PHD in Forestry

The Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry

The Degree

This is the appropriate doctoral degree for any of the focal areas within the College of Forestry and Conservation except Wildlife Biology (which is offered as a separate degree program; students interested in Wildlife Biology should consult the relevant information). The Doctor of Philosophy requires distinguished scholarship in a recognized field of learning, demonstrated in a dissertation based on original and creative work. It is not granted merely as a certificate of faithful performance of a prescribed program of studies and research. This degree is designed to provide an opportunity for students to receive specialized education in the various natural resource fields. It involves investigation and analysis of scientific, technical or managerial subjects.

Application Procedures

Prospective graduate students should obtain application materials from:

Director of Student Services
College of Forestry and Conservation
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812

A completed application must include:

completed application form
a statement of specific interest in pursuing a graduate education at The University of Montana. This statement should outline the applicant’s area of desired specialization and faculty members previously contacted regarding graduate study opportunities. Applicants are encouraged to contact individual faculty members in their area of interest to determine faculty interest, space availability, and funding opportunities;
three letters of recommendation;
official transcripts of all college work;
official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores; and
official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores if applicant’s native language is not English.

The student is responsible for completion of the application file. Please note that applications sent to us by FAX are not acceptable. It typically takes 6 to 8 weeks from the date of your TOEFL or GRE examination for the scores to be reported. Application files are checked periodically and the student is informed of any materials, which are lacking. No action will be taken on any incomplete files.

Application Deadlines

Applications for fall semester admission will be reviewed beginning 31 January preceding the fall in which admission is desired. Applications for spring semester will be reviewed beginning 31 August preceding the spring in which admission is desired. Because the College receives applications from more qualified applicants than it can admit, submission of applications by these dates is highly recommended.

Admission Requirements

The College of Forestry and Conservation welcomes applications from men and women of all backgrounds who seek an intellectually challenging education. Most applicants to the Ph.D. program have completed or are completing masters degrees. The College of Forestry and Conservation will consider applications from students with only bachelor’s degrees if these applications demonstrate strong potential to complete a Ph.D. program.

Preliminary decisions regarding acceptance into the Ph.D. program will be made using the following criteria:

minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 in undergraduate work, and 3.5 in graduate work; and
minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores of 500 verbal, 600 quantitative, and 4 analytical. For applicants whose native language is not English, the minimum TOEFL score is 550. GRE scores for applicants whose native language is not English will be evaluated in the context of the applicant’s English-speaking abilities. Applicants who do not meet these minimums may still be considered for provisional admission if other aspects of the application show potential for successful completion of graduate study.

Further evaluation is made of letters of recommendation and the applicant’s statement of specific interest. The latter is important because the final criterion for accepting an applicant is the willingness of a faculty member to serve ads an advisor. The statement of specific interest is used to identify faculty members whose interests most closely match those of the applicant. Under no conditions are persons accepted without the approval of a faculty member who will serve as the major professor.

Provisional admission is sometimes granted to strong candidates who fail to meet one or more of the requirements listed above, but who have other outstanding qualifications. Provisional status may also be granted to students who are otherwise qualified but lack the necessary academic background in their specific area to graduate study. Normally, students admitted under provisional status will not be considered for full admission until they have completed a minimum of one semester of study. During this period they must have completed any deficiencies and taken a minimum of 9 graded graduate credits with a GPA of at least a 3.3. If, at the end of one semester, the GPA is less than 3.3, the student is advised in writing that his/her graduate status will be terminated at the end of the subsequent semester unless substantial progress is demonstrated. All courses taken for graduate credit while a student is on provisional status count toward the degree requirements.

Students must enroll in the semester stated in their acceptance letter or in the subsequent semester. If students need to defer for the first semester they need to get approval from their major professor, and then they need to contact the Graduate School to make sure the correct paperwork in done. Unless prior arrangements have been made, students not initiating degree work within this time period must reapply for admission.

Student Supervision

Advisor and Committees. An advisor, or major professor, from the faculty in the College of Forestry and Conservation is assigned to the student at the time of admittance to the program. A dissertation committee should be formed no later than the second semester in residence. The committee will consist of the major professor as chair and a minimum of four other members. At least one member must be from a department or school other than the College of Forestry and Conservation. Without exception, at least half of the dissertation committee will be faculty in the College of Forestry and Conservation. Members of the committee must have attained at least the degree level sought by the candidate. Exceptions require the approval of the Dean of the College of Forestry and Conservation and the Dean of the Graduate School. In selecting people from non-University organizations, care must be exercised that no off-campus employer or work supervisor of the student serve as a voting member of the student’s committee. The same restriction applies to the off-campus agency individual who is directly responsible for the funds supporting the student’s research.

