Forest Resources

A Forest Resources M.S. or Ph.D. degree typically addresses one or more of the following areas in forestry: forest resource management, forest biology, environmental concerns, and wood products.

As a graduate student you will work closely with your faculty adviser and committee members in designing a program of study and research adapted to your interests. We encourage you to explore with faculty who are pursuing research in topics of interest to you to determine whether they have the time and financial resources to serve as your adviser during your graduate program. In addition, you may wish to contact the ESM Graduate Student Organization () and visit with a couple graduate students who are members of the department to gain insights about the departmental strengths that may be of interest to you. You can also check out the ESM GSO website; it has some useful links and information for graduate students!

Graduate research projects typically address one or more of the following areas:

  • Forest Resources Management: Quantitative forest management systems, economics, biometrics, remote sensing, forest recreation, policy and sociology, watershed management practices, urban forestry
  • Forest Biology: Genetics and breeding, ecology, silviculture, revegetation of disturbed lands, reproduction of hardwoods
  • Environmental Concerns: Acid precipitation effects, forest microclimatology, municipal wastewater and sludge effects, reclamation of mined lands, urban forestry, water yield and quality
  • Wood Products: Wood anatomy and ultrastructure, wood composite properties, wood degradation and preservation, engineered wood products, recycled wood fiber composites, processing and manufacturing systems, industrial production management, business to business marketing, pulp and paper products, chemical and mechanical properties, wood products regional and international marketing

In addition, students may elect the Watershed Stewardship Option to focus on interdisciplinary watershed planning and management involving case problems in actual Pennsylvania watersheds.