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Master of Science Degree (M.S.) Degree in Forest Resources (with emphasis in: Forest Science, Geospatial Science, Natural Resource Management or Wildlife Ecology and Management)
Graduate Certificate in Waterfowl Habitat and Recreation Management
Graduate Faculty
Professors Blazier (Dean), Ficklin, D. Osborne, Pelkki, and White; Associate Professors Babst, Deaton, Lindsey, and Tanger; Assistant Professors Bridges, Chhetri, Larasatie, Nelson, Saud, Tian, and Zurqani.
Mission
The mission of the Forestry and Natural Resources program is to educate professional natural resource managers, to enlarge the body of knowledge in renewable forest resources and to disseminate new ideas and technology. Successful accomplishment of this mission will promote and enhance management, conservation and appreciation of public and private forests, thereby providing for continuous production and improved attainment of a variety of forest resource benefits for the people of Arkansas, the southern U.S. and the Nation. These resource benefits include the production of wood and fiber, wildlife, and clean water; as well as provision for recreation, aesthetic and other values.
Educational Goals and Objectives of the Graduate Program
The Forestry and Natural Resources program provides post-baccalaureate students with the opportunity to enhance their educational goals through a program of study, teaching, and research in an environment that promotes freedom of expression, intellectual inquiry, and professional integrity. The goal of the Forest Resources Master of Science program is to enhance students’ understanding of forest resources and their management and to prepare students for lifelong learning and pursuit of career goals through advanced study. A student who graduates with a M.S. Degree in Forest Resources should:
- Have an advanced understanding of principles relating to forest sciences, spatial sciences, or wildlife ecology and management.
- Have an advanced understanding of natural resource issues and topics pertinent to an individual’s program of study and career goals and be able to apply this knowledge in the decision making process.
- Be able to apply the scientific method in designing, implementing, analyzing, interpreting and integrating studies related to forest resource management problems and issues.
- Be able to communicate effectively using written and oral communication skills in technical and non-technical settings.
- Have good decision making and critical thinking skills.
Admission Requirements and Classification
To be admitted for pursuing the degree of M.S. in Forest Resources, a student must:
- Be admitted with graduate status to the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and
- Submit an application to the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources along with three completed reference forms.
- Specific additional requirements are listed below in the section “Regular Admission.”
- It is recommended that applicants have a baccalaureate degree in forestry, the wildlife sciences, another natural resource management discipline, or the spatial sciences. However, prospective students from other fields are also encouraged to apply. All applicants will have transcripts reviewed by College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty to assess the need for cognate work. Applicants whose record shows an insufficient background in natural resources will be required to enroll in undergraduate cognate course work (and the prerequisites to those courses) that will not count for credit toward a degree. This course work will be scheduled in consultation with the student’s advisory committee.
Regular Admission
To obtain regular admission to the Forest Resources Master of Science Program, applicants must:
- Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution;
- Submit proof of immunization to the UAM Office of Admissions;
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 2.70 or better (on a 4.00 scale) on all course work, or a GPA of 3.00 or better on the last 60 hours of course work taken prior to receipt of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education;
- Be accepted for graduate study by the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean and a College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty member willing to serve as that student’s major advisor.
Any other consideration for regular admission must be made by individual petition to the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean and, where pertinent, a recommendation from the appropriate faculty and will be considered on its own merits, case by case.
Provisional Admission
Students who are admitted to UAM provisionally and otherwise meet all Forest Resources Master of Science program admissions criteria may be admitted provisionally to the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources. All required documentation for admission must be submitted by the last class day of a semester or summer term. Students who do not meet the deadline may be withdrawn from the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources Graduate Program.
Conditional Admission
Students that meet all criteria for regular admission to the University but do not meet the criteria for regular admission to the Forest Resources Master of Science program may be conditionally admitted upon approval of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty, Graduate Coordinator, and Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources. Students who are admitted conditionally must earn a GPA of 3.0 or better in their initial 9 hours of graduate course work to continue graduate studies in the program. Students are not eligible for a graduate research assistantship during conditional status.
Probationary Admission
Students who are admitted to UAM in probationary status are ineligible for admission to the Forest Resources Master of Science program.
International Student Admission
International students must meet all criteria required by the University of Arkansas at Monticello to be admitted with graduate status. If the applicant’s native language is other than English, an official transcript of the score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be submitted directly from the Educational Testing Service. Minimum acceptable TOEFL scores are as follows:
Paper-based
Minimum Total Score-550
Minimum score on any one section-55
Computer-based
Minimum Total Score-213
Minimum score on any one section-21
Internet-based
Minimum Total Score-80
Minimum score on any one section-18
In addition, international students must take the Graduate Record Examination general test. International students must also be accepted for graduate study by the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean and have a College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty member willing to serve as that student’s major advisor.
