Master of Science Degree Program Information
Programs of Study
A Master of Science degree with a major in Forestry or in Wildlife and Fisheries Science is offered by the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries. The M.S. program in Forestry offers both a thesis and non-thesis option; a thesis is required in Wildlife and Fisheries Science.
For admission, the student must have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in forestry, wildlife, fisheries, or other natural resource area. Applicants must take the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with minimum scores required. Graduate School rating forms or letters of recommendation from three individuals familiar with the applicant's academic ability are required. The department also has an application that must be submitted at the time of application to The Graduate School.
Admission to the department is competitive. If applicants meet the minimum requirements for consideration (3.0 GPA and 1000, V+Q) their files are circulated to potential major professors (graduate advisors). They can be admitted only if a professor agrees to advise them. As a consequence, we deny admission to many basically qualified students, especially in terrestrial wildlife which is most competitive, due to a lack of an advisor. Because of this, students are advised not to formally apply unless they have contacted a professor and have been encouraged to do so. This saves the student time, money and disappointment.
Thesis Option
1. Prior to research for the thesis, the student is required to develop a detailed written research proposal. Registration for 6 hours of Thesis (Forestry 500 or Wildlife and Fisheries Science 500) is required.
2. A graduate committee of no fewer than 3 faculty members must be selected by the second semester of residence. At least one member shall be from outside the department. In addition to the thesis requirement, a minimum of 24 hours of graduate coursework is required. This work must be approved by the student's committee and no more than 10 hours of the minimum 30 can be below the 500 level. The committee may require additional coursework if the student's progress or background indicates such need.
3. All students are required to include Forestry 512 or Wildlife and Fisheries Science 512, Seminar, in their programs. This is required of each graduate student in residence fall semester.
4. An oral examination covering the thesis and coursework is required.
Non-Thesis Option (Forestry only)
1. Thirty-five hours of graduate coursework of which 23 must be at the 500 level or above is required.
2. A graduate committee of no fewer than 3 faculty members will be selected. At least one member shall be from outside the department. The committee will meet and schedule the student's program during the first semester in residence.
3. Three hours of Forestry 511 are required.
4. Nine hours of coursework in the department must be at the 500 level or above, exclusive of Forestry 511.
5. Final comprehensive written and oral examinations shall be taken upon completion of no fewer than 28 hours of approved study.
Listing of Departmental Graduate Courses
Research Facilities
The University utilizes more than 21,000 acres of forest land available for teaching, research, and demonstration. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee Division of Forestry, Tennessee Valley Authority, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, the Agricultural Extension Service, and private industries provide lands and facilities for teaching and research programs. Forestry Experiment Station lands are at six locations in the state. The 18,400 acre Ames Plantation in west Tennessee is used for research and teaching. These areas have a wide variety of forest types and wildlife habitats, ranging from boreal forest types to southern pines and bottomland hardwoods. Fisheries habitats include cold and warm water streams, large reservoirs, and farm ponds.
The Department is housed in a modern educational teaching-research complex, including the new Plant Biotech Building completed in Summer 2003, a state of the arrt research facility. The Department has other teaching and research facilities including research greenhouses, clonal propagation greenhouses, conventional wet-lab/dry-lab space, a forest products laboratory, and a human dimensions research laboratory. A National Biological Service Field Laboratory is located on campus, with additional facilities and scientists engaged in cooperative departmental research. Students have access to the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources micro-computer laboratory and to the University computing system via terminals at remote locations across the campus.
The UT Knoxville Libraries' membership in the Association of Research Libraries reflects the University's emphasis on graduate instruction and research and the support of large, comprehensive collections of library materials on a permanent basis.
Financial Aid
The Department and University have extensive financial aid available on a competitive basis. Stipends average $12,000 per year for twelve month, half-time (20 hours per week) appointments. These Master of Science degree assistantships include health insurance for the student. Some assistantships provide for remission of tuition and fees. Graduate assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and traineeships are offered by the Department. Please inquire for additional details about these types of financial aid. Student loans and employment are coordinated by the Financial Aid Office on the main campus. Almost all graduate students in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries receive financial support. Part-time and contract employment are available from several of the above named cooperating agencies.
Living
The University provides excellent apartment facilities in several locations. University residence halls and off-campus housing are also readily available; rates vary widely. A listing of off-campus housing available to students is provided by the Off-Campus Housing Office. Many off-campus apartments are located on University bus routes. For additional housing information, students should contact the Office of Rental Properties, Stadium Hall (phone 865-974-3431); the Off-Campus Housing Office, 334 University Center (phone 865-974-5276); or the Department of Residence Halls at 405 Student Services Building (phone 865-974-3411).
Students
More than 6,000 graduate students are enrolled on and off campus at The University of Tennessee. Graduate enrollment in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries averages about 40 students. The University uses a variety of modes, traditional and non-traditional, in offering quality programs designed to serve a diverse student clientele.
Location
The flagship campus of The University of Tennessee is located in Knoxville, the major economic, industrial and metropolitan hub of east Tennessee. Knoxville is located in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in close proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cherokee National Forest, and the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Headquarters of the Tennessee Valley Authority are in Knoxville. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory is only 15 miles from Knoxville in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. East Tennessee enjoys a mild climate with four seasons and students can pursue outside activities year round. With I-40 and I-75 intersecting in Knoxville, one can easily reach other metropolitan centers in the southeast such as Atlanta, Nashville, and Cincinnati.
The University
The University of Tennessee is the official land-grant institution for the State of Tennessee, with its main campus in Knoxville. UT-Knoxville is the state's oldest, largest, and most comprehensive institution, and is the only state-supported "Research University l" (Carnegie classification) in Tennessee. The Univeristy celebrated its Bicentennial in 1994; many ceremonies and special programs were conducted to reflect on 200 years of University history. Total enrollment is 25,000 students. 1275 faculty teach and/or conduct research at the Knoxville campus. A wide range of graduate programs leading to the master's and doctoral degrees are available. The University offers master's programs in 86 fields and doctoral work in 52 fields.