Oregon State University Online Catalog

	Forest Resources Graduate Major (MS, PhD)	Print Version
	College of Forestry \| Forest Engineering, Resources and Management

Graduate Areas of Concentration

Forest biometrics/modeling, forest economics, forest management, forest management science/operations research, forest measurement, forest social science, forestry/wildlife, natural resource education and extension, natural resource policy and law, remote sensing and GIS, silviculture

Graduate Areas of Concentration	For more information contact Graduate Degree Program Advisor in the following departments:
Forest Biometrics/Modeling (MS)	FERM
Forest Economics (see note below) (MS, PhD)	FERM and FES
Forest Management (MS)	FERM
Forest Measurements (PhD)	FERM
Forest Operations Research/Management Science (PhD)	FERM
Forest Social Science (MS, PhD)	FES
Forestry/Wildlife (MS, PhD)	FES
Natural Resource Education and Extension (MS)	FES
Natural Resource Policy and Law, (MS)	FERM and FES
Remote Sensing, GIS, and Landscape Ecology (MS, PhD)	FERM and FES
Silviculture (MF, MS, PhD)	FERM and FES

Students enrolling in the Forest Resources graduate major usually have undergraduate degrees in forestry or related fields. Applicants without forestry backgrounds are required to achieve competence in forestry and appropriate subjects by taking undergraduate courses, through independent study, or by other means determined by each student’s graduate advisory committee. All graduates must be knowledgeable in the broad aspects of forest resource management and policy, as well as in their own specialties.

Beyond certain minimum requirements, students have considerable flexibility in designing a curriculum to achieve a desired blend of theory and practice in one or more specialized areas. All degree programs include course work in other departments.

The degree of Master of Forestry is designed for students who want one or more years of formal graduate work and who plan professional careers with forestry organizations, either public or private. This program gives graduate level preparation in the full range of disciplines essential to the wise use and management of forest lands. Specialization is possible, as described below, but the main objective is to improve students’ knowledge of and competence in comprehensive forest management. The Master of Forestry is not intended for those students wishing to pursue research interests or a higher degree.

Forest Biometrics/Modeling (MS)

The specialization of forest biometrics/modeling develops the statistical, mathematical and associated computer software tools needed to collect and/or project the basic data needed to make intelligent management decisions. These tools include the application of sampling techniques to estimate static data from inventories of stands or forests, and the application of regression techniques to estimate dynamic data from models of the tree or stand.

Forest Economics (MS, PhD)

The Forest Resources graduate program does not directly offer a concentration in forest economics but collaborates with the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and several other departments on campus in a university-level graduate program in Applied Economics (http://oregonstate.edu/dept/grad_school/economics/admit.htm) to offer high quality courses in economic theory, econometrics, and natural resource and environmental economics. Students take a basic theory and quantitative methods core with additional courses in specialized fields depending on their research interests.

Forest Management (MS)

The general master's degree in Forest Management allows students with broader interests in forestry to expand their expertise in a range of subject matter areas.

Forest Measurements (PhD)

Applying statistical methods to forestry problems and developing biologically sound mensuration techniques to assist forest managers. Forest Biometrics: sampling methods, statistical inference, experimental design.

Forest biometrics is designed for students interested in applying statistical methods to forestry-related problems. The recommended program incorporates many useful statistical tools and provides a sound foundation in statistical theory.

Forest Operations Research/Management Science (MS, PhD)

This program is designed to provide a firm foundation for research and practice in the decision sciences as applied to forest management. Thesis topic and research areas include harvest scheduling, economics of stand and forest management, economics of the firm, and related microeconomic fields. Basic course work is drawn from economics, operations research and statistics.

Forest Social Science (MS, PhD)

The Master of Science in Forest Resources with a concentration in forest social science is designed for students wishing to explore linkages between human society and the forest resources upon which it is dependent. Students in this concentration must develop proficiency in the following areas: 1) Social theory relevant to the student’s research, 2) Research methods appropriate to the research, 3) Forestry, to ensure an adequate grounding in the field, and, 4) Other course work relevant to the student’s particular research topic. Within the framework of these 4 areas, and with guidance from the major professor and graduate committee, students have considerable flexibility in designing their curriculum to meet their needs. Minimum educational background is determined on an individual basis; post-baccalaureate course work may be needed to prepare some students for entry into the program.