Graduate Assistantships
A limited number of part-time graduate assistantships are available through the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources. Graduate assistantships can only be offered to students after they have been accepted for graduate studies by both the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the Forest Resources Master of Science program.
Graduate assistantships are awarded to outstanding students who can make valuable contributions to the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources research and teaching programs. When offered, graduate assistantships provide students a stipend, renewable annually, for up to 24 months. Renewal is contingent upon satisfactory fulfillment of obligations and responsibilities. Graduate assistants are provided further financial assistance through the waiver of tuition. This waiver covers only required coursework as outlined on an approved degree plan and typically for only for 30 graduate credit hours: it does not include tuition for required cognate courses or courses not listed on the degree plan. Tuition payment above 30 credit hours is subject to approval by the Dean. Additionally, work/study space is provided for each graduate assistant.
Student Advising / Major Advisor
Prior to a student enrolling in the Forest Resources Master of Science program, a College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty member must agree, with the concurrence of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean, to serve as that student’s Major Advisor. The Major Advisor assists the student in choosing members of an Advisory Committee and developing a program of study, guides the formulation of a thesis proposal and the conduct of the research project, and assists in providing resources for the research project.
Advisory Committee
During the first semester of enrollment, the student and the Major Advisor must select a three- to five-member Advisory Committee and submit their selections for approval to the Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources by March 15 (spring semester) or October 15 (fall semester). The Advisory Committee serves to guide a student in program development, approves the program of study, makes recommendations on the thesis proposal, approves the thesis proposal, and administers the comprehensive examination. The Committee must consist of at least three members, including the Major Advisor and at least one other graduate faculty member in the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and/or Arkansas Forest Resources Center. The third member can be selected from the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources; the Arkansas Forest Resources Center; other members of the Graduate Faculty; other institutions within the University of Arkansas System; or from other qualified individuals from cooperating institutions, agencies, or industries, provided they are awarded Graduate Faculty status. Additionally, up to two additional Committee members may be selected, provided that the majority of the committee is composed of graduate faculty members in the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and/or Arkansas Forest Resource Center.
Degree Plan
Each student will be required to develop a degree plan with the advice and approval of their Advisory Committee. An emphasis area in Forest Science, Geospatial Science, Natural Resources Management or Wildlife Ecology and Management will be selected based on the student’s thesis project and selected course work. The degree plan must include the required graduate studies courses as well as any individualized courses. A total of 30 hours containing at least 24-26 hours of course work and 4-6 hours of Research and Thesis hours will be required. If indicated on an approved degree plan, up to 8 hours of undergraduate courses numbered at the 3000 or 4000-level may be used to satisfy course requirements.
The student, Major Advisor, and Advisory Committee members must all approve and sign the degree plan. The degree plan must then be submitted for approval to the Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources during the first semester of enrollment by May 1 (spring semester) or December 1 (fall semester). Once approved, the document will then be forwarded to the Registrar’s Office. This degree plan fulfills the University advisement report requirement.
Transfer Credit
A maximum of 9 hours of graduate-level course work completed prior to development of a degree plan may be transferred to the University of Arkansas at Monticello from another university. Acceptance of transfer credits toward the student’s degree plan must be approved by the student’s Advisory Committee. No courses with grades below a “B” or older than 6 years will be accepted for transfer credit.
Academic Status
Graduate students may earn grades of A, B, C, D or F, except for Research and Thesis and required undergraduate cognate course work that does not count for credit toward a degree. Research/Thesis is graded as Pass/Fail, with a grade of “R” (for registered, no credit awarded) until a thesis has been approved and a comprehensive examination has been passed. Required undergraduate cognate course work that does not count for credit toward a degree may be graded as Pass/Fail if so recommended by a student’s Advisory Committee. The grades of A, B, C, D and F indicate the following: A-excellent, B-good, C-marginal, D-poor, and F-failing. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 must be maintained to complete degree requirements and to retain a graduate assistantship. No more than two courses with a grade of “C” may be applied toward degree requirements. A student whose grade record includes three courses with grades of “C” or lower may not maintain graduate status unless the Graduate Council, upon petition from a graduate faculty member, has authorized a plan of study for the student. Three courses with grades of “C” or lower will also result in the loss of a graduate assistantship. A student may not repeat a course in which a grade of “B” or higher is earned.
Course Loads
The maximum course load must not exceed 12 hours during the fall and spring semesters. The maximum load for each summer term is 6 hours. Students who hold a graduate assistantship must enroll for a minimum of 6 hours during the fall and spring semesters and 1 hour for each summer term. For enrollment requirements see the “Continuous Enrollment” section.
