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Graduate Degrees

Graduate students in Warnell are expected to be creative scholars and to develop the ability to fill positions of leadership in research, education, and management. The WSFR provides advanced education and, through research, extends scientific understanding of forest resources. The School promotes the development of scientists and professional resource managers capable of solving natural resource problems through understanding and application of biological, economic, environmental, social, and analytical principles.

The Warnell graduate program welcomes applications for admission from individuals who hold baccalaureate degrees in forest resources, fisheries, wildlife or other areas. However, applicants with baccalaureate degrees in areas quite different from the intended emphasis in graduate school may have to complete additional course work.

Students must declare their degree objective, MFR, MS or PhD, at the time of application to the graduate program.

Masters of Forest Resources or Master of Natural Resources

This is a terminal degree, suitable for students who want additional instruction and training in Forest Resources. The MFR/MNR requires a minimum of 33 semester hours of graduate-level course work, but additional courses may be required by the student’s Advisory Committee. No thesis is required. (MFR/MNR Program Requirements)

Masters of Science

This is a research degree designed for students who want to specialize in particular academic or scientific areas. This degree is for students who plan an academic, research, or staff specialist career, and for those students who plan to pursue a PhD. The MS requires a thesis and minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate level course work, but additional courses may be required by the student’s Advisory Committee. (MS Program Requirements)

Doctorate of Philosophy

This degree is frequently required for research and staff specialist positions, and is nearly always required for university faculty positions. The PhD is often regarded as a degree of specialized education within a relatively narrow field of expertise. The PhD requires a dissertation and a minimum of 30 hours of consecutive course work, but additional courses may be required by the student’s Advisory Committee. As a requirement of residency, at least two consecutive semesters of full-time course work or the equivalent must be spent in resident study on this campus (i.e., enrollment for a minimum of 30 hours of consecutive course work included on the Program of Study). (PhD Program Requirements)

In almost all cases, a Master’s degree is required for admission to the PhD program. However, a student with an extraordinary baccalaureate record may petition the Graduate Affairs Committee for admission to the doctoral program.

Additional requirements for each degree may be found in the UGA Graduate School Bulletin.

Specialized programs are offered in ten general fields of study. Opportunities for interdisciplinary research are available within most of the programs. Individual faculty members are identified with a particular field of study. Some are identified with more than one area. You can find faculty contact information, including addresses, e-mail and telephone numbers in the Contacts section. Alternatively, they can be contacted at:

Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
180 E Green Street
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-2152
USA

706.542.2686