Dual-Titles

Information about the Dual-Titles available to Ph.D. Forest Resources students.

What is a Dual-Title?

A graduate dual-title degree is a fully integrated program of study that allows students to define a problem that combines both the graduate major and dual-title fields.

Note: A dual-title graduate degree program cannot exist as a separate (stand-alone) graduate degree program at Penn State.

The student's diploma will carry the name of both the graduate major and the dual-title degree program.

Dual-Title Requirements

A dual-title graduate degree program must require a minimum of 15 credits for a dual-title doctoral program.

Credits required for a dual-title doctoral program may be counted towards the student’s graduate major degree requirements.

If a student completes both a dual-title master’s degree and a dual-title doctoral degree in the same dual-title, credits required for the dual-title master’s degree may be counted towards the dual-title doctoral degree requirements.

Students must apply and may be admitted to an existing dual-title graduate degree program only after being enrolled in an existing graduate program.

Doctoral students should enroll in a dual-title graduate degree program early in their training, and no later than the end of the fourth semester (not counting summer session) of entry into the graduate major program.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should students be encouraged to take coursework related to or recruited for admission to a dual-title graduate degree program that has not yet been adopted by the student’s graduate major program by means of a program change proposal approved through the Graduate Council curricular review process.

Students may complete only one dual-title in addition to a graduate major program of study within a single degree program.

What are the Dual-Title options available for the Forest Resources program?

1) Dual-Title M.S. in Forest Resources and Transdisciplinary Research on Environment and Society (TREES)

Admission Requirements

Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program in Forest Resources and The Graduate School before they can apply for admission to the dual-title degree program. After admission to their primary program, students must apply for admission to and meet the admissions requirements of the TREES dual-title program.  Doctoral students should enroll in a dual-title graduate degree program early in their training, and no later than the end of the fourth semester (not counting summer semesters) of entry into the graduate major program. 

TREES Admission Requirements

To pursue a dual-title intercollege degree under this program, the student must first apply and be admitted through one of the existing graduate programs that offers the dual-title degree in TREES:

  • Anthropology
  • Architecture
  • Energy and Mineral Engineering
  • Forest Resources
  • Geography
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Recreation, Park and Tourism Management
  • Rural Sociology

Once enrolled in their home degree program, the student can apply to the Admissions Committee of TREES. The TREES admissions committee reviews applications and recommends students for admission to the dual-title degree program to The Graduate School. TREES admission requirements include:

  1. A minimum baccalaureate Jr/Sr grade point average of 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale;
  2. A statement of professional goals, natural resource management philosophy, and reasons for applying to the program; and
  3. A letter of support from the student’s doctoral advisor acknowledging the TREES dual title program’s requirements and their individual and departmental support of the student’s participation in the program.

Doctoral students must be admitted into the dual-title degree program in TREES no later than the end of the fourth semester (not counting summer semesters) of entry into the graduate major program.

TREES Degree Requirements

To qualify for the TREES dual-title intercollege degree, students must satisfy the requirements of the major degree program in which they are enrolled, including the communication/foreign language requirements, if any.

In addition, they must satisfy the minimum requirements in the TREES dual-title intercollege program described here. Final course selection, including which courses will satisfy the both the graduate major program and dual-title program requirements, is determined by the students with approval by their dual-title program advisers and their major program advisers. All dual-title intercollege degree candidates should enroll in TREES 590 in their first semester.

A student in TREES must complete 15 credits of TREES course work beyond the bachelor's degree in addition to curricular requirements for the master's or doctoral degree in the student's primary program.  These courses are required for both the M.S./M.A. and Ph.D. degrees.

  • TREES 590 - Colloquium in Transdisciplinary Research on Environment and Society (1 credit)
  • TREES 574 - Integrated Perspectives in Transdisciplinary Research on Environment and Society (3 credits)
  • TREES 575 - Ethical Issues in Transdisciplinary Research on Environment and Society (6 credits)
    • Two courses from at least two pools that provide the most breadth for the student as determined by the program chair. A list of courses in each pool is maintained by the graduate program office.
  • TREES 596 - Individual Studies (at least 1 credit)
    • Graduate-level Internship (at least 1 credit at the 495/595/895 level); internship credit can reside in student’s home department or related program, but requires approval by the program chair.

All courses, including which courses will satisfy both the graduate major program and dual-title program requirements, must be approved by the student’s dissertation adviser(s) and/or committee.