Withdrawal from a Course
In order to withdraw from a course, a student must first obtain approval from their Major Advisor and Advisory Committee. For students receiving a graduate assistantship, approval is also required from the Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources. The intent of the graduate assistantship is to help support a graduate student through their graduate program. One of the ways this is done is by paying for courses designed as “required” on an approved degree plan. Since a dropped course cannot be applied to a graduate program, a student receiving an assistantship will be required to reimburse the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources for the cost of the course(s). The graduate assistant will not be allowed to enroll until the bill is paid. If withdrawing from a course causes a student receiving a graduate assistantship to be enrolled in less than 6 hours during a spring or a fall semester, or no (0) hours during a summer term, the assistantship will be forfeited.
Continuous Enrollment
All degree-seeking graduate students are required to be enrolled for at least one hour each semester (including summer terms) until all requirements for the Master of Science in Forest Resources degree are fulfilled. A student who has not enrolled in graduate course in a semester and who has not received prior written permission for a time-limited period of inactivity may be terminated from the Forest Resources Master of Science program. An approved period of inactivity may not normally exceed one calendar year. Faculty are under no obligation to assist a student with graduate work when the student is not currently enrolled.
Time Limit
To fulfill degree requirements, course credits can be used for a maximum of 6 years from the time of entry into the Forest Resources Master of Science program.
Thesis Proposal
Each student will be required to develop a thesis proposal with the advice and approval of his or her Advisory Committee. The thesis proposal consists of a justification, literature review, and plan of action for the thesis project. This proposal serves the purpose of formulating a proper protocol for the research and allows the student’s Advisory Committee to evaluate (i.e., accept, expand, or reduce) and approve the intended work. The student, Major Advisor, and Advisory Committee members must all approve the thesis proposal and sign the cover sheet. The thesis proposal must then be submitted for approval to the Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources during the second semester of enrollment by May 1 (spring semester) or December 1 (fall semester).
Thesis and Comprehensive Examination
An approved thesis is required for completion of the M.S. in Forest Resources degree. A student is required to define an appropriate problem for investigation; review relevant literature; develop a thesis proposal; collect, analyze, and interpret data; test hypotheses and draw conclusions; and write and defend a thesis. At the conclusion of the study and research program, a seminar and an oral comprehensive examination, including a thesis defense, is required of all graduate students for completion of the M.S. in Forest Resources degree. See the Graduate Student Handbook for the Forest Resources Master of Science program for specifics in announcing and scheduling a thesis and comprehensive exam. Enrollment in at least one hour of Research/Thesis is required during the semester/term the examination is taken. Immediately prior to the examination, all students are required to present a seminar on their thesis work. This seminar is open to the university academic community at large. Following the seminar, the Advisory Committee and one additional graduate faculty member appointed as a witness by the Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources administer the examination. The primary role of the witness is to confirm the examination is administered properly and fairly with sufficient academic rigor to ensure that the student has successfully mastered the thesis material. Others may observe the examination upon petition to and approval by the Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources. The comprehensive examination will typically cover, but is not limited to, material presented in and related to the thesis, course work, and other appropriate literature and information. Unanimous agreement of the Advisory Committee will be required to pass a student. The student can request a second examination if he or she fails the first. A student who fails a second examination is withdrawn from the Forest Resources Master of Science program. After successfully completing a thesis defense, any required changes to the thesis must be completed within 3 months of the comprehensive examination date. Failure to complete required changes within this time period will result in withdrawal from the graduate program.
Summary of Graduation Requirements
For graduation, each student must:
- Successfully complete 30 semester hours with 24-26 hours of course work and 4-6 hours of Research and Thesis as outlined in the approved study plan;
- Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher with no more than two courses with a grade of “C;”
- Complete an approved thesis; and
- Pass an oral comprehensive examination.
Once the thesis is complete and the format approved by the Major Advisor and the Graduate Coordinator, an Intellectual Property Form (and Invention Disclosure Form if necessary) must be completed and on file in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs/Graduate Dean.
Finally, 5 unbound copies of the thesis in prescribed form (not including any copies desired by the student) must be submitted along with a Library Transmittal Form to the University Library, with the binding fees paid at that time.
Expulsion and/or Withdrawal
Any graduate student whose course or thesis work is unsatisfactory, who fails to make adequate progress, or who violates student conduct or employment rules may be withdrawn from the Forest Resources Master of Science program at any time upon the recommendation and agreement of the Major Advisor, the student’s Advisory Committee, Graduate Coordinator, and the Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources.
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