does not already have a Master’s degree.
Maximum of 12 credits may be at the 3000 or 4000 level (with program approval). • One-third of non-research credits may be transfer credits as long as they were not applied toward another degree.
Research credits are the only non-graded classes that may be counted toward a degree.
Coursework must be graded to apply to a graduate degree. Pass/fail, audit, or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades may not be used on a degree schedule.
Coursework grades must be a grade of “B” or better. This requirement may be adjusted with permission from the student’s advisor and the Graduate Director of CFRES to allow use of “BC/C” grades for up to 6 credits.

Special Conditions

If you are getting an “MS along the way” to a PhD, credits from your MS can count towards your PhD if they were not used for the MS (i.e., not on your degree schedule or counted towards that credit requirement).

• Students in an Accelerated Master’s program may apply up to 9 of the credits earned while an undergraduate toward both their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. This option is currently only available for the MF and MGIS coursework-only programs.

• While finishing an undergraduate degree at MTU, students are allowed to take courses which could apply to a graduate degree this is called the Senior Rule. However, a course cannot be applied to both a graduate and an undergraduate degree.

Specific Coursework and Research Credit Requirements for CFRES Degree Programs

Master of Forestry program (MF) – Coursework only

Basic Responsible Conduct of Research training (RCR; see details below)
Advanced RCR - online version acceptable (see details below)
FW 3020 - Forest Ecology
Environmental factors and plant and animal characteristics which control composition, structure, and function of forest ecosystems. Emphasis on how ecosystems change across space and time and knowledge needed to sustainably manage forest ecosystems for social, economic, and ecological benefits.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-3)

Semesters Offered: Fall

Pre-Requisite(s): FW 2051(C)
FW 5020 - Woody Plants of North America
Identification and ecology of forest plants with an emphasis on tree and shrubs. Includes systematic study of the major forest vegetation types of North America.

Credits: 2.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (1-0-3)

Semesters Offered: Fall

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
FW 5330 - Applied Soil Science
A review of the chemical, physical, and biological properties of soil with emphasis on forest soils and emerging issues in forest management.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-3)

Semesters Offered: Fall

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
FW 5378 - Field Methods
To gain real world experience in measuring, monitoring, and assessing various projects involving active management and conservation of our university forest resources.

Credits: 1.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-0-3)

Semesters Offered: Fall

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate; Must be enrolled in one of the following Major(s): Forestry
FW 5550 - Geographic Information Science and Spatial Analysis
Use of geographic information systems (GIS) in resource management. Studies various components of GIS in detail, as well as costs and benefits. Laboratory exercises use ArcGIS software package to solve resource management problems.

Credits: 4.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-3)

Semesters Offered: Fall

Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior

Pre-Requisite(s): MA 2710 or MA 2720 or MA 3710
FW 3110 - Natural Resource Policy
Covers concepts related to social systems and natural resources. Explores natural resource policy foundations and partners, rights and responsibilities, and approaches and practices within and between state, tribal, and federal levels of policy making, policy processes, implementation, and evaluation.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)

Semesters Offered: Spring, Summer
FW 5079 - Forest Management
Focus on forest resource management planning and decision making, emphasizing structured problem solving frameworks and decision support tools/models at forest and landscape scales. Course held at Ford Center, Alberta, MI.

Credits: 2.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (1-0-1)

Semesters Offered: Fall, Summer

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate

Co-Requisite(s): FW 5700
FW 5081 - Professionalism in Forestry
This class engages professional students in practicing soft skills for a forestry and/or natural resources management career. Emphasis will be on networking, communicating clearly to their intended audience, handling meetings, leadership, and public presentations. The professional society's code of ethics will be explored.

Credits: 1.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (1-0-0)

Semesters Offered: Spring

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate; Must be enrolled in one of the following Major(s): Forestry
FW 5201 - Forest Biometrics and Modeling
Overview and application of statistical techniques and sampling designs used in the forest environment for attribute monitoring and inventory. Use and evaluation of models that simulated forest development and their application in management and planning.

Credits: 2.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (1-0-3)

Semesters Offered: Spring

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate; Must be enrolled in one of the following Major(s): Forestry
FW 5369 - Hydrology and Watershed Management
This survey course introduces the applications of hydrological concepts to evaluate the impacts of forest management and other land use activities/events on water yield, infiltration, evapotranspiration, stormflow, erosion, sedimentation, and water quality.

Credits: 1.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (1-0-0)

Semesters Offered: Spring

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
FW 5700 - Graduate Field Forestry
For graduate students without an undergraduate degree in forestry or a closely related field. Covers field skills in mapping/GPS work, forest diseases and insects, wildlife, timber harvesting, natural resource inventory, and silviculture.

