Forestry and Spatial Science

Matthew McBroom, associate dean and graduate program advisor
Forestry Building, Room 100
Phone: (936) 468-2313

The ATCOFA offers five graduate programs in forestry: the Master of Science; the Master of Forestry; the Master of Science with a major in resource communications, a fully online degree program; the Master of Science with a concentration in spatial science; and a Doctor of Philosophy in forestry.

Graduate Faculty

Professors

• Steven H. Bullard, Ph.D., Virginia Tech University, Forest Economics
• Kenneth W. Farrish, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Soils, Environmental Science
• I-Kuai Hung, Ph.D., Stephen F. Austin State University, GIS, Spatial Science
• Gary D. Kronrad, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Forest Economics
• David L. Kulhavy, Ph.D., University of Idaho, Forest Entomology
• Matthew W. McBroom, Ph.D., Stephen F. Austin State University, Hydrology
• Brian P. Oswald, Ph.D., University of Idaho, Fire Ecology and Management
• Daniel R. Unger, Ph.D., University of Idaho, Remote Sensing, Spatial Science
• Hans M. Williams, Ph.D., Auburn University, Forest Tree Eco-physiology, Wetlands Ecology

Associate Professors

• Sheryll Jerez, Ph.D., University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, Environmental Science
• Daniel Scognamillo, Ph.D., Louisiana State University, Wildlife Management, GIS
• Jeremy Stovall, Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Silviculture, Dendrology, and Forest Tree Ecophysiology
• Pat Stephens Williams, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University, Resource Interpretation
• Yanli Zhang, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Water Resources, GIS

Assistant Professors

• Rebecca Kidd, Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Forest Resources Management
• Shelby G. Laird, Ph.D., North Carolina State University, Recreation and Resource Interpretation
• Christopher Schalk, Ph.D., Texas A&M University, Forest Wildlife Management
• Yuhui Weng, Ph.D., University of New Brunswick, Biometrics

Instructor

• Jason Paul, Texas A&M University, Environmental Science

Research Professor

• Shiyou Li, Ph.D., Stephen F. Austin State University, Medicinal Plants

Graduate Assistantships

Two types of assistantships may be available for students with clear or provisional admission. A very limited number of teaching assistantships are available. These are normally awarded to new students only if they possess an undergraduate degree in forestry and thus, due to their background, are capable of teaching undergraduate lab classes in forestry. Research assistantships may be awarded if the major professor has funds in his/her research budget allocated for a graduate student stipend. A single application, as well as a background check form, is utilized for both types of assistantships, and it should be submitted with the application packet (has same deadlines as when applying for admission). The link to the required forms are on the Research and Graduate Studies website. A student receiving an assistantship must be enrolled for a minimum of six hours during each fall and spring semester and three hours during the summer and maintain a 3.0 GPA. The only exception to number of required hours is if a student has taken all required courses and is graduating at the end of the current semester.

If admitted with probationary status, the student is not eligible for a teaching or research assistantship. After completion of nine hours of graduate work with a minimum GPA of 3.5, the student would become eligible for consideration for financial assistance.

It is important to understand that receipt of an assistantship obligates the student to 20 hours per week of work to be assigned by the major professor. For a research assistantship, the work may or may not be related to the student’s thesis project. Teaching assignments for teaching assistantships are made in the dean’s office.

Admission Procedures for all Forestry Degree Programs

Prior to applying, we ask all potential students to contact a professor at ATCOFA. Please visit our faculty website to find a faculty member who has similar research interests. Once you have contacted a faculty member, he/she must agree to be your major advisor before you may apply to our graduate program.

Applying to the Graduate School is a two-part process. You will need to send application materials to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies and the ATCOFA.

Research and Graduate Studies

• Graduate School application
• Official transcripts from each college/university attended
• GRE scores. Visit the GRE website for more information and test registration
• $50 application fee
• All application materials must be received by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies one month prior to the beginning of the semester the student is applying.

Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture

• Letter of application - please reference in your letter the professor that has agreed to be your major advisor.
• Two letters of reference - reference letters must be on official letterhead.

These letters may be an attachment in PDF form sent via email to Associate Dean Dr. Matthew McBroom at mcbroommatth@sfasu.edu or to Senior Program Specialist Mary Ramos at mramos@sfasu.edu. Or you may mail them to the following address:

P.O. Box 6109, SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX 75962

International students may visit the international student website for information concerning application materials.

After the graduate office forwards the completed application packet to the ATCOFA and the letter of application and the two reference letters have been received, the application is submitted to the ATCOFA Graduate Council for review. The council makes a recommendation on the admission status to the associate dean. This recommendation is forwarded to the graduate office. The graduate office will then mail an admission notice indicating whether admission has been denied or accepted. This notice will indicate whether clear, probationary or provisional admission was granted and will list any special requirements or deficiencies. The graduate office will then clear the student for online registration. Consult with the major professor before actually enrolling in courses to ensure the courses are appropriate for the planned program.

For clear admission, an applicant must have an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.8, a GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work (each on a 4.0 scale), and an acceptable composite score on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE general test. Students not meeting the above admission criteria may be admitted with probationary status if they have an overall GPA of at least 2.5 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework (each on a 4.0 scale) and must have taken the GRE.

Provisional admission may be available for students who are unable to provide all of the required documentation prior to the first semester of enrollment but who, based on previous academic performance, appear to meet the requirements for clear admission (2.8 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework). Provisional admission is good for one semester only, and the student must take the GRE during the semester she/he is admitted.

Exceptions to the above admission requirements may be made on the recommendation of the Graduate Council to the dean of the College of Forestry and Agriculture following a written appeal by the applicant to the Graduate Council.

Programs

• Forestry, M.F.
• Forestry, M.S.
• Forestry, Ph.D.
• Resource Communications, M.S.

• Forestry, Spatial Science, M.S.

• Resource Communications Certificate
• Spatial Analyst Certificate