Following selection of the dissertation committee, the student and advisor will select a comprehensive examination committee. This committee may consist of the same individuals as the dissertation committee, but someone other than the major professor must serve as chair. (The same committee restrictions apply.) Completion of the committee selection process should take place before the end of the student’s year of residence.

After verbal agreement has been received from the prospective committee members, the student will complete the committee appointment form that can be obtained from the main forestry office. This form is then submitted to the Forestry Dean for information and approval and forwarded to the Graduate Dean who individually notifies committee nominees of their appointment.

Degree Requirements

All students must be familiar with the requirements and procedures established by the Graduate School for their particular graduate degree. These requirements are on the Graduate Schools web site at http://ordway.umt.edu/aa/grad/.

The emphasis in a Ph.D. program is on the student’s professional development, stimulation of intellectual curiosity, and familiarity with science, and not on a specified set of courses. However, certain coursework requirements must be attained:

The student must obtain a minimum of 60 semesters graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. A dissertation committee may require more depending on the student’s background for the proposed research program.
Of the 60 semester graduate credits a minimum of 40 must be in coursework exclusive of thesis, research, or independent study courses (FOR, RECM, WBIO 596) .
At least 30 semester graduate credits must be taken at The University of Montana.
Up to 30 semester masters degree credits, 10 of which may be for thesis, research, or independent study courses, may be applied to the 60 credit requirement.
One semester credit of FOR, RECM, or WBIO 594, or equivalent, is required.

The College of Forestry has no foreign language requirement. A coursework outline must be presented to, and approved by, the student’s dissertation committee. This should be done prior to the end of the student’s first year in residence. A brief statement followed by the signatures of the committee members will serve as tangible evidence of the committee’s approval of the outline. The committee may make reasonable additions to the coursework outline if later evaluation shows that further coursework is needed. Copies of the coursework outline and approval should be placed in the major professor’s files and the student’s own files.

Dissertation Study Plan. A written study plan including a title, supporting literature, a research outline, and a time schedule for completion shall be submitted to the student’s committee. This should be done before the end of the student’s first year in residence. The completed dissertation study plan accompanied by the signed approval of the committee must be submitted to the Graduate Dean a minimum of two semesters prior to the date of the expected granting of the degree.

Comprehensive Examination. Prior to the admission to candidacy and at least two semesters before graduation, the student must pass a comprehensive examination covering the major field of study. The exam will have both written and oral components and is conducted by the comprehensive examination committee. A maximum of one dissenting vote will constitute successful completion of the examination. Re-taking of the exam is at the discretion of the committee. Upon completing the exam, the student must file a formal application for candidacy with the Graduate School. This must be done within five weeks after passing the exam.

The written exam shall consist of three question types. The first two question types shall be formulated jointly by all comprehensive exam committee members and consist of the following:

a question pertaining to the dissertation topic, designed to strengthen the student’s knowledge and consideration in the chosen area and to assist in further strengthening his/her research objectives and procedures.
a question on an important and controversial area of current interest in the student’s general field, but not directly related to the dissertation topic. The committee will allow at least one week to answer each of the above question types. The third question type consists of one or more question prepared by each committee member:
of historical, developmental, or philosophical importance in the student’s area of specialization.

These latter questions are generally short-answer and closed-book. The number of such questions is decided by the committee. In all cases the committee shall state specifically the amount of time that the student is to spend on each question.

In responding to the type 1 and 2 questions, the student will have complete library and discussion privileges, and the answers will be prepared in manuscript form with bibliography or literature citations. The answers are to be as complete as time allows.

The written responses shall be typed, duplicated, and distributed, one copy to each committee member, no less than one week before the scheduled date of the oral examination. If desired, the College will assist in this process. After reading the written responses, the committee may also require some or all of the written responses to be rewritten and may postpone for a reasonable time the oral portion of the examination.

An announcement stating the time and location of the oral exam will be posted at least 3 working days in advance by the chair of the comprehensive exam committee so that interested faculty may attend.

The written questions shall constitute the point of departure for the oral portion of the examination. The oral examination shall explore in depth the areas presented in the written questions, but shall not be restricted to these question. The examination shall be open to all members of the faculty of the University, and all such persons may question the student. Only the student’s committee shall have voting privileges; all other persons may question the student. Only the student’s committee shall have voting privileges; all other persons attending the examination shall be excused prior to the vote.

