Additional Degree Requirements

Additional Requirements by Degree Program

Master of Forestry (M.F.)

Degree Paper: All M.F. students must submit an approved degree paper to the department at the completion of their graduate program. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss paper format and expectations with their advisory committee.
Final Exam: All M.F. students must pass a final oral exam. The final exam often includes a defense of the student’s degree paper, along with an assessment of their foundational knowledge in their discipline. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss exam format and expectations with their advisory committee.

Master of Science (M.S.)

Research Working Plan: By the end of their first year in residence, M.S. students must submit a research working plan approved by their advisory committee. A research working plan is a document that summarizes proposed research, typically including background, objectives, methods, expected results, and a timeline.
Thesis: All M.S. students must submit an approved thesis to the Graduate School at the completion of their graduate program. Students are strongly encouraged to review Graduate School Policies regarding thesis preparation and submission.
Final Exam: All M.S. students must pass a final exam. The final exam is primarily a defense of the thesis. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss exam format and expectations with their advisory committee.
Teaching: All M.S. students are expected to contribute to the departmental teaching mission. M.S. students can expect to be assigned as Teaching Assistants to ~2 courses during their graduate program, at the discretion of the department head and in consultation with their graduate advisor. It should be noted that FREC Teaching Assistant assignments average ~6 hours per week, unlike the more traditional 20 hour per week assistantships in other programs.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Research Working Plan: By the end of their first year in residence, students must submit a research working plan approved by their advisory committee. A research working plan is a document that summarizes proposed research, typically including background, objectives, methods, expected results, and a timeline.
Dissertation: All Ph.D. students must submit an approved dissertation to the Graduate School at the completion of their graduate program. Students are strongly encouraged to review Graduate School Policies regarding dissertation preparation and submission.
Preliminary and Final Exams: All Ph.D. students must pass a preliminary and final exam. The preliminary exam is intended to assess the student’s capacity to proceed with research in their chosen field of study and can only be completed after the student has submitted an approved working plan. The final exam is primarily a defense of the dissertation and can be completed no earlier than six months after a successful preliminary exam. Students are strongly encouraged to review Graduate School Policies regarding these exams and to discuss exam format and expectations with their advisory committee.
Teaching: All Ph.D. students are expected to contribute to the departmental teaching mission. Ph.D. students can expect to be assigned as Teaching Assistants to ~3-4 courses during their graduate program, at the discretion of the department head and in consultation with their graduate advisor. It should be noted that FREC Teaching Assistant assignments average ~6 hours per week, unlike the more traditional 20 hour per week assistantships in other programs.