Forest Conservation

Program Overview

Forestry provides a focused lens through which to understand, influence, and practise sustainable resource management. A degree in Forest Conservation leads you into careers which have a profound impact on the sustainability of human, social and economic systems. The Master of Forest Conservation (MFC) program is accredited by the Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board. Careers requiring a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) are possible with an MFC degree. If you are looking for an innovative, interdisciplinary course-based program that includes a guaranteed internship, the MFC program could be for you!


Quick Facts

Domestic International
Application deadline MFC:

Fall 2024 Entry

03-Jan-2024

MFC:

Fall 2024 Entry

03-Jan-2024

Minimum admission average MFC:

Mid-B in final year of Bachelor’s

MFC:

Mid-B in final year of Bachelor’s

Are any standardized tests required/recommended? MFC:

NA

MFC:

NA


Master of Forest Conservation

Program Description

The professionally oriented Master of Forest Conservation (MFC) is an intensive 16-month course-based program with a strong focus on field and laboratory practical training, Canadian and international field courses, practical internships, and individual and group research. It provides a strong, coherent professional education in forest conservation to students from diverse educational backgrounds. The MFC is accredited by the Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board. Graduates are eligible to begin the process of licensure to become a Professional Forester.

The MFC program can be taken on a full-time, extended full-time, or part-time basis.

 

Full-Time Option

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Forestry's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • An appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with an average in each of the final two years of at least mid-B. The MFC program is intended for students with a strong undergraduate background in ecology, environmental sciences, forestry, natural sciences, biology, physical geography, geology, agricultural science, or relevant social sciences. Students from other disciplines will be considered by the department.

  • Additional documentation must be submitted to the department with the completed application form, including transcripts, three references, a letter of interest in the MFC program, and a resumé. See the full instructions and forms.

Program Requirements

  • The program starts in September and requires full-time intensive involvement throughout.

  • Successful completion of 7.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • 6.0 required FCEs in FOR courses.

    • 1.5 elective FCEs.

      • Elective course selection will include the successful completion of one field course (0.5 FCE) from either FOR3011H, FOR1585H, or, in unusual circumstances, another related field course appropriate to the program and approved by the program director.

  • Expected chronology:

    • Year 1: Fall

      • FOR3000H Current Issues in Forest Conservation

      • FOR3001H Biodiversity of Forest Organisms

      • FOR3002H Applied Forest Ecology and Silviculture

      • FOR3003H Economics of Forest Ecosystems

      • FOR3012H Analytical Methods in Forestry

    • Year 1: Spring

      • FOR3004H Forest Management Decision Support Systems

      • FOR3005H Stresses in the Forest Environment

      • FOR3009H Forest Conservation Biology

      • FOR3010H Society and Forest Conservation

    • Year 1: Summer

      • FOR3007H+ Internship in Forest Conservation (Credit/No Credit)

      • FOR3011H International Forest Conservation Field Camp (Credit/No Credit) or FOR1585H Urban Forest Conservation Field Camp (Credit/No Credit) or, in unusual circumstances, alternate eligible field course (0.5 elective FCE)

    • Year 2: Fall

      • FOR3006H Case Study Analysis in Forest Management

      • FOR3008H Capstone Project in Forest Conservation

  • Students may take the remaining 1.0 elective FCE in any session of their program for a total program requirement of 7.5 FCEs.

Program Length

4 sessions (typical registration sequence: F/W/S/F)

Time Limit

3 years

 

Extended Full-Time Option

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Forestry's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • An appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with an average in each of the final two years of at least mid-B. The MFC program is intended for students with a strong undergraduate background in ecology, environmental sciences, forestry, natural sciences, biology, physical geography, geology, agricultural science, or relevant social sciences. Students from other disciplines will be considered by the department.

  • Additional documentation must be submitted to the department with the completed application form, including transcripts, three references, a letter of interest in the MFC program, and a resumé. See the full instructions and forms.

