Master of Forestry

FER Home : Graduate Students :Master of Forestry

This non-thesis Master’s degree program emphasizes the forest resources of North Carolina and the southern United States. Students pursuing a Master of Forestry (MF) may also address forestry problems throughout North America or leverage FER’s expertise in tropical pine species and many other international arenas. No minor is required.


This degree program is designed for students seeking a non-thesis graduate degree option. In lieu of a thesis, candidates are required to prepare and conduct a professional presentation on their chosen area of study during their final semester as a student.

Past students pursuing Master of Forestry degrees have explored a variety of topics, including:

  • Forest genetics and tree breeding,
  • Ecosystem management,
  • The physiology of trees and forest stands,
  • Forest soils and tree nutrition,
  • Forest engineering and equipment design,
  • Management of private non-industrial forests,
  • Forest hydrology,
  • Operations research and decision theory,
  • The impacts of pollutants on forest productivity, and
  • Forest entomology and pathology.

Graduates of this program have gone on to successful careers around the world, working within the industry, government, non-profit and academic sectors for both public and private organizations.

For More Information

For more information on admission and degree requirements, tuition costs, financial aid and other related topics, please explore the links at left.

Promo Area

Master of Forestry students often pursue projects involving the forest resources of North Carolina and the southern United States. For example, eastern and Carolina hemlocks are found in the Appalachian mountain range. In recent years the trees have suffered infestation by the hemlock woolly adelgid, an insect that destroys the trees by feeding on them. Fifty percent of the Appalachian hemlock population has now been infested and is at risk of extinction, which could adversely affect the ecological balance in the entire region.

Fortunately, an international tree conservation program founded at North Carolina State University is now working to save the eastern hemlock. with graduate students playing important roles in this initiative.

Click here for more information on this project.

Key Contacts

Sarah Slover
Graduate Program Coordinator
Phone: 919-515-7563
sarah_slover@ncsu.edu

Dr. Sarah Warren
Director of Graduate Programs
sarah_warren@ncsu.edu