The Master of Science degree may be earned either in a professional program in forest management or administration or in a forestry specialty program.

The professional program in forest management or administration is viewed as an extension of general forestry, and, therefore, requires a bachelor's degree with a major in forestry as a prerequisite or a collateral program of study in undergraduate forestry courses. There is, however, considerable flexibility in the program to meet individual student needs and objectives.

A forestry specialty program, on the other hand, is as readily open to nonforesters as to foresters. It includes some forestry courses but draws mainly from other departments in the university to provide courses appropriate to forestry specialties: forest biometrics, tree physiology, forest soils, forest recreation, forest management, forest business management, forest economics, forest influences, forest ecology, forest genetics, forest entomology, forest hydrology, and wood science and technology.