Program Requirements

  • Full-time students can elect an extended full-time (EFT) option. Under this option, students are allowed an extra year to complete their studies while paying the same academic fees as regular full-time students. Students would, however, pay full-time incidental fees for each year of registration. EFT option students must complete FOR3000H, FOR3001H, and FOR3012H in their first session. The remaining MFC course requirements can be completed in any order except that FOR3007H must be taken in the final Summer session and FOR3008H must be taken in the final Fall session.

  • Successful completion of 7.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • 6.0 required FCEs in FOR courses

      • FOR3000H Current Issues in Forest Conservation

      • FOR3001H Biodiversity of Forest Organisms

      • FOR3002H Applied Forest Ecology and Silviculture

      • FOR3003H Economics of Forest Ecosystems

      • FOR3004H Forest Management Decision Support Systems

      • FOR3005H Stresses in the Forest Environment

      • FOR3006H Case Study Analysis in Forest Management

      • FOR3007H+ Internship in Forest Conservation (Credit/No Credit)

      • FOR3008H Capstone Project in Forest Conservation

      • FOR3009H Forest Conservation Biology

      • FOR3010H Society and Forest Conservation

      • FOR3012H Analytical Methods in Forestry

    • 1.5 elective FCEs:

      • Elective course selection will include the successful completion of one field course (0.5 FCE) from either FOR3011H International Forest Conservation Field Camp (Credit/No Credit) or FOR1585H Urban Forest Conservation Field Camp (Credit/No Credit) or, in unusual circumstances, another related field course appropriate to the program and approved by the graduate coordinator.

      • Students may take the remaining 1.0 elective FCE in any session of their program.

Program Length

7 sessions (typical registration sequence: F/W/S/F/W/S/F);

Time Limit

3 years

 

Part-Time Option

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Forestry's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • An appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with an average in each of the final two years of at least mid-B. The MFC program is intended for students with a strong undergraduate background in ecology, environmental sciences, forestry, natural sciences, biology, physical geography, geology, agricultural science, or relevant social sciences. Students from other disciplines will be considered by the department.

  • Additional documentation must be submitted to the department with the completed application form, including transcripts, three references, a letter of interest in the MFC program, and a resumé. See the full instructions and forms.

Program Requirements

  • Part-time students must register for FOR3001H Biodiversity of Forest Organisms and FOR3012H Analytical Methods in Forestry in the Fall session of Year 1. They must complete a minimum of 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) of core courses prior to registering for FOR3011H International Forest Conservation Field Camp (Credit/No Credit). The remaining MFC course requirements can be completed in any order except that FOR3007H must be taken in the final Summer session and FOR3008H must be taken in the final Fall session.

  • Successful completion of 7.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • 6.0 FCEs in FOR courses:

      • FOR3000H Current Issues in Forest Conservation

      • FOR3001H Biodiversity of Forest Organisms

      • FOR3002H Applied Forest Ecology and Silviculture

      • FOR3003H Economics of Forest Ecosystems

      • FOR3004H Forest Management Decision Support Systems

      • FOR3005H Stresses in the Forest Environment

      • FOR3006H Case Study Analysis in Forest Management

      • FOR3007H+ Internship in Forest Conservation (Credit/No Credit)

      • FOR3008H Capstone Project in Forest Conservation

      • FOR3009H Forest Conservation Biology

      • FOR3010H Society and Forest Conservation

      • FOR3012H Analytical Methods in Forestry

    • 1.5 elective FCEs:

      • Elective course selection will include the successful completion of one field course (0.5 FCE) from either FOR3011H International Forest Conservation Field Camp (Credit/No Credit) or FOR1585H Urban Forest Conservation Field Camp (Credit/No Credit) or, in unusual circumstances, another related field course appropriate to the program and approved by the graduate coordinator.

      • Students may take the remaining 1.0 elective FCE in any session of their program.

Program Length

12 sessions

Time Limit

6 years

Lauren Squires

“Having tailored supports for 2SLGBTQ+ people diagnosed with cancer would bridge a gap, and if providers had something they could refer patients to, that could help make such supports more prevalent as well”

Lauren Squires
PhD Student, Department of Public Health Sciences
Full Profile