Credits: 8.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-15)

Semesters Offered: Fall, Summer

Co-Requisite(s): FW 5079
FW 5088 - Economic Analysis of Forestry
Financial analysis and economic theory applied to forestry project analysis and selection, focusing on prices. Covers risk, capital markets, taxation, auctions, land valuation, harvesting decisions, and non-market valuation.

Credits: 2.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-0)

Semesters Offered: Spring

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
Minimum of 30 coursework credits total, which may be higher for courses required by Society of American Foresters Accreditation Standards; research credits do not count towards coursework degree options.

Master of Geographic Information Science program (MGIS) – Coursework only

Basic Responsible Conduct of Research training (RCR; see details below)
Advanced RCR - online version acceptable (see details below)
FW 5540 - Remote Sensing of the Environment
Remote sensing principles and concepts. Topics include camera and digital sensor arrays, types of imagery, digital data structures, spectral reflectance curves, applications, and introductory digital image processing.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-1-0)

Semesters Offered: Fall

Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior

Co-Requisite(s): FW 5541
FW 5541 - Remote Sensing of the Environment Lab
Applied introductory remote sensing analysis using industry standard software for digital image processing.

Credits: 1.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-0-3)

Semesters Offered: Fall

Co-Requisite(s): FW 5540
FW 5550 - Geographic Information Science and Spatial Analysis
Use of geographic information systems (GIS) in resource management. Studies various components of GIS in detail, as well as costs and benefits. Laboratory exercises use ArcGIS software package to solve resource management problems.

Credits: 4.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-3)

Semesters Offered: Fall

Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior

Pre-Requisite(s): MA 2710 or MA 2720 or MA 3710
FW 5554 - GPS Field Techniques
This course will provide hands-on experience with various types of GPS units and different applications of the technology. These applications include planning, data collection, data processing, and data management. Emphasis will be on practical applications of Global Positioning System technology.

Credits: 2.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (1-0-3)

Semesters Offered: Fall

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following College(s): College of For Res & Env Sci; May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior
FW 5556 - GIS Project Management
Course provides exposure to data collection techniques, web mapping applications, and advanced database structures. Students will investigate GIS system design, GIS project planning and data management, learn map atlas creation and cartographic techniques, and discuss geospatial ethics.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (1-0-4)

Semesters Offered: Spring

Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior

Pre-Requisite(s): FW 5550
FW 5557 - Applied Spatial Statistics
Focus on spatial statistical methods such as spatial regression, geographically weighted regression and cluster analysis. ArcMap is utilized for analysis.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-3)

Semesters Offered: Spring

Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore

Pre-Requisite(s): FW 5550
FW 5801 - Masters Seminar in GIS
Students will review, present, and discuss current research and applications of geospatial technology. This course is designed for students in the professional MS in GIS degree program, but will be open to students in other programs.

Credits: 1.0; Repeatable to a Max of 4
Lec-Rec-Lab: (1-0-0)

Semesters Offered: Spring

Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior
At least one course from the following list:
FW 5560 - Digital Image Processing: A Remote Sensing Perspective
Presents the theory and quantitative procedures of digital image processing using remotely sensed data. Emphasizes image acquisition, preprocessing, enhancement, transformation classification techniques, accuracy assessment, and out-products. Discusses linkages to GIS. Also covers evaluating applications of the technology to current resource management problems via peer-reviewed literature.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-1)

Semesters Offered: Spring, in odd years

Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior
FW 5553 - Python Programming for GIS
An introduction to Python scripting and basic Python coding within ArcMap. Labs cover tasks found in typical GIS workflows. Students learn how to write and debug Python scripts, models and mapping programs.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-3)

Semesters Offered: Fall

Pre-Requisite(s): FW 5550 or FW 3540
GE 4250 - Fundamentals of Remote Sensing
This course focuses on the basic physics behind above- surface remote sensing and remote sensing systems. Topics covered include: properties of the atmosphere, absorption and scattering of electromagnetic radiation, instrument design, data acquisition and processing, validation, and basic applications.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-1-0)

Semesters Offered: Spring

Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore

Pre-Requisite(s): PH 2200 and MA 2160
GE 5150 - Advanced Natural Hazards
Exploration of how to develop comprehensive plans to mitigate the impact of natural hazards on humans. Requires a project and report.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-3)

Semesters Offered: On Demand

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
SS 5050 - Advanced GIS Methods and Projects
Advanced application of Geographic Information Systems in social sciences as a tool to collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data. Students gain hands-on experience in data collection, advanced spatial analysis, and scripting.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (1-0-2)

Semesters Offered: Fall, in odd years

Restrictions: Permission of instructor required; Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate

Pre-Requisite(s): SS 5049
SU 4140 - Photogrammetry & UAV Mapping
Basic principles of photogrammetry and its role as a technology for spatial data collection. Use of photogrammetry in the fields of surveying, engineering, and geographic information management will be discussed.

