Master of Forestry A Professional Degree Program

The MF program prepares students for a rewarding career in forest management by enhancing the abilities of professional foresters with prior experience and by allowing a career change for non-foresters.  Many of the graduate-level forestry courses, as well as other graduate-level courses, are offered weekly, in the evening, to enable working professionals to complete the requirements on a part-time basis.

Program Requirements for Professional Foresters
Persons who already hold a professional forestry degree from a program accredited by the Society of American Foresters must complete a minimum of 30 total credit hours in 400-, 500-, and 600-level courses for the MF degree.  At least 12 credits must be in graduate courses (500 and 600 levels), including FTY 690, a three-credit project course on a topic selected by the student and approved by the student’s Advisory Committee.  This is not a thesis based on original research, but a professional report that will be reviewed as critically as a thesis.  The student will be given an oral examination upon submission of the formal report.  A one-credit graduate seminar (several options available) is also required.

Program Requirements for Non-Foresters
Students without a previous forestry degree must hold at least a BS or BA degree (or equivalent) and must have completed the following courses in the basic sciences, mathematics, communications, and humanities:

Introductory Calculus
Principles of Statistical Inference
Introductory Biology
Introductory Chemistry
Introductory Economics
At least 6 credits of courses in written communication and 3 in oral communication
At least 9 credits of courses in the humanities and social sciences

No credit towards the MF will be given for these courses. Courses absent from these requirements must be added to the curriculum shown below.  The Society of American Foresters (SAF) has accredited this MF program as a first degree in forestry.  SAF is recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Education as the specialized accrediting body for forestry in the United States.

The required MF curriculum is as follows.  (No graduate credit can be given for courses with less than a 400-level designator.)  Including the courses shown, students must complete 12 credits of graduate courses at the 500 or 600 level.

For students with no prior forestry degree:

Admissions
Applicants for the MF program must apply to the University of Maine Graduate School.  Recommendations for admission are made by the Department of Forest Management or the Department of Forest Ecosystem Science, based on academic records, results of the Graduate Record Examination (required), experience, and recommendations.

The curriculum is designed for fall admission, but spring semester admission is possible, with the understanding that more than four semesters may be required for students without a prior forestry degree to complete the program.  Applications for fall admission should be submitted by the end of March; those for spring admission by the end of November.  A Graduate School application and financial assistance information may be obtained from the Graduate School, 5782 Winslow Hall, University of Maine, Orono ME 04469-5782.

Fees and Expenses
Tuition varies with residency.  Current rates are published in the Graduate Catalog.  Financial aid may be available.

Information
For more information about the Master of Forestry graduate program at the University of Maine, contact: