The School of Forest Resources & Conservation is pleased to offer several options for place-bound individuals seeking to broaden their education. Because SFRC is offering these programs online, busy professionals and students at remote locations will have a unique opportunity to meet academic goals without the difficulty and expense of interrupting their careers and moving from their current locations. Students have the opportunity to interact with experienced faculty and to build a learning community with fellow students, even from afar.
Master’s Degrees
- Earn your graduate degree entirely online
- Tuition rate set to minimize out-of-state/international costs
- MFAS in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
- MS in Forest Resources and Conservation: Ecological Restoration
- MS in Forest Resources and Conservation: Geomatics
- MS in Forest Resources and Conservation: Natural Resource Policy & Administration
Non-Degree Programs
- Enroll one semester at a time, with no long-term commitment
- Tuition set to minimize out-of-state/international costs
- Certificate programs available in Geomatics, Ecological Restoration, Geospatial Analysis, and Natural Resource Policy & Administration
- Graduate coursework may be eligible for transfer into degree
Why Online?
Innovations in educational technology now allow the School of Forest Resources & Conservation (SFRC) to serve place-bound students and professionals in new ways. These innovations, known generally as e-learning, distance learning, or online learning, bring several advantages to the learning experience:
- Flexibility
- Reduced costs
- Access to more faculty
- Access to more “places”
- Networking
- Comfort with technology
Courses are delivered online via the University of Florida e-learning system (“Sakai”); students access this by logging on with their GatorLink user name and password. Lectures are pre-recorded, and may include videotaped lectures, screen capture of the instructor’s computer, narrated PowerPoint lectures, and lectures showing a video of the instructor along with the accompanying PowerPoint slides. Although these lectures are pre-recorded, the course sites allow for several kinds of student-instructor interaction, including discussions, synchronous chats, asynchronous collaboration tools, and email. See E-Learning System (ELS) for information about how to log on to your courses. For some pointers on how to succeed at online learning, visit “Tips for Online Success.”
Support for Students
We employ a full-time Distance Education Coordinator specifically to assist you with your needs as an online student and to ensure that the courses we deliver are high-quality, engaging, and produce the learning outcomes we intend to help you achieve.
As an online student in the SFRC, you will become part of the Distance Education Students online group, where you can participate in orientation, interact with your cohorts, and access tutorials and trainings on the UF e-Learning system and tools. You can also get hands-on help from the Distance Education Coordinator via Skype, email, phone, e-learning, or whichever online service you prefer to use, asynchronously or in real-time.
Online Programs
Master of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (MFAS, non-thesis)
The Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences program conducts cutting-edge research, training and extension for the sustainable development and conservation of aquatic biological resources in Florida, the nation, and worldwide. Among our educational programs, the Master of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences specifically addresses the need for high-quality professional training in the field.
Students may choose from a variety of online courses for this 32-credit non-thesis degree, and they may structure a final project based on extension/outreach or research on a topic of their choosing.
Master of Science, Ecological Restoration Concentration (MS non-thesis)
The non-thesis MS in Forest Resources & Conservation now offers an online graduate concentration and certificate program in Ecological Restoration that addresses a national need for professionals trained in this field and in particular, targets working professionals and place-bound graduate students. The need for such a program is at an all-time high as agencies and private companies involved in ecological restoration are striving to re-tool their work force with a solid academic training in ecological restoration.
Students must take 15 credits of concentration coursework, and then choose from online courses in forestry, fisheries, soil/water science, environmental science, wildlife, entomology/nematology, and many other disciplines to complete the individualized 30-credit non-thesis degree.
NEW for Fall 2013! Graduate Certificate in Ecological Restoration: 15 credits of core coursework following the guidelines of the degree concentration program. Can be taken as part of a UF degree or entirely non-degree seeking.
Master of Science, Geomatics Concentration (MS non-thesis)
The online, non-thesis MS in Forest Resources & Conservation with Geomatics concentration provides an integrated approach to the study of various geospatial measurement systems and technologies. At the master’s level, a student receiving a Geomatics concentration is expected to be able to provide technical leadership to surveying and mapping organizations, as well as display mastery of the technical aspects of geographic information systems from a historical surveying and mapping viewpoint. Professionals working in the field are particularly well-served by online study which can help make them more valuable to their employing organizations without disrupting their careers.
Students must take 15 credits of Geomatics (SUR) courses, with the balance of electives within or outside of the field, to total the 30-credits for the non-thesis degree.
NEW for Fall 2013! Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Analysis: 9 credits of specified coursework in geomatics. Can be taken as part of a UF degree or entirely non-degree seeking.
Master of Science, Natural Resource Policy and Administration concentration (MS non-thesis)
The online, non-thesis MS in Forest Resources & Conservation with Natural Resource Policy and Administration concentration offers a means of obtaining the prerequisites to higher‐level administration careers for natural resource professionals as well as students seeking to round‐out their education in natural resources.
Students must take 15 credits chosen from the approved set of courses for the Natural Resource Policy and Administration concentration. Choose from a variety of online courses at UF to fulfill the remaining 15 credits for the MS degree.
NEW for Fall 2013! Graduate Certificate in Natural Resource Policy and Administration: 12 credits chosen from the core courses in the degree concentration program. Can be taken as part of a UF degree or entirely non-degree seeking.
Undergraduate Certificate in Geomatics
The online, non-degree certificate in Geomatics is geared towards professionals seeking licensure as surveyors in the state of Florida. A specific set of courses is required prior to attempting the licensure examination, and as SFRC is the only accredited Geomatics program in Florida, we are proud to provide this service to professional and prospective surveyors.
Statewide Off-Campus Programs
Research & Education Centers
Offering undergraduate programs in Natural Resource Conservation and Geomatics to students proximal to the Centers.
Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory
Offering graduate research study for Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences students in the Tampa Bay area.