Master in Forest Science (MFS)

(*Please note that the Forestry program is not accepting applications for 2011.)

The MFS is a terminal degree. Fields of study are related to the interests of faculty and staff at the Harvard Forest. These may vary, but generally include: forest ecology, historical ecology, community ecology, landscape dynamics, paleoecology, conservation, and ecophysiology.

There are no course requirements or general examinations.

A thesis proposal, thesis, public presentation, and final oral examination are required for the MFS degree.

Duration of Program

Students are normally expected to complete their degree within two years of entering the program. Students typically work as paid research assistants for the summer immediately preceding their matriculation in order to gain experience with research during the field season in New England. Thus, starting on June 1 students participate in the research program at Harvard Forest for three months, then matriculate and complete all degree requirements within two academic years (i.e., by May 30; two years after arrival at Harvard Forest).

Advising

Primary advising and direction of the thesis project are provided by Dr. David Foster and scientists at Harvard Forest, as well as scientists and faculty elsewhere in the University.

During the first half of the first term, students must select a thesis committee that consists of a student’s primary advisor and at least two other members, one of whom must be from outside of Harvard Forest. The thesis committee helps direct and set goals for the completion of the thesis and monitors progress toward completion of degree requirements.

Proposal

A thesis proposal must be submitted to the thesis committee no later than the end of the first term. The proposal is a document that defines the project on which a student plans to complete research for the thesis. In addition to summarizing the existing scholarship related to the proposed project, it should outline major questions, research goals, and methods that will be employed.

Following submission of the proposal, the thesis committee will formally meet with the student to discuss the thesis topic and proposed methods. The thesis proposal must be approved by the entire thesis committee.

Satisfactory Progress

The initial period of research at Harvard Forest during the summer prior to matriculation is considered a probationary period. At the end of this period and prior to registration for the academic year, the student will meet with his or her primary advisor to review progress, evaluate student performance, and address any concerns. Similarly, after matriculation, the student will meet with his or her primary advisor at least once per term for the purpose of evaluating student performance and progress. In case of significant concerns with student performance or progress during the probationary period or after matriculation, the student may be granted a grace period of three months, during which the student must address all concerns and demonstrate satisfactory progress. At the beginning of the grace period, a written document will be provided by the primary advisor to the student and to other members of the thesis committee; this document will identify specific concerns and describe expectations and timelines for achieving specific benchmarks. The advisor and members of the thesis committee will use this document to evaluate progress towards completion of degree requirements and thus to determine whether the student is eligible to continue to register or must withdraw from the program.

The student is expected to provide brief interim reports on the status of his or her research to all thesis committee members. The committee will use these reports to gauge student progress, decide if additional research is required, and develop a logical timeline for thesis completion.

Thesis

Completed research is submitted to the thesis committee as a written thesis. The thesis is expected to be based on independent research work of quality suitable for publication in a major peer-reviewed journal, and may be submitted as a series of complete manuscripts essentially ready for submission. The thesis should contain a scholarly review of pertinent literature and clearly, logically, and carefully describe the specifics and implications of the research.

MFS candidates are required to present the subject matter of their thesis at an open seminar at the Harvard Forest to which the thesis committee and members of the public are invited. This presentation shall occur before the thesis examination by members of the thesis committee. Two weeks prior to the public presentation, the degree candidate must submit copies of the final thesis (unbound) to each member of the thesis committee. The public seminar is followed by a private oral thesis examination by members of the thesis committee. In the oral examination, the candidate will be called upon to demonstrate the ability to formulate and defend original ideas on scientific topics related to the subject of the thesis.

After the examination, the committee will decide whether the candidate passes, fails, or passes on condition of specific modifications to the thesis.

Immediately after a successful thesis defense, two final bound copies of the thesis must be submitted to the Harvard Forest to be made available for public inspection.

Department Withdrawal Notice

Graduate students who have not met satisfactory progress requirements for more than 3 months are subject to being withdrawn from the program at the discretion of the department. The department will provide the student in writing the specific steps necessary to obtain satisfactory progress. If at the end of the 3-month grace period, the student has not made satisfactory progress, the student will then be withdrawn.

Exceptions to the Requirements

A student who has not met an established deadline may, with department endorsement, be granted the status of “grace” for 3 months and remain eligible for financial aid during this period. At the end of the grace period the student must have rectified the deficiency and be in compliance with all other established criteria in order to be considered to be making satisfactory progress. Ordinarily, only one such period of grace will be granted to a student during graduate studies. If a student continues to not make satisfactory progress, a department may withdraw the student.