Most information about your application and admission to Oregon State University and the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) graduate program can be found through the Office of Graduate Education. However, some information is program-specific:

 

Deadlines

Application deadlines for the Sustainable Forest Management graduate program are different than those of the Office of Graduate Education. Although applications will be received at any time, to ensure full consideration for admission and financial assistance, applications should be completed on or before the designated dates for the desired academic term of admission:

• Fall Term (for Fellowship and primary funding consideration): December 31 of the preceding year 
• Fall Term (without Fellowship consideration): April 15 of the same year
• Winter Term: June 15 of the preceding year
• Spring Term: November 15 of the preceding year
• Summer Term: January 15 of the same year

 

Major professors

Prospective students may apply directly to the graduate program without contacting potential major professors. The Department Head and SFM graduate faculty committee will then attempt to locate a suitable major professor and financial support, but this approach may entail a significantly lower possibility of acceptance.

We recommend and strongly encourage prospective students to communicate directly with potential major professors prior to initiation of the application process. The likelihood of admission is greatly improved by discussing study interests with faculty, or potential major professors, before submitting application materials. Prospective students should first identify an area of concentration or focus. Next, they should review the list of faculty who specialize within the chosen area(s). Prospective students should initiate contact with faculty they would be interested in working with.

The major professor serves as the student's primary faculty advisor in developing a program of study and in selecting a study or research topic. The faculty advisor is also commonly the primary source of financial assistance through graduate assistantships in research or teaching. Once the prospective student and professor are satisfied that they are interested in working together, and that necessary financial support is available (if applicable), the student can apply for acceptance by the OSU Office of Graduate Education.

 

Required documents

The following documents are required before our department faculty can review your application to the SFM program.  You may also submit additional documentation (e.g. personal statement, writing sample, etc.). 

OSU Graduate Admissions online web application.

Short-Answer Essay Questions: The SFM graduate program has moved away from a statement of objectives and instead asks a series of questions designed as a means of geting to know the applicant through a holistic approach. Applicant responses should be no more than 250 words per question. The essay questions target topics we would expect to see in a typical statement of ojectives and provide a unique opportunity to assess and evaluate student attributes such as academic preparation, scholarly potential, alignment with program, self-awareness, and commitment to OSU values.

Official college academic transcripts

Our department will accept unofficial transcripts for review and recommended decision, which can be uploaded via the OSU Graduate Admissions online web application. However, official transcripts are required by OSU Graduate Admissions before an official Univeristy decision will be processed.

Three letters of recommendation

References should be from instructors in courses related to your major, employers, or others who can critically evaluate your potential as a graduate student. An applicant with a master's degree should include a letter from her/his major professor. Applicants are encouraged to give thoughtful attention to their choice of references. As part of the online application system, you must provide names and email addresses of your references. The system then automatically routes an email to each reference that enables them to submit an electronic letter for you. References may address their letter to the department head, graduate program coordinator, or Graduate Admissions.

Resume/CV

Exam Scores

TOEFL/IELTS scores* for international students. Additional information for international student applicants is available on the Office of Graduate Education's website.

GRE scores: The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for the SFM graduate application. Applicants may still choose to share available exam records, if desired.

*Language exam scores should be sent to Oregon State University using our institutional code: 4586. 

 

Post-application process

The graduate program coordinator is notified by OSU Graduate Admissions after an online application has been submitted. The graduate program coordinator will then notify the applicant if any application materials are missing and/or when all materials have been received and the application is ready for faculty review. When the application is complete, it is forwarded to the Sustainable Forest Management graduate faculty committee for evaluation. The department's committee will not review an incomplete application.

Notice of departmental decision is sent on average within three months of the completed application received date. Applicants occasionally confuse notices of fellowships, assistantship offers, letters of acceptance from the department, or correspondence from graduate faculty as equivalent to an offer of admission. However, only the "notice of admission" issued solely by the Office of Graduate Education is the official University notice to the applicant that all application and review procedures have been completed and that the student may enroll in the term for which they applied.

Once an application has been submitted, a student will not be able to change their application to a different major or graduate program. Instead, applicants must complete a secondary application. Exceptions may be made on very rare occassions associated with financial need, disabilities, or Veteran status. 

Applicants can, however, change their starting term.  If you have already applied for admission, but have not yet registered for classes, you may submit a Change of Term request within the Graduate Admissions' application system. One term change within the academic year is allowed, but requests usually cannot cross academic years. Requesting more than one term change or term changes to new academic years often requires a new application and fee.

Contact

Madison Dudley, curriculum coordinator

Email: madison.dudley@oregonstate.edu

Phone: (541) 737.1349