Virginia Tech’s Urban Forestry Graduate Program offers a variety of options for advanced education in a stimulating and collegial environment focused on solving real-world problems through research and outreach. Master’s of Forestry (M.F.), Master’s of Science (M.S.), and Doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in urban forestry are offered through the Department of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation.
Because urban forestry is a multi-disciplinary field, students in our program come from diverse educational backgrounds including biology, horticulture, forestry, environmental science, natural resources, public administration, and landscape architecture. Our research focus areas include urban soils, stormwater management, urban rhizosphere ecology, landscape tree growth and establishment, urban forest inventory and assessment, and urban wastewood utilization.
Graduate student mentoring and professional development are our top priority. Graduate students work closely with our faculty advisors to develop a course curriculum tailored to their needs. Our laboratories, field sites, computer technology, and libraries support graduate students in their research endeavors. We are proud that over 90% of students who enroll in our graduate program successfully complete their degrees. Read about our past and current graduate students here.
Research or teaching assistantships as well as tuition assistance are commonly available for students accepted into our program. We welcome inquiries from highly qualified students wishing to pursue a graduate degree specializing in urban forestry. Applications can be submitted online at any time by visiting Virginia Tech Graduate School Admissions. You can also call or email our urban forestry faculty to discuss your educational and career goals. For more information about graduate studies in the Department of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation, please visit the department’s Graduate Education website.