Doctoral students must be admitted into the dual-title graduate degree program no later than the end of the fourth semester (not counting summer semesters) of entry into the graduate major program. In consultation with the TREES dual-title program, the graduate major program will determine the timing and format of the Qualifying Examination for dual-title TREES students from the three available options: a single qualifying examination that covers both the major and the dual-title, separate qualifying examinations for the major field and the dual-title field, or a qualifying examination in just the major field. This will be stated in the graduate major program’s Graduate Bulletin listing for the dual-title adoption.

In accordance with Graduate Council policy, the Ph.D. committee must include at least one Graduate Faculty member from TREES. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role.  If the chair of the Ph.D. committee is not also a member of the Graduate Faculty in TREES, the member of the committee representing TREES must be appointed as co-chair. The TREES representative on the student’s Ph.D. committee will develop questions for and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive examination.

All Ph.D. students will be required to complete, present, and defend a dissertation that incorporates a topic related to both their graduate major program and TREES. Candidates for the dual-title Ph.D. degree in TREES will be required to pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense) covering their graduate major program field and TREES. To earn the Ph.D. degree, doctoral students must also write a dissertation that is accepted by the Ph.D. committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School.

2) Dual-Title M.S. in Forest Resources and International Agriculture and Development (INTAD)

Admission Requirements

Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program in FORR and The Graduate School before they can apply for admission to the dual-title degree program.  After admission to their primary program, students must apply for admission to and meet the admissions requirements of the INTAD dual-title program. 

INTAD Admissions Requirements

INTAD is a dual-title degree program, meaning that students must first apply and be accepted into one of the participating primary programs.  A list of participating program is as follows:

  • Agricultural & Biological Engineering
  • Agricultural & Environmental Plant Science
  • Biorenewable Systems
  • Civil Engineering
  • Ecology
  • Education, Development, and Community Education
  • Entomology
  • Food Science
  • Forest Resources
  • Plant Pathology
  • Rural Sociology
  • Soil Science

Students must first enroll in one of the primary participating programs listed above. Prospective students are encouraged to express their interest in INTAD when contacting the primary program. 

Students may apply to the INTAD dual-title after they are enrolled and accepted in the primary degree program. INTAD admission requirements include:

  1. Application Form;
  2. Statement of Purpose describing the student's interest in international agriculture and development, what they hope to accomplish by earning a dual-title degree, and how the dual-degree will help fulfill their professional goals;
  3. Letter of support/reference from the student's INTAD advisor or another member of the INTAD faculty familiar with the dual-title program.

INTAD Degree Requirements

To qualify for the INTAD dual-title degree, students must satisfy the requirements of the primary graduate program in which they are enrolled. In addition, they must satisfy the minimum requirements of the INTAD dual-title degree specified here.

Graduates of the dual-title INTAD master's degree program who wish to pursue an INTAD doctoral degree must re-apply to the INTAD program for admission. INTAD master's degree credits may be carried over to the doctoral program. Six additional INTAD credits will be required. INTAD master's degree graduates who pursue an INTAD Ph.D. are required to take INTAD 820 a second time.

Students admitted to the doctoral INTAD dual-title offering must exhibit high research competence, including ability to identify, conceptualize, and execute a significant research project that makes a significant addition to the body of knowledge in the field. Students also must be fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 19 INTAD credits for a dual-title Ph.D. degree. The 19 required credits must be at the 500 or 800 level. Thirteen credits will form the core curriculum:

  • INTAD 820 - International Agricultural Development Seminar (3 credits)
  • RSOC 517 - International Rural Social Change (3 credits)
  • INTAD 577 - Global Agricultural Systems (3 credits)
  • AEE525 – Program Design and Delivery (3 credits)
  • INTAD 590 - Colloquium (1 credit)
  • Electives - Three credits must be taken as an internship or applied course/independent study with international development content. (3 credits)
  • Electives - Three credits must be taken from among the INTAD electives. (3 credits)

In addition, students will be encouraged to pursue proficiency in a language other than English, as appropriate.

Final course selection is determined by the students and their Ph.D. committees. The Ph.D. committee will discuss with the student a program of study that meets the student’s career goals and that is in accord with the policies of the Graduate Council and the INTAD dual-title program. Some courses may satisfy both the major graduate program requirements and those of the INTAD dual-title program. Permission from a student's Ph.D. committee, in consultation with the program chair, is required to substitute a 400-level course for a 500-level course.