Credits: 4.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-2)

Semesters Offered: Fall

Additional credits of elective coursework selected and approved by the advisor, specified in student’s degree schedule (6-7 credits)

Minimum of 30 coursework credits total; research credits do not count towards coursework degree options.

MS degree programs – Thesis option (Applied Ecology, Forest Ecology and Management, Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology)

Basic Responsible Conduct of Research training (RCR; see details below)
Advanced RCR course (1-3 credits, see details below)
FW 5800 - Master's Graduate Seminar
Presentation by students of current natural resource- related problems and research. Some instruction on presentation skills.

Credits: 1.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-1-0)

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
FW 5810 - Research Methods in Natural Resources
Overview of science and scientific research. The process of graduate education including choosing an advisor, selecting a research problem, writing a thesis proposal, scientific hypothesis testing, analyzing data, and communicating results through various media.

Credits: 2.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-0)

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
FW 5999 - Forest Resources and Environmental Science Master's Research
An original investigation in forest science, ecology, and forest molecular genetics that culminates in a Master's degree.

Credits: variable to 15.0; May be repeated; Graded Pass/Fail Only

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
An upper division statistics class.
Minimum of 30 credits total; at least 20 of them need to be coursework credits

MS degree programs – Report option (Applied Ecology, Forest Ecology and Management, Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology)

Basic Responsible Conduct of Research training (RCR; see details below)
Advanced RCR course (1-3 credits, see details below)
FW 5800 - Master's Graduate Seminar
Presentation by students of current natural resource- related problems and research. Some instruction on presentation skills.

Credits: 1.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-1-0)

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
FW 5810 - Research Methods in Natural Resources
Overview of science and scientific research. The process of graduate education including choosing an advisor, selecting a research problem, writing a thesis proposal, scientific hypothesis testing, analyzing data, and communicating results through various media.

Credits: 2.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-0)

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
FW 5999 - Forest Resources and Environmental Science Master's Research
An original investigation in forest science, ecology, and forest molecular genetics that culminates in a Master's degree.

Credits: variable to 15.0; May be repeated; Graded Pass/Fail Only

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
An upper division statistics class.
Minimum of 30 credits total; at least 24 of them need to be coursework credits

MS degree programs – Coursework option (Applied Ecology, Forest Ecology and Management, Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology)

– this option is rarely used, and only under special circumstances with permission from advisor and Director of Graduate Studies.

Basic Responsible Conduct of Research training (RCR; see details below)
Advanced RCR - online version acceptable (see details below)
FW 5800 - Master's Graduate Seminar
Presentation by students of current natural resource- related problems and research. Some instruction on presentation skills.

Credits: 1.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-1-0)

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
FW 5810 - Research Methods in Natural Resources
Overview of science and scientific research. The process of graduate education including choosing an advisor, selecting a research problem, writing a thesis proposal, scientific hypothesis testing, analyzing data, and communicating results through various media.

Credits: 2.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-0)

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
An upper division statistics class.
Minimum of 30 coursework credits total; research credits do not count towards coursework degree options.

PhD programs – (Forest Science, Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology) Basic Responsible Conduct of Research training (RCR; see details below)

Basic Responsible Conduct of Research training (RCR; see details below)
Advanced RCR course (1-3 credits, see details below)
FW 5800 - Master's Graduate Seminar
Presentation by students of current natural resource- related problems and research. Some instruction on presentation skills.

Credits: 1.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-1-0)

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
FW 5810 - Research Methods in Natural Resources
Overview of science and scientific research. The process of graduate education including choosing an advisor, selecting a research problem, writing a thesis proposal, scientific hypothesis testing, analyzing data, and communicating results through various media.

Credits: 2.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-0)

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring

Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
An upper division statistics class.
Minimum of 30 credits total beyond MS degree; as long as the above courses are completed, there is no additional coursework credit requirement. Additional courses a PhD student takes beyond those required should be discussed with advisor(s) and committee.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training

Both Basic RCR and Advanced RCR training are important for being an effective scholar, and are mandated for graduate students in CFRES regardless of degree being pursued. Basic RCR training must be completed within the first two semesters at MTU or a registration hold is placed on the student’s account.

For students pursuing a research-based degree option (PhD, MS Thesis or Report option), Advanced RCR training must be completed by the end of the third semester. Students may not graduate or enter research-only mode if both Basic and Advanced RCR training is not complete. To fulfill the Advanced RCR requirement, CFRES students typically take FW5811 (Summer short course) or BL5025 (Spring full semester course). A list of additional courses pre-approved to count for Advanced RCR for research MS and PhD degrees.

For students pursuing a coursework-only professional degree option (MF or MGIS), you will need to complete the online version of Advanced RCR training prior to graduation.