Forestry students use camera traps in the woods in fall.

Tomorrow Needs You. Are You Ready?

Receive a graduate education from an accredited institution.

Forestry—MS

This program is no longer accepting applications. The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) offers many graduate degrees.

The perfect place to study our natural world? This is it. Our abundance of habitats and biodiversity make Michigan Technological University ideal for researching ecosystems and organismal functions. We’re surrounded by one of the largest forested areas in the eastern United States and have incredible access to multiple water resources, including Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world. Come grow with us. Are you ready?

Program Overview

Students in our master's in forestry program research global climate change, photosynthesis and microbial processes, and more. We specialize in ecology, forest science, genetics and biotechnology, natural resource policy, and wildlife, including the longest-running predator-prey study in the nation on Isle Royale.

Delivery Options
- On-Campus: MS

Forestry Program Details

Choose a specific degree option or delivery type to learn more about the forestry program at Michigan Tech.

On-Campus Programs

MS, Forestry: Thesis Option

This option requires a research thesis prepared under the supervision of the advisor. The thesis describes a research investigation and its results. The scope of the research topic for the thesis should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in 12 months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	20 Credits
Thesis research	6-10 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Forestry: Report Option

This option requires a report describing the results of an independent study project. The scope of the research topic should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in twelve months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in coursework other than the project:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	24 Credits
Report	2-6 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Forestry: Coursework Option

This option requires a minimum of 30 credits be earned through coursework. A limited number of research credits may be used with the approval of the advisor, department, and Graduate School. See degree requirements for more information.

A graduate program may require an oral or written examination before conferring the degree and may require more than the minimum credits listed here:

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	18 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Additional Program Information

Want to learn more about forestry at Michigan Tech? Visit the department for more information:

"Working with other [forestry] students, I have grown both as an individual and a natural resources professional."Tilly Behrmann, Forestry

Contact

Graduate Director

Molly Cavaleri

Graduate Assistant

Marjorie Banovetz

Sample Areas of Interest

Select areas of interest to help customize your forestry MS. Sample areas include:

Forestry
Fire Ecology
Forest Biomaterials
Forest Biometry

View full listing for this program

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

3 Letters of Recommendation (1 Letter of Recommendation for Michigan Tech students)
Résumé / Curriculum vitae
Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
Please view our faculty webpage and identify three faculty members that you would like to work with

International Students

TOEFL: Required Score of 79 iBT
IELTS: Required Overall Band Score of 6.5

Michigan Tech requires a minimum 79 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Recommended Deadline

Apply at least a semester in advance of projected admission to improve your chances of receiving funding.

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Accredited by HLC

Michigan Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1928. Our Graduate School offers over 125 certificates, master's, and PhD programs to provide our students and the world with what tomorrow needs.

Who You'll Work With

From studying sustainable landscapes with Audrey Mayer, to peatland and wetland restoration with Rodney Chimner, our faculty are collaborative and interdisciplinary. They’ll work with you to create a program that matches your career goals.

Where You'll Work

We are active in the Ecosystem Science Center and the University-wide Michigan Forest Biomaterials Initiative. Our faculty actively participate in other multidisciplinary centers and institutes at Michigan Tech, including the Life Science and Technology Institute, the Michigan Tech Research Institute, the Sustainable Futures Institute, and the Michigan Tech Transportation Institute. We also partner with the USDA Forest Service Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science. Our research projects have been conducted in national forests and national parks.

Faculty Spotlight

Yvette Dickinson

Yvette Dickinson
Adjunct Professor

"We use forests every day. Sustainable forest management affects everyone."

Silviculture applies ecological knowledge to management of forests for wildlife habitat, ecosystem health, timber, and other benefits. Dickinson investigates new techniques for sustainably managing forests, so that they will continue to provide benefits for future generations.

Program Faculty