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To ensure forests for our future, our global society needs to find the optimal balance between maintaining forest ecosystems and the demand for forest products. As this challenge becomes more complex, professionals trained in the principles of forest ecology, soil science, and silviculture as well as in political science, sociology, and the humanities, will be in great demand in the next ten to twenty years and beyond. The Forestry Department at Michigan State University offers master of science and doctoral degree programs that can provide you with the additional knowledge, skills, and resources to meet this challenge effectively. Career opportunities in research, management, teaching, extension, or consulting are available with private corporations, environmental organizations, universities, environmental consultants, and governmental agencies.

Graduate Programs

Two tracks are available for graduate study: research-intensive or professional. They are designed for individuals pursuing a wide range of careers in academia, management, public agencies, non-government organizations, or the private sector. Students also have the option to obtain a Graduate Certificate in Forest Carbon Science, Policy, and Management. 

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Introducing the new Hybrid Online MS Degree

The Michigan State University Department of Forestry Hybrid Online MS program is a professional degree targeted at individuals with a Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) 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. The structure of the program is designed to accommodate students with rigid schedules and existing personal and professional commitments. More information.

The Hybrid Online MS has achieved ‘candidacy status’ – the first milestone in the accreditation process – by the Society of American Foresters (SAF) under the forestry standard. 

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Forestry Initiatives & Programs

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