The Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy programs are oriented towards research, education, and scientific technology in forest science, wood products, and wildlife and fisheries science. The Master of Forest Resources and Master of Agriculture are professional degrees that emphasize communicating and applying knowledge through managerial practices involving forest and wildlife resources, industries, or sylvan environments of communities and recreational areas. For each degree program, either a thesis (Ph.D., M.S.) or a paper (M.F.R., M.Agr.) is required.

Graduate study provides an opportunity to focus on a specialized topic and to gain an appreciation of its relevance to broader issues. Varied possibilities for specializing are indicated by faculty research interests.

FOREST SCIENCE
(Dr. Marc McDill, Forest Science program representative): Ph.D., M.S., M.F.R.

Forest Resources Management - Quantitative forest management systems, economics, biometrics, remote sensing, forest recreation, policy and sociology, watershed management practices, urban forestry

Forest Biology - Genetics and breeding, ecology, silviculture, revegetation of disturbed lands, reproduction of hardwoods

Environmental Concerns -- Acid precipitation effects, forest microclimatology, municipal wastewater and sludge effects, reclamation of mined lands, urban forestry, water yield and quality

Watershed Stewardship -- Interdisciplinary, team-based watershed planning and management focused on actual case problems in Pennsylvania watershed communities.

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WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES SCIENCE
(Dr. Paola Ferreri, Wildlife and Fisheries Science program representative): Ph.D., M.S., M.F.R.

Habitat evaluation, ecology and management of game and nongame wildlife, animal damage control, urban wildlife, wildlife responses to altered ecosystems, conservation biology, fish systematics, fisheries management, ichthyology, fish behavior and ecology, freshwater ecology, aquaculture, landscape ecology, terrestrial and wetland ecosystems

In addition, students may elect the Watershed Stewardship Option to focus on interdisciplinary watershed planning and management involving case problems in actual Pennsylvania watersheds.

WOOD PRODUCTS
(Dr. Judd Michael, Wood Products program representative): Ph.D., MS, M.F.R.

Wood anatomy and ultrastructure, wood composite properties, wood degradation and preservation, engineered wood products, recycled wood fiber composites, processing and manufacturing systems, industrial production management, business to business marketing, pulp and paper products, chemical and mechanical properties, wood products regional and international marketing

INTERCOLLEGE PROGRAMS
Forest Resources faculty members also advise students in several intercollege graduate programs. Click on the specific program for information on graduate admissions requirements.

Ecology
Environmental Pollution Control
Genetics
Materials
Plant Physiology
Dual Title in Operations Research

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JOINT DEGREE PROGRAM WITH THE PENN STATE DICKINSON SCHOOL OF LAW
A student may pursue a graduate (master's or Ph.D.) degree in either Forest Resources or Wildlife and Fisheries and a law degree. A student must apply to both the Law School and the School of Forest Resources.

A description of the joint degree program is available here.

For more information, you may contact the Goddard Chair in the School of Forest Resources at Penn State or the Director of Graduate Programs in the School of Forest Resources (currently Dr. Wayne Myers). At the Law School you may contact an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.