Academic Programs Catalog

“How can forest ecosystems and all their recognized values be sustained in the modern world?” This is a fundamental question for the 21st century, as forest ecosystems are facing grave threats all over the world, including large-scale deforestation, forest degradation, invasive pests and pathogens, and global climate change. In the face of these threats, forestry professionals have a great responsibility and opportunity to maintain, restore and enhance the sustainability of forest ecosystems.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry program develop an in-depth understanding of the natural and social sciences in order to manage forest ecosystems. The Bachelor of Science degree is accredited by the Society of American Foresters. Through hands-on laboratory experiences and field studies, students learn how to manage forests for a wide range of goals and acquire the skills to evaluate and ensure the ecological, economic, and social sustainability of forests.  They place emphasis on development of analytical and communications skills necessary to create a positive exchange of ideas between forestry professionals and non-technical audiences. Students who graduate from this program will possess the professional training to enable them to contribute significantly to resolution of forest-centered environmental and resource problems.

Forest professionals are employed in a variety of settings.  Many choose careers with public land management agencies, such as the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Soil Conservation Service, or state departments of natural resources.  Conservation organizations, such as the Wilderness Society and the Nature Conservancy, also hire forestry professionals.  Forestry professionals are in high demand in the forest products industry, including in sustainable production of environmentally responsible wood products and management of bio-energy plantations.  Increasingly, forestry expertise is required to combat climate change through work on forest-based climate mitigation projects, in both domestic and international settings.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Forestry major is met by completing Forestry 330, 340L, 406L, 414, and 468. Those courses are referenced in item 3. a. below.
   
   Students who are enrolled in the Forestry major leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in the Department of Forestry may complete an alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that consists of the following courses: Plant Biology 105 and 106 combined; and Chemistry 141 and 161.
   
   The completion of Chemistry 161 and Plant Biology 106 satisfies the laboratory requirement. Plant Biology 105 and 106 combined, and Chemistry 141 and 161 may be counted toward both the alternative track and the requirements for the major referenced in item 3. below.
   
   The completion of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources mathematics requirement may also satisfy the University mathematics requirement. 
2. The requirements of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   
   Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.  The completion of Mathematics 124 or 132 satisfies the College's mathematics requirement.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	All of the following courses (68 credits):
   	CEM	141	General Chemistry				4
   	CEM	161	Chemistry Laboratory I				1
   	CSS	210	Fundamentals of Soil Science				3
   	EC	201	Introduction to Microeconomics				3
   	FOR	110	Contemporary Issues in Forests and the Environment				1
   	FOR	128	Practical Computing and Data Science Tools				3
   	FOR	204	Forest Vegetation				3
   	FOR	215	Introduction to Wildland Fire				2
   	FOR	222	Forestry Field Methods				3
   	FOR	330	Human Dimensions of Forests				3
   	FOR	340	Forest Ecology				3
   	FOR	340L	Forest Ecology Laboratory				2
   	FOR	372	Ecological Monitoring and Data Analysis				3
   	FOR	406	Applied Forest Ecology: Silviculture				3
   	FOR	406L	Applied Forest Ecology: Silviculture Laboratory				1
   	FOR	413	Wildland Fire Ecology and Management				3
   	FOR	414	Renewable Wood Products				3
   	FOR	419	Applications of Geographic Information Systems to Natural Resources Management				4
   	FOR	420	Forestry Field Studies				3
   	FOR	438	Forest Resource Economics				3
   	FOR	466	Natural Resource Policy				3
   	FOR	468	Forest Management Planning				3
   	PLB	105	Plant Biology				3
   	PLB	106	Plant Biology Laboratory				1
   	PLP	407	Diseases and Insects of Forest and Shade Trees				4
   b.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	MTH	124	Survey of Calculus I				3
   	MTH	132	Calculus I				3
   c.	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   	STT	201	Statistical Methods				4
   	STT	224	Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Ecologists				3
   	STT	231	Statistics for Scientists				3
   	STT	421	Statistics I				3
   d.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	FW	410	Upland Ecology and Management				3
   	FW	417	Wetland Ecology and Management				3
   	FW	444	Conservation Biology				3
   	PLB	443	Restoration Ecology				3
   e.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	CSUS	433	Grant Writing and Fund Development				3
   	WRA	320	Technical Communication (W)				3
   	WRA	331	Writing in the Public Interest (W)				3
   	WRA	453	Grant and Proposal Writing				3
   f.	One of the following (1 to 3 credits):
   	FOR	490	Independent Study in Forestry				1 to 3
   	FOR	493	Professional Internship in Forestry				1 to 3
   	An approved study abroad experience						1 to 3

The Minor in Forestry is designed to serve students in other fields who desire additional training related to understanding of the nature of trees and forests and social-biological aspects of managing forest ecosystems.  The minor is available to students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry.

With the approval of the department and college that administer the student's degree program, courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor's degree.

Students who are interested in enrolling should contact an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Forestry.

Requirements for the Minor in Forestry

Students must complete the following requirements (18 or 19 credits):

The Minor in Sustainable Bioproducts Science and Technology, which is administered by the Department of Forestry, is designed to prepare students to pursue a career, or graduate degrees in renewable wood-based bioproducts. Upon graduation, students will be academically and professionally well positioned in acquiring employment in companies or government departments whose focus is green building construction and furnishings, bioproducts engineering, structural design, and other green bioproducts employment opportunities. Students will be prepared for graduate studies in biomaterials and bioproducts.

