Feb 17, 2026  
2025-2026 Graduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

Forest and Natural Resource Sciences, MSFNRS


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The MS in Forest and Natural Resource Sciences (FNRS) is offered by the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. A goal of the Forest and Natural Resource Sciences Graduate Program is to contribute to improved forest health and management through enhanced understanding of relevant ecological and social benefits and constraints. Consequently, a student’s degree program may be directed toward any of the disciplinary or interdisciplinary fields in Forest and Natural Resource Sciences, which range from molecular to landscape and societal levels. The Program’s current research has particular strengths in southern Appalachian hardwood forest ecology and management, forest hydrology and watershed management, reforestation and mine reclamation, invasive species and forest health, animal ecology and management, and human dimensions including forest policy and economics. 

Students may elect to pursue the Master of Science in Forest and Natural Resource Sciences degree under Plan A, which requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate course work plus an acceptable thesis, or under a non-thesis option (Plan B), which requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate course work that includes an area of specialization. 

Admission Requirements  

Applicants for admission to the Master of Science in Forest and Natural Resource Sciences degree program must hold (by the time of enrollment in the program) an awarded four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. Although it is not required that an applicant’s undergraduate degree be in forestry or another natural resource field, a student admitted to the program who lacks essential undergraduate courses may be required by an advisory committee to take them. Applicants are expected to have an overall undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 or above. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required but recommended.

More detailed information concerning the Forest and Natural Resource Sciences Graduate Program’s admission procedures, assistantships, and degree requirements is availabe at: https://forestry.mgcafe.uky.edu/forest-natural-resource-sciences-graduate-program. For specific area(s) of interest of our individual faculty members, visit: https://forestry.mgcafe.uky.edu/research-extension-faculty

Program Website: https://forestry.mgcafe.uky.edu/forest-natural-resource-sciences-graduate-program

Degree Requirements

Required Core Courses


Total credit hours: 30 (Plan A), 30 (Plan B) 

All Forest and Natural Resource Sciences graduate students take the following:

Guided Electives


Students take 21 credit hours of electives to reach 30 credit hours.

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