Master of Forestry in Forest Resource Management

Program Code: N-FRM-MF
Degree Designation: Master of Forestry
Department: Nicholas School of the Environment
Website: nicholas.duke.edu/academics/masters-programs/master-forestry

Program Summary

The Master of Forestry degree integrates forest ecology and management within an educational program that emphasizes related environmental fields. The program builds knowledge in basic forest ecology and ecological management of forests for a variety of uses, including nontraditional forest products and conservation. This distinctive approach is brought about by coordinating a core set of forestry courses in sampling, measurement, dendrology, silviculture, and ecology—combined with electives in resource-oriented courses (such as soils, hydrology, air quality, water quality, biological conservation, and physiology); statistical analysis and modeling; and resource economics and policy. The Duke Forest serves as an outdoor laboratory in many of these courses.

The focus of the Master of Forestry is problem solving in complex ecological and management systems. Within the program, students may acquire skills that qualify them for positions in industry, conservation organizations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other groups involved with the use and conservation of forests. The MF Program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters, which is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation as the specialized accrediting body for forestry educational programs in the United States. Students can develop additional credentials for employment by concurrently completing the MF degree and a master of environmental management degree in the Nicholas School of the Environment or other concurrent degree programs (i.e., business, law, or public policy) at Duke, as described in the section that follows.

Prerequisites: statistics, calculus, principles of ecology, and microeconomics (or general economics that focuses on microeconomics rather than macroeconomics) required.

For more detailed information about this program, including specific prerequisites and degree requirements, see nicholas.duke.edu/academics/masters-programs/master-forestry.