Normally, the vote for admission to candidacy will occur at the end of the oral examination. If the student is successful (i.e., no more than one dissenting vote), a candidacy form is signed by the examination committee chair. If the student is unsuccessful, the examination may be rescheduled. However, the committee retains the right to recommend the termination of the student’s program upon majority opinion at any time. The student may pass the second vote with a maximum of one dissenting vote.

Dissertation Completion. When the student and the advisor feel that the dissertation is ready for final review, a draft copy will be submitted to each member of the dissertation committee and one copy to the Graduate Dean. These review copies (with an abstract of no more than 350 words) must be submitted at least 30 days before the date of the final exam. The dissertation must show originality and demonstrate competency in independent scientific inquiry. It must constitute a real contribution to knowledge; it must exhibit a mastery of the literature on the subject; and it must be lucid, well organized, and written in correct and concise English.

Previously published material will be accepted for satisfying the dissertation requirement if the dissertation committee has authorized early publication of some of the material that appears in the dissertation.

After the final examination, but at least ten days before commencement, three unbound copies of the approved dissertation and four copies of the abstract must be submitted to the Graduate School. The candidate will sign the necessary publication agreement and pay the cost of binding and microfilm publication. One additional bound copy of the dissertation will be submitted to the advisor.

Final Examination. The final examination is an oral exam conducted by the student’s dissertation committee. Without exception, it will be immediately preceded by an open, formal seminar in which the doctoral candidate presents the results of his/her dissertation research. The seminar will present the dissertation and its relationship to the candidate’s field of study. The examination will be no more than three hours in length and it must be given at least three weeks before commencement. The final exam cannot be scheduled until a notice of dissertation acceptance has been presented by the committee to the Graduate Dean. The date of the exam will be announced to the Graduate Dean at least two weeks prior to the exam. The candidate must receive either a unanimous vote or a vote showing not more than one dissenting member of the total examining committee. If the student fails, or if the dissertation requires major revision, the committee may permit a repeat exam, but this repeat exam may not be given until at least on academic semester has elapsed. The same requirements hold for the re-exam as for the original.

