Why study this program?
The Department of Renewable Resources offers programs leading to the course-based degrees of Master of Agriculture, Master of Forestry, and thesis-based degrees of Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy.
The Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Business offer two course-based programs of joint study that enable students to earn both the Master of Business Administration and Master of Agriculture degrees or both the Master of Business Administration and Master of Forestry degrees, after two calendar years of full-time study.
Graduate studies in the Department of Renewable Resources encompass a broad spectrum of scientific and management applications in natural and managed landscapes.
Graduate studies in the Department of Renewable Resources fall within five major research themes briefly defined as: Conservation Biology, Forest Ecology and Management, Agriculture and the Environment, Reclamation and Restoration of Land and Water, and Environmental Soil Science.
Thesis research is conducted within the major research themes, however, the following eight fields of study are the approved specializations for the thesis-based programs: 1) Agroforestry (MSc only) 2) Conservation Biology 3) Forest Biology and Management 4) Land Reclamation and Remediation 5) Protected Areas and Wildland Management 6) Soil Science 7) Water and Land Resources 8) Wildlife Ecology and Management. Inquiries should be directed to the Associate Chair (Graduate Programs), Department of Renewable Resources.
Prospective students should note that the Renewable Resources program is integrated within the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences.
Entrance Requirements
The Department’s minimum admission requirements are an appropriate undergraduate degree with an admission GPA of at least 3.0 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.
Applicants to the Master of Forestry must have a BSc in Forestry or a BSc in an allied discipline such as Geography, Biological Sciences, Agriculture or Environmental and Conservation Sciences.
Applicants to the Master of Agriculture must have a BSc in Agriculture or a BSc in an allied discipline such as Geology, Biological Sciences, Forestry or Environmental and Conservation Sciences.
Where applicable, applicants must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (refer to English Language Requirement). Any one of the following is acceptable:
- a TOEFL score of 90 (Internet-based), or equivalent,
- an equivalent score on an approved English language examination.
All applicants are also required to submit the following
- Curriculum Vitae
- Research Statement Form
- Three letters of reference
In addition, all applicants for the thesis-based graduate programs (MSc, PhD) must have a faculty member agree to supervise their program before admission is approved.
Application deadlines:
Fall Term (September): March 15 for MAg/MF programs; May 15 for MSc/PhD programs
Winter Term (January): July 31 (MSc/PhD only)
Spring Term (May): December 1 (MSc/PhD only)
Summer Term (July): March 15 (MSc/PhD only)
Students are required to complete a minimum of 2 units in coursework and a thesis.
Coursework
- Course requirements for the PhD will be based on the student’s previous training and anticipated needs in the student’s area of specialization
- The total course load will be at the discretion of the student’s supervisory committee.
- REN R 603 - Graduate Research Skills
- Either REN R 604 OR REN R 605
- Students entering the PhD program, who do not have a master’s degree, will be expected to fulfil the MSc coursework requirement (see above), in addition to REN R 603 and either REN R 604 or REN R 605.
Thesis
- Registration in 900-level THES. Students must prepare an acceptable thesis presenting the results of their research. Candidates will be examined orally on their thesis results by committees formed according to Supervision and Examinations.
Candidacy Exam
Students in the PhD program must pass an oral candidacy exam, supervised by a committee formed according to Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies regulations within two years of initial registration. The student will be evaluated based on a written candidacy statement, a research presentation, and an oral examination.
Ethics Requirement
Students must meet the GPS Ethics and Academic Citizenship Training Requirement through the completion of INT D 710 (for both master’s and doctoral students) and INT D 720 (for doctoral students) by the end of the first term of registration in their degree program.
Professional Development Requirement
Students must complete the IDP portion of their GPS Professional Development Requirement within the first 6 months for students starting in the fall term, and within the first 12 months for students starting in the winter term. Guidance for developing the IDP is provided through the Graduate Seminar Course REN R 603.
Residence Requirement
The minimum residence requirements are three academic years of study and research for a student with a bachelor’s degree, and two academic years of study and research for those with a master’s degree.
Length of Program
The time required to complete the PhD will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; however, a minimum of three years is normally required.
The maximum time to complete the PhD program as set by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies is six years.
Courses
Graduate courses can be found in Course Listings. Courses offered by the Department of Renewable Resources include those under the following subject headings:
Environmental and Conservation Science (ENCS)
Renewable Resources (REN R)
Most students are either on scholarships or funded by research grants obtained by professors in the Department. A limited number of graduate teaching and research assistantships, administered by the Department, are available to well-qualified candidates. Exceptional applicants will be nominated by the Department for MSc and PhD recruitment scholarships offered by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies.
For general information, please visit the Tuition and Fees page on the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research site.The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research administers over $29 million each year in scholarships, awards, and financial support for graduate students, as well as financial and loan advising. Additional scholarships are also available for specific faculties and programs.
Please refer to the detailed program information or email grad.ales@ualberta.ca.
General inquiriesPlease check out some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQS) to see if your question has been answered, or contact the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) during our office hours.
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR)
Killam Centre for Advanced Studies
2-29 Triffo Hall
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E1