If you’re passionate about environmental sustainability and the bioeconomy, then check out the 5 best online master’s in forestry!
You might be eager to challenge our existing fossil-based technologies and to study how our energy future can be reimagined with our planet’s sustainability chiefly in mind. If so, the institutions listed below can help you build a skillset and knowledge base to become a leader in the field of environmental preservation, ecology, and sustainability.
What Is an Online Master’s in Forestry?
As populations increase and issues of environmental sustainability and resource conservation become greater factors on our planet, the need for trained, qualified professionals with expertise in natural resource policy and law, forest economics and forest management, and environmental ethics will become more impactful to our communities. A master’s degree in forestry is the next step after a bachelor’s degree in a related scientific field to propel participants to the heights of their environmental conservation and preservation careers. Professionals can pursue employment as foresters, conservation scientists, restoration ecologists, or, in the nonprofit sector, land stewards.
How Much Can You Earn With an Online Master’s Degree in Forestry?
Potential earnings with a master’s degree in forestry will vary because the extended education opens a variety of occupational opportunities. For example, graduates can focus their career on making impacts as a general forester earning about $61,790 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or can focus on conservation work as a life scientist and bring in a median salary of $78,080. Alternatively, environmental engineers earn an average of $105,320 annually, and conservation scientists make about $90,930 annually.
What Is Required For an Online Master’s Degree in Forestry?
Obtaining an online master’s degree in forestry starts with a bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related field. Similar disciplines include environmental science, engineering, rangeland management, and agricultural science. Most programs require an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher for admission and a minimum of 30 credits to complete the master’s program. While some programs require a thesis for graduation, there are others designed for a non-thesis completion. Note that many advanced degrees and career opportunities in the environmental and forestry field require the physical stamina to walk and hike in nature, to accomplish the hands-on study in the degree program, and to participate in on-site job experiences.
What Are the Best Online Master’s Degrees in Forestry?
OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program-specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.
The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.
