General Program Description
The proposed Master of Forestry is a spin-off of the current Master of Science degree in Forestry in the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science. No new faculty are necessary for this program. The program is built around the areas of specialization already emphasized in the existing Master of Science program. Students applying to this program are expected to have a Bachelors degree. Additional course work requirements for admission may be required depending upon the student's background.

Program Regulations
The program of study for each student will be planned and supervised in accordance with existing University and School policies. The student's Advisory Committee (which includes the student's Advisor) must insure that each M.F. candidate's course work meets the standards of a Master's program. A minimum of 30 course work credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree is required, as well as an oral examination. The proposed Master of Forestry will have completely specified course work requirements.

Master of Forestry (Plan B and Plan C)
The Master of Forestry (M.F.) degree program will be Plans B and C only, and will be directed at students who want a course work-only professional degree or who may be interested in working on a small project with a report. Students in this program will most likely lack a forestry background at the Bachelors level, and would find the Master of Forestry degree more appropriate than any of the other proposed Master of Science spin-off programs or our present Master of Science in Forestry. The structure of this program is significantly different from our present Master of Science in Forestry and from the proposed Master of Science Degree programs in Forest Ecology and Management, Applied Ecology, and Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology. In addition to a Bachelors degree, students applying for this program are expected to have had 1 semester of Chemistry, and 1 semester of Elementary Statistics. The curriculum for Plan C is listed below. Students completing plan B may choose to take 2-6 research credits in lieu of the required course work listed below, upon consultation with their advisor. Curriculum:

34 credits, depends on previous course work (at a minimum 30 credits)

Fall Semester (11 credits)
FW5510 Measuring Forest Resources & Vegetation of North America (4 cr)
FW3020 Forest and Landscape Ecology (3 cr)
FW3330 Soil Science (4 cr)
Spring Semester (13 credits)
FW3110 Natural Resource Policy (3 cr)
FW3540 Remote Sensing/GIS (4 cr)
FW4130 Biometrics (2 cr)
FW5080 Advanced Forest Economics and Finance (3 cr) NEW COURSE
FW5800 Master's Graduate Seminar (1 cr)
Fall Semester (10 credits)
FW5510 Special Topics in Natural Resources (1 cr)
FW5700 Graduate Field Forestry (7 cr)
FW5760 Graduate Tropical Forestry (2 cr)

Advisory Committee
The student's Graduate Advisory Committee should be appointed by the second semester of residence. The Advisory Committee will consist of at least four members, including one member designated as Chair. The chair is the student's graduate advisor. The Chair must be a member of the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science and the MTU Graduate School faculty. At least one member of the Advisory Committee must be from outside the School. The Advisory Committee must approve the report (Plan B), and the necessary course work to successfully complete the project. The student's Advisor is responsible for ensuring the report (Plan B) is within the capability of the student and can be completed within a reasonable period of time. The Advisor and the Advisory Committee are responsible for ensuring the report (Plan B) and course work (Plans B and C) fall within the Masters program selected by the student and the student's Advisor. The role of the Advisory Committee for Plan C students is to help the student choose course work, keep track of the student's progress in his/her course work, and to test the student's knowledge on his/her course work at the student's oral defense.

General Procedures
A plan of work showing the courses to be taken, the topic of the report (Plan B), and the report format (Plan B) will be prepared by the student with his/her Advisor. The student's Advisory Committee will review the course work (Plans B and C) and design of study (Plan B) by the end of the second or third semester in residence. For a plan B Masters, the study plan must be presented to the student's Advisory Committee no later than the end of the second semester in residence. A copy of the approved study plan will be given to all committee members once approved by the Advisory Committee.

All graduate students are required to be enrolled each academic term following entry into the Masters program until completion of all degree requirements. A full-time student on an assistantship must enroll in a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester and not more than 12 credit hours each semester. During the summer, a full-time student on an assistantship must enroll for one credit hour.

All Masters students will go through an oral defense. The oral defense for Plan B Masters students will focus around the student's report and their course work. Early in the student's last semester, a draft of the report should be submitted to the student's Advisor. Following review and revisions by the Advisor, the report should be submitted to the student's Advisory Committee at least two weeks before the scheduled oral examination. Plan B students must give a scheduled oral presentation before their defense. The oral defense for Plan C students will focus on their course work. All work required for the M.F. degree must be completed within five years after first registering for classes.

Grades
All grades must be B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better in the major subject area. The Associate Dean of the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science can approve no more than six credits of C (2.0) in a cognate department. The student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Library Resources
Library resources are adequate. No additional material is necessary. Presently, interlibrary loans fulfill our periodical and book needs.

Faculty
All of the faculty in the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science hold the PhD degree, and many are considered national and international experts. They share a commitment to quality teaching and research and to providing an excellent learning environment. Active in their professions, the faculty share their expertise and keep current through research and by participating in conferences, presenting seminars, and publishing in professional journals: There are 20 research and tenure-track faculty, including administrators (Dean and Associate Dean) who presently advise graduate students. Faculty resumes can be examined at the following Internet link: http://forest.mtu.edu/faculty_staff.html

New Course Description
One new course FW5080 Advanced Forest Economics and Finance (3 cr) will be offered by existing faculty.

Accreditation Requirements
No specific requirements for any type of accreditation.

Planned Implementation Date
Fall 2004

Adopted by Senate: 28 April 2004
Approved by Administration: 4 May 2004