How To Apply Graduate Degree Programs Courses Scholarships Faculty Current Graduate Students Society & Conservation Grads Ecosytems & Conservation Sciences Grads Forest Management Grads Featured Projects Info for Current Students Contact Us	The Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry The Degree This is the appropriate doctoral degree for any of the focal areas within the College of Forestry and Conservation except Wildlife Biology (which is offered as a separate degree program; students interested in Wildlife Biology should consult the relevant information). The Doctor of Philosophy requires distinguished scholarship in a recognized field of learning, demonstrated in a dissertation based on original and creative work. It is not granted merely as a certificate of faithful performance of a prescribed program of studies and research. This degree is designed to provide an opportunity for students to receive specialized education in the various natural resource fields. It involves investigation and analysis of scientific, technical or managerial subjects. Application Procedures Prospective graduate students should obtain application materials from: Director of Student Services College of Forestry and Conservation The University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812 A completed application must include: completed application form a statement of specific interest in pursuing a graduate education at The University of Montana. This statement should outline the applicant’s area of desired specialization and faculty members previously contacted regarding graduate study opportunities. Applicants are encouraged to contact individual faculty members in their area of interest to determine faculty interest, space availability, and funding opportunities; three letters of recommendation; official transcripts of all college work; official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores; and official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores if applicant’s native language is not English. The student is responsible for completion of the application file. Please note that applications sent to us by FAX are not acceptable. It typically takes 6 to 8 weeks from the date of your TOEFL or GRE examination for the scores to be reported. Application files are checked periodically and the student is informed of any materials, which are lacking. No action will be taken on any incomplete files. Application Deadlines Applications for fall semester admission will be reviewed beginning 31 January preceding the fall in which admission is desired. Applications for spring semester will be reviewed beginning 31 August preceding the spring in which admission is desired. Because the College receives applications from more qualified applicants than it can admit, submission of applications by these dates is highly recommended. Admission Requirements The College of Forestry and Conservation welcomes applications from men and women of all backgrounds who seek an intellectually challenging education. Most applicants to the Ph.D. program have completed or are completing masters degrees. The College of Forestry and Conservation will consider applications from students with only bachelor’s degrees if these applications demonstrate strong potential to complete a Ph.D. program. Preliminary decisions regarding acceptance into the Ph.D. program will be made using the following criteria: minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 in undergraduate work, and 3.5 in graduate work; and minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores of 500 verbal, 600 quantitative, and 4 analytical. For applicants whose native language is not English, the minimum TOEFL score is 550. GRE scores for applicants whose native language is not English will be evaluated in the context of the applicant’s English-speaking abilities. Applicants who do not meet these minimums may still be considered for provisional admission if other aspects of the application show potential for successful completion of graduate study. Further evaluation is made of letters of recommendation and the applicant’s statement of specific interest. The latter is important because the final criterion for accepting an applicant is the willingness of a faculty member to serve ads an advisor. The statement of specific interest is used to identify faculty members whose interests most closely match those of the applicant. Under no conditions are persons accepted without the approval of a faculty member who will serve as the major professor. Provisional admission is sometimes granted to strong candidates who fail to meet one or more of the requirements listed above, but who have other outstanding qualifications. Provisional status may also be granted to students who are otherwise qualified but lack the necessary academic background in their specific area to graduate study. Normally, students admitted under provisional status will not be considered for full admission until they have completed a minimum of one semester of study. During this period they must have completed any deficiencies and taken a minimum of 9 graded graduate credits with a GPA of at least a 3.3. If, at the end of one semester, the GPA is less than 3.3, the student is advised in writing that his/her graduate status will be terminated at the end of the subsequent semester unless substantial progress is demonstrated. All courses taken for graduate credit while a student is on provisional status count toward the degree requirements. Students must enroll in the semester stated in their acceptance letter or in the subsequent semester. If students need to defer for the first semester they need to get approval from their major professor, and then they need to contact the Graduate School to make sure the correct paperwork in done. Unless prior arrangements have been made, students not initiating degree work within this time period must reapply for admission. Student Supervision Advisor and Committees. An advisor, or major professor, from the faculty in the College of Forestry and Conservation is assigned to the student at the time of admittance to the program. A dissertation committee should be formed no later than the second semester in residence. The committee will consist of the major professor as chair and a minimum of four other members. At least one member must be from a department or school other than the College of Forestry and Conservation. Without exception, at least half of the dissertation committee will be faculty in the College of Forestry and Conservation. Members of the committee must have attained at least the degree level sought by the candidate. Exceptions require the approval of the Dean of the College of Forestry and Conservation and the Dean of the Graduate School. In selecting people from non-University organizations, care must be exercised that no off-campus employer or work supervisor of the student serve as a voting member of the student’s committee. The same restriction applies to the off-campus agency individual who is directly responsible for the funds supporting the student’s research. Following selection of the dissertation committee, the student and advisor will select a comprehensive examination committee. This committee may consist of the same individuals as the dissertation committee, but someone other than the major professor must serve as chair. (The same committee restrictions apply.) Completion of the committee selection process should take place before the end of the student’s year of residence. After verbal agreement has been received from the prospective committee members, the student will complete the committee appointment form that can be obtained from the main forestry office. This form is then submitted to the Forestry Dean for information and approval and forwarded to the Graduate Dean who individually notifies committee nominees of their appointment. Degree Requirements All students must be familiar with the requirements and procedures established by the Graduate School for their particular graduate degree. These requirements are on the Graduate Schools web site at http://ordway.umt.edu/aa/grad/. The emphasis in a Ph.D. program is on