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ESF Graduate Programs
Graduate Program in Forest and Natural Resources Policy
The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Management offers three graduate degrees in Forest Resources Management: The Master of Science, The Master of Professional Studies and the Doctor of Philosophy. In addition, many of our students enroll in concurrent graduate degree programs in public administration or law at our sister institution, Syracuse University. Each program offers an opportunity to work with outstanding faculty members in applied and theoretical contexts. We believe that graduate programs should expose students to a coherent body of theory, a set of appropriate methods, and challenging applications.
Many of our graduate students participate in professional internships with interest groups and government agencies in Washington. A concentrated forestry summer course is also available for those who did not have a significant field experience as an undergraduate student.
There are usually about 75 graduate students within the Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management. About 15 to 20 are typically participating in the policy program.
Master of Science (M.S.)
Students interested in a traditional research program enroll in the Master of Science (M.S) program. M.S. students take a minimum of 24 credits of graduate courses plus six credits of thesis. Most M.S. students finish their program in two years. In the M.S. program, the curriculum is flexible and developed by the student in conjunction with the major professor and graduate committee. Most students take courses in research methods and statistics as well as developing concentrated course work in economics, policy and law. A formal defense of the thesis is required.
Some recent M.S. theses have focused on certification of state forests, judicial interpretation of the endangered species act, comparative state regulatory policy for the forest products industry, and regulation of forest practices by local governments.
You should consider the M.S. program if you have any interest in graduate work at the doctoral level. Many environmental agencies and organizations that focus on science prefer graduates with a research background.
The Master of Professional Studies (MPS)
The Master of Professional Studies program (MPS) is a non-thesis, masters degree designed for students who plan careers as natural resources managers and environmental professionals. The MPS requires 30 credits. Required courses include Principles of Management, Integrated Natural Resources Management, a course in environmental or scientific writing (or demonstration of ability), a graduate course in statistics beyond the introductory graduate level, and an 18 credit concentration in an area of specialization.
The MPS program is often used by students who have worked in environmental and natural resource agencies and organizations and who want to come to ESF to build on existing competencies or acquire new skills. In recent years, many of our MPS students have come into the program after completing a bachelor’s degree in the liberal arts or environmental studies. In either case, the MPS offers a rigorous approach to integrated problem solving and management.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The Ph.D. Program in Environmental and Natural Resources Policy is offered by both the Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management and the Department of Environmental Studies. The requirements are identical. Conceptually, we expect graduate students in our doctoral program to be able to integrate the biophysical sciences and policy-related social sciences to solve important problems in environmental and natural resources policy. There are four core competencies: 1) biophysical science, 2) policy-related social science, 3) research methods, and 4) advanced natural resource and environmental policy. Students must complete 12 credit hours of 600 level courses in a definable area of biophysical competency e.g. forestry, wetlands, conservation biology, water resources, etc. Students must also complete 12 hours of policy-related social science, including at least one 600 level government course and one 600 level economics course. Because mastery of research methods is critical to successful scholarly inquiry, students also complete 12 credit hours of 600 or higher level courses in research methods (required), and qualitative methods, quantitative methods or GIS and spatial statistics. Finally, students complete 12 credit hours at the 700 level in policy analysis, program evaluation, and two additional policy courses.
Examples of recent doctoral dissertations include implementation of the safe drinking water act by rural communities, the history of property rights and forest stewardship, an analysis of the use of dispute resolution in U.S. Forest Service land management decisions, judicial decision-making in environmental litigation, and implementation of community forestry programs in India.