The PhD in Forest Resources with a concentration in forest social science aims to provide rigorous training for students pursuing careers in research and teaching in the human and social dimensions of natural resources.

Forestry/Wildlife (MS, PhD)

This concentration is designed for students interested in topics that intersect forestry and wildlife science as an interdisciplinary approach to attaining sustainability of both forest and wildlife resources. Additional course work in forestry, statistics, spatial analysis, and/or the biological sciences may be suggested.

Natural Resource Education and Extension (MS)

The Master of Science in Forest Resources with a concentration in natural resource education and extension is intended for people who want to help bridge the information gap that exists between natural resource experts and a variety of client groups, ranging from resource managers to members of the general public. This degree program is intended primarily for people who already possess a bachelor’s degree in natural resources (especially land-based resources such as forestry, wildlife, and range) and who wish to further develop their communication and education skills; however, others are welcome to apply if they are willing to develop a sufficient background in the technical aspects of land-based natural resource management. Further, the program is aimed primarily at those who wish to educate adults, although those primarily interested in younger audiences are encouraged to explore options with interested faculty. Graduates of this program might well find themselves working as educators in the Extension Service, as public affairs officers in governmental agencies or private organizations, as education specialists for arboreta or other natural resource education centers, or as liaisons working between policy makers and the public.

Natural Resource Policy and Law (MS)

The Master of Science in Forest Resources with concentration in natural resource policy and law is intended for students with interests in the broad policy arena surrounding natural resource management, utilization, and protection. Emphasis is placed on advanced-level work in policy formulation, policy analysis, conflict resolution, and law. Students entering this program should have a bachelor’s degree with undergraduate course work in disciplines pertinent to natural resource management such as ecology, economics, sociology, environmental sciences, communications, and statistics. Prior work experience in the fields of natural resources or public administration is also desirable.

The goal of this degree program is to prepare students for professional careers in the broad field of natural resource policy and management. Students completing this program should have a solid foundation of concepts and principles governing natural resource systems and the role that humans play in administering them. Graduates should be able to critically analyze information, integrate and synthesize policy options and implications, and collaborate and communicate effectively.

The program is non-thesis, but requires an internship (or equivalent experience) and project paper involving some aspect of natural resource policy and law. In addition, a set of prescribed courses, options, and electives must be completed.

Remote Sensing, GIS, and Landscape Ecology (MS, PhD)

This concentration is designed for students interested in studying forests at the stand, landscape, or global level. The program requires a strong background in methodologies of remote sensing, photogrammetry, statistics, field work, and computer mapping. Additional course work in forest management and/or the biological sciences may be suggested.

Silviculture (MF, MS, PhD)

The MF in Silviculture is a program jointly administered by the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management and the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. It is designed for practicing foresters who wish to upgrade their professional skills and knowledge of silviculture and forest resource management. The program is aimed at career-oriented persons who wish to expand their capabilities of analyzing silvicultural opportunities in the context of economic production objectives, while maintaining sensitivity to physical, biological, social, cultural, and environmental forest resource values. The program provides graduate-level education in the full range of disciplines essential for analyzing opportunities, solving problems, and making decisions in silviculture and forest resource management. Graduates from this program should be competent to prepare well-documented silvicultural prescriptions and to supervise their implementation. The MF in Silviculture is not intended for those students wishing to pursue research interests or a higher degree.

The MS and PhD in Silviculture focus on balancing the inherent characteristics of a site with the array of management objectives for that site, analyzing impacts on physical, biological, and social, resource values. Topics for research include forest soils, nutrient cycling, forest regeneration, forest protection, ecology and management of shrubs and hardwoods, growth and yield from large-scale application of silviculture techniques, stand dynamics, fuels management and fire behavior, and wildlife habitat management.

For further information, please contact the departments listed below or a graduate advisor linked to the concentration you would like to learn more about.

Forest Engineering, Resources and Management:

fermdept@oregonstate.edu
541-737-4952

Forest Ecosystem and Society Department:

fesdept@oregonstate.edu
541-737-1393

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Forest Resources Graduate Major (MS, PhD)