the student’s professional development, stimulation of intellectual curiosity, and familiarity with science, and not on a specified set of courses. However, certain coursework requirements must be attained: The student must obtain a minimum of 60 semesters graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. A dissertation committee may require more depending on the student’s background for the proposed research program. Of the 60 semester graduate credits a minimum of 40 must be in coursework exclusive of thesis, research, or independent study courses (FOR, RECM, WBIO 596) . At least 30 semester graduate credits must be taken at The University of Montana. Up to 30 semester masters degree credits, 10 of which may be for thesis, research, or independent study courses, may be applied to the 60 credit requirement. One semester credit of FOR, RECM, or WBIO 594, or equivalent, is required. The College of Forestry has no foreign language requirement. A coursework outline must be presented to, and approved by, the student’s dissertation committee. This should be done prior to the end of the student’s first year in residence. A brief statement followed by the signatures of the committee members will serve as tangible evidence of the committee’s approval of the outline. The committee may make reasonable additions to the coursework outline if later evaluation shows that further coursework is needed. Copies of the coursework outline and approval should be placed in the major professor’s files and the student’s own files. Dissertation Study Plan. A written study plan including a title, supporting literature, a research outline, and a time schedule for completion shall be submitted to the student’s committee. This should be done before the end of the student’s first year in residence. The completed dissertation study plan accompanied by the signed approval of the committee must be submitted to the Graduate Dean a minimum of two semesters prior to the date of the expected granting of the degree. Comprehensive Examination. Prior to the admission to candidacy and at least two semesters before graduation, the student must pass a comprehensive examination covering the major field of study. The exam will have both written and oral components and is conducted by the comprehensive examination committee. A maximum of one dissenting vote will constitute successful completion of the examination. Re-taking of the exam is at the discretion of the committee. Upon completing the exam, the student must file a formal application for candidacy with the Graduate School. This must be done within five weeks after passing the exam. The written exam shall consist of three question types. The first two question types shall be formulated jointly by all comprehensive exam committee members and consist of the following: a question pertaining to the dissertation topic, designed to strengthen the student’s knowledge and consideration in the chosen area and to assist in further strengthening his/her research objectives and procedures. a question on an important and controversial area of current interest in the student’s general field, but not directly related to the dissertation topic. The committee will allow at least one week to answer each of the above question types. The third question type consists of one or more question prepared by each committee member: of historical, developmental, or philosophical importance in the student’s area of specialization. These latter questions are generally short-answer and closed-book. The number of such questions is decided by the committee. In all cases the committee shall state specifically the amount of time that the student is to spend on each question. In responding to the type 1 and 2 questions, the student will have complete library and discussion privileges, and the answers will be prepared in manuscript form with bibliography or literature citations. The answers are to be as complete as time allows. The written responses shall be typed, duplicated, and distributed, one copy to each committee member, no less than one week before the scheduled date of the oral examination. If desired, the College will assist in this process. After reading the written responses, the committee may also require some or all of the written responses to be rewritten and may postpone for a reasonable time the oral portion of the examination. An announcement stating the time and location of the oral exam will be posted at least 3 working days in advance by the chair of the comprehensive exam committee so that interested faculty may attend. The written questions shall constitute the point of departure for the oral portion of the examination. The oral examination shall explore in depth the areas presented in the written questions, but shall not be restricted to these question. The examination shall be open to all members of the faculty of the University, and all such persons may question the student. Only the student’s committee shall have voting privileges; all other persons may question the student. Only the student’s committee shall have voting privileges; all other persons attending the examination shall be excused prior to the vote. Normally, the vote for admission to candidacy will occur at the end of the oral examination. If the student is successful (i.e., no more than one dissenting vote), a candidacy form is signed by the examination committee chair. If the student is unsuccessful, the examination may be rescheduled. However, the committee retains the right to recommend the termination of the student’s program upon majority opinion at any time. The student may pass the second vote with a maximum of one dissenting vote. Dissertation Completion. When the student and the advisor feel that the dissertation is ready for final review, a draft copy will be submitted to each member of the dissertation committee and one copy to the Graduate Dean. These review copies (with an abstract of no more than 350 words) must be submitted at least 30 days before the date of the final exam. The dissertation must show originality and demonstrate competency in independent scientific inquiry. It must constitute a real contribution to knowledge; it must exhibit a mastery of the literature on the subject; and it must be lucid, well organized, and written in correct and concise English. Previously published material will be accepted for satisfying the dissertation requirement if the dissertation committee has authorized early publication of some of the material that appears in the dissertation. After the final examination, but at least ten days before commencement, three unbound copies of the approved dissertation and four copies of the abstract must be submitted to the Graduate School. The candidate will sign the necessary publication agreement and pay the cost of binding and microfilm publication. One additional bound copy of the dissertation will be submitted to the advisor. Final Examination. The final examination is an oral exam conducted by the student’s dissertation committee. Without exception, it will be immediately preceded by an open, formal seminar in which the doctoral candidate presents the results of his/her dissertation research. The seminar will present the dissertation and its relationship to the candidate’s field of study. The examination will be no more than three hours in length and it must be given at least three weeks before commencement. The final exam cannot be scheduled until a notice of dissertation acceptance has been presented by the committee to the Graduate Dean. The date of the exam will be announced to the Graduate Dean at least two weeks prior to the exam. The candidate must receive either a unanimous vote or a vote showing not more than one dissenting member of the total examining committee. If the student fails, or if the dissertation requires major revision, the committee may permit a repeat exam, but this repeat exam may not be given until at least on academic semester has elapsed. The same requirements hold for the re-exam as for the original.
College of Forestry and Conservation, The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812 Phone: 406-243-5521 \| Fax: 406-243-4845 Email: request@cfc.umt.edu