The minor is available as an elective to students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to apply to the program should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Forestry. 

Requirements for the Minor in Sustainable Bioproducts Science and Technology

Complete 19 to 21 credits from the following: 

The Minor in Urban and Community Forestry is designed to provide students with an understanding of the social, biological, and administrative aspects of managing urban and community forests.  The minor serves students interested in careers with public agencies, the private sector, and non-profit organizations.  The minor is administered by the Department of Forestry and is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University.

With the approval of the department and college that administer the student's degree program, courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor's degree.

Students who are interested in enrolling should contact an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Forestry.

Requirements for the Minor in Urban and Community Forestry

Students must complete the following (21 to 23 credits):

The Master of Science degree in Forestry is designed for individuals pursuing a wide range of careers in academia, public agencies, non-government organizations, or the private sector. The master’s degree is available in two plans: research-intensive (Plan A) or professional (Plan B), with in-person and hybrid-online options for Plan B. The hybrid-online option is a professional degree oriented towards individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than forestry who would like to pursue a career in forestry. The program is uniquely tailored to learners that need flexibility, with the majority of the courses delivered in an online format to accommodate students with existing personal and professional commitments. While the requirements for the hybrid-online option are the same as the in-person option, it follows a prescribed set of courses (see https://www.canr.msu.edu/for/graduate/Hybrid-Online-MS-Degree/hybrid-online-ms-requirements).

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Forestry

The master’s degree program in forestry is available under either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis). A total of 30 credits is required for the degree under Plan A or Plan B. The student’s program of study must be approved by either their major professor or guidance committee.

Requirements for Plan A

1. Complete the following course (2 credits):
   FOR    802    Forest Science Research   2
2. Complete a program of study approved by the major professor and guidance committee to meet the student’s educational and career goals.
3. Complete at least 6 credits and no more than 10 credits in FOR 899 Master’s Thesis Research.
4. Pass an oral examination, including a public presentation, in defense of the thesis, administered by the student’s guidance committee. One re-examination may be scheduled at the discretion of the guidance committee. The final oral examination must be passed within five calendar years from the date of enrollment in the first course included for degree certification.

Requirements for Plan B

1. Complete a program of study approved by the major professor and guidance committee to meet the student’s educational and career goals.
2. Complete a non-thesis capstone project, practicum or other professional development experience of at least 1 credit and no more than 6 credits through enrollment in FOR 898 Master’s Professional Project. Upon completion of the project, a report must be completed and submitted to the student’s guidance committee.
3. Pass a final oral examination, including a public presentation, in defense of the professional project, administered by the student’s guidance committee. One re-examination may be scheduled at the discretion of the guidance committee. The final oral examination must be passed within five calendar years from the date of enrollment in the first course included for degree certification.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Forestry provides advanced education to prepare future scholars and leaders who advance knowledge about forested ecosystems and help resolve issues that challenge the provision of forest ecosystem services at local, regional and global scales. The program is research-intensive and students will produce original applied or fundamental research of quality comparable to a two to four peer-reviewed publications in a scientific journal.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Forestry

1. Complete the following course (2 credits):
   FOR    802    Forest Science Research    2
2. Complete a program of study approved by the major professor and guidance committee to meet the student’s educational and career goals.
3. Complete at least 24 credits and no more than 36 credits in FOR 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research.
4. No more than 1/4th of the program of study can be from transfer credits. Graduate credits may be transferred from other postsecondary accredited institutions of comparable academic quality if they are appropriate to a student’s program and were completed within the time limits approved for the earning of the degree at MSU.
5. Comprehensive examinations must be completed within five years from the time when a student begins the first class at MSU that appears on the student’s doctoral program of study.
6. Successfully pass the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation.

The Department of Forestry offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs in plant breeding, genetics and biotechnology–forestry. Students meet the requirements for admission and the requirements for the degree as specified in the statement on Interdepartmental Graduate Programs in Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology.

Additional information about graduate study may be obtained by writing to the Department of Forestry.

The Graduate Certificate in Forest Carbon Science, Policy and Management provides students with interdisciplinary training necessary to plan, manage, monitor and evaluate climate change mitigation projects that seek to retain or sequester carbon in forest ecosystems. Students will gain specific expertise needed internationally to participate in market-based, climate change mitigation activities such as the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). The graduate certificate is available online only.

Admission

To be considered for admission into the Graduate Certificate in Forest Carbon Science, Policy and Management, applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, environmental sciences, or a related field. For additional information, refer to the Admission section in the Graduate Education section of this catalog.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Forest Carbon Science, Policy and Management

The Graduate Certificate in Spatial Ecology provides interdisciplinary training necessary to develop inference about ecological phenomena using appropriate spatial theory, statistics, modeling approaches, and data management tools. Students gain the necessary skills to address tomorrow’s complex ecological challenges.

The graduate certificate is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in master’s or doctoral degree programs at Michigan State University.

For more information including how to apply, see https://www.canr.msu.edu/spatial-ecology/.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Spatial Ecology