Michigan State University

What you'll study

The PhD in Forestry is built around an individual research programme supervised by faculty in the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, supported by multidisciplinary coursework. Core intellectual areas include forest ecology and silviculture, landscape ecology, forest biometrics and modelling, remote sensing and GIS applications, wood products and bioproducts, forest economics and policy, conservation and restoration, and urban forestry.

Typical doctoral students complete advanced graduate coursework in statistics and quantitative methods, ecosystem science, and specialised seminars aligned with their research. Research training emphasises experimental design, long-term field studies, laboratory analyses, spatial data science, and science communication. Students also develop teaching experience and participate in professional development workshops.

Degree requirements typically include a programme of graduate coursework, qualifying or preliminary examinations, the development and defence of a dissertation proposal, original research conducted under faculty supervision, and the public oral defence of the doctoral dissertation. Many students take advantage of MSU’s regional field stations, research forests and laboratory facilities for empirical work.

Entry requirements

• Previous degree: A relevant graduate degree (master’s) is normally expected, although strong applicants with a bachelor’s degree and substantial research experience may be considered.
• Academic background: Prior coursework in forestry, ecology, biology, environmental science, natural resources, statistics or quantitative methods is preferred. Practical field or laboratory experience strengthens an application.
• Application materials: Applicants should supply official transcripts, a detailed CV, a statement of research interests and goals, and academic or professional references who can assess research potential.
• Research alignment: Because admission is research-focused, applicants are encouraged to identify potential faculty mentors and describe how their research interests align with faculty expertise.
• English language: International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency according to university requirements.
• Funding considerations: Many successful applicants are admitted with support through research assistantships, teaching assistantships or fellowships; competitiveness for funding depends on fit with active research projects.

Career prospects

Graduates of the PhD in Forestry pursue a wide range of careers. Common pathways include academic positions as faculty and researchers, roles in federal and state natural resource agencies (for example in forest health, inventory and monitoring, or policy), and research or leadership posts in international conservation organisations and non-governmental organisations.

Other career destinations include private-sector positions in forest industry and consulting (sustainable forest management, certification, timber markets), applied research in wood science and bioproducts, urban forestry and municipal planning, environmental impact assessment, and roles in remote sensing and GIS firms. Graduates also work in science policy, natural resource economics, and restoration ecology, where advanced quantitative and analytical skills are in demand.

Why study at Michigan State University

• Established school and faculty expertise: The School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science at MSU has a long history of forestry research and teaching across ecosystem science, wood products and policy, offering a broad range of faculty expertise for interdisciplinary supervision.
• Field stations and research forests: MSU provides access to extensive field sites and long-term study areas across Michigan, enabling students to conduct empirical field research in temperate forest systems, urban landscapes and managed stands.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Students can collaborate with neighbouring departments and centres—such as Fisheries and Wildlife, Geography, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station—broadening methodological and topical opportunities.
• Facilities and technical support: The university maintains laboratories for wood and biomaterials research, advanced GIS and remote sensing facilities, instrumentation for soil and hydrology analyses, and statistical support for quantitative work.
• Professional development: MSU emphasises professional skills through teaching opportunities, grant-writing support, and workshops that prepare graduates for careers in academia, government and industry.