The qualifying examination committee for the dual-title Ph.D. degree must include at least one Graduate Faculty member from INTAD program. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. It is preferred that students take a single qualifying examination, containing elements of both the primary program and INTAD. However, in cases when students matriculate into a dual-title after they have already completed the primary program qualifying exam, a second qualifying exam may be taken for the dual title, according to policy GCAC-604 and the guidelines of the dual-title program.

Dual-title graduate degree students may require an additional semester to fulfill requirements for both areas of study and, therefore, the qualifying examination may be delayed one semester beyond the normal period allowable.

In addition to the general Graduate Council requirements for Ph.D. committees, the Ph.D. committee of an INTAD dual-title doctoral degree student must include at least one member of the INTAD Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. If the chair of the Ph.D. committee is not also a member of the Graduate Faculty in INTAD, the member of the committee representing INTAD must be appointed as co-chair.

At the end of their course work, students must pass a comprehensive examination that follows the guidelines established by the primary program and reflects both their primary program and the dual-title degree curriculum. International agriculture must be one of the key areas of the exam and the INTAD representative on the student’s Ph.D. committee must have input into the development of and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive evaluation.

Doctoral students enrolled in the dual-title degree program are required to write and orally defend a dissertation on a topic that reflects their original research and education in both their primary program and the INTAD dual-title program. The dissertation should contribute to the body of knowledge in international agriculture. A public oral presentation of the dissertation is required. The dissertation must be accepted by the Ph.D. committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School, and the candidate must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense) to earn the Ph.D. degree.

3) Dual-Title M.S. in Forest Resources and Operations Research (OR)

Admissions Requirements

Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program in Operations Research and The Graduate School before they can apply for admission to the dual-title degree program. After admission to their primary program, students must apply for admission to and meet the admissions requirements of the Operations Research dual-title program.

OR Admissions Requirements

To pursue a dual-title degree in Operations Research at Penn State the student must apply for admission to the Graduate School and select one of the following graduate major programs:

  • Agricultural & Biological Engineering
  • Bio Renewable Systems 
  • Business
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Science & Engineering
  • Economics
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Energy and Mineral Engineering
  • Energy, Environmental, and Food Economics
  • Entomology
  • Forest Resources
  • Geosciences
  • Geography
  • Hospitality Management
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Statistics
  • Workforce Education and Development

For the Ph.D. dual-title degree in Operations Research, in addition to those prescribed by the graduate major program, prerequisites for acceptance to the program without deficiency include the following or their equivalent:

  • MATH 401 - Introduction to Analysis I (3 credits)
  • MATH 436 – Linear Algebra (3 credits)
  • CMPSC 101 - Introduction to Programming (3 credits)
  • 3 credits of probability and statistics

Doctoral students must apply and be admitted to the Operations Research dual-title program prior to taking the qualifying exam.

OR Degree Requirements

To qualify for a dual-title degree, students must satisfy the requirements of the graduate major programs in which they are enrolled, in addition to the minimum requirements, or their equivalent, in the Operations Research program. Students must enroll in OR 590 for at least 1 credit in each year enrolled in the program and in residence.

The minimum requirements for the Ph.D. dual-title degree in Operations Research are:

  • 9 credits in stochastic/statistical methods, including a minimum of 3 credits in each of the areas of statistical methods and stochastic processes;
  • 9 credits in optimization, including a minimum of 3 credits in linear programming;
  • 6 credits in computational methods, including a minimum of 3 credits in simulation; and
  • 12 credits in applications/specialization.

A minimum of 18 credits must be in the 500 series, and particular courses may satisfy both the graduate major program requirements and those in the Operations Research program.

The qualifying examination committee for the dual-title Ph.D. degree must include at least one Graduate Faculty member from the Operations Research program. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. There will be a single qualifying examination, containing elements of both the primary graduate degree program and Operations Research. Dual-title graduate degree students may require an additional semester to fulfill requirements for both areas of study and, therefore, the qualifying examination may be delayed one semester beyond the normal period allowable.

In addition to the general Graduate Council requirements for Ph.D. committees, the chair and at least two members of the Ph.D. committee of an Operations Research dual-title Ph.D. student must be members of the Operations Research Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. The Operations Research representatives on the student’s Ph.D. committee will develop questions for and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive examination.

Students in the dual-title program are required to write and orally defend a dissertation on a topic that is approved in advance by their Ph.D. committee and reflects their original research and education in both their primary graduate program and Operations Research. Upon completion of the doctoral dissertation, the candidate must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense) to earn the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation must be accepted by the Ph.D. committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School.