This program allows students to choose one of the following as their major field
of study:
forest resources management; recreation, parks, and tourism resources; wood science
and technology, or wildlife and fisheries resources. Within these major
fields of study, specialization is limited only by the range of competencies in
the graduate faculty.
Forest Resources Management
Students work closely with their faculty advisor and mentor to develop a unique research program that will prepare them for a career in this field. Course work for varies depending upon the career goals of the student, past course history, and educational needs for the intended research project. Typically all students take 2 semesters of Statistics (STAT 511 and 512) and an advanced GIS class or as advised by their graduate committee.
Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources
This program focuses on human dimensions of recreation, tourism and natural resources. We include a diverse group of publics in our training, research, and technical assistance programs such as policy-makers, tourists, communities, resource managers, entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations, and private landowners. We aim to understand how human and organizational values, perceptions, attitudes, and behavior shape and are shaped by recreation, tourism, and natural resource management systems.
Graduate students customize their program of study and research in coordination with a major faculty advisor and graduate committee. Together, an academic program is designed that challenges and stimulates while meeting the career objectives of the student.
Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
The Wildlife and Fisheries Resources Program at WVU is dedicated to developing the next generation of young fisheries and wildlife professionals. Students typically focus on either Wildlife or Fisheries for this advanced degree, and are required to complete necessary coursework to obtain professional certification as a biologist by The Wildlife Society or The American Fisheries Society by the time of graduation.
Wood Science and Technology
This program is designed to prepare students for the challenges of a wood products industry career. Graduate students enrolling in wood science will be expected to have taken WDSC 223, Wood Anatomy and Structure, WDSC 232, Primary Conversion and Grading, and WDSC 401, Field Trip or their equivalents. Graduate students are expected to make up deficiencies in undergraduate background as part of their program of study.
Curriculum requirements for all candidates include a block of graduate requirements course in the major field, which will constitute a comprehensive review of the significant knowledge in that field, and a block of graduate courses in a minor field of study. A minimum of 60 semester hours beyond the bachelor’s degree and exclusive of the dissertation is required. The research work for the doctoral dissertation must show a high degree of scholarship and must present an original contribution to the field of forest resources science. In addition to course work and the dissertation, the candidate is required to pass a qualifying examination and a final examination.