Master of Forests in Forests

COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Forests at Australian National University is a 96-unit postgraduate program designed to build advanced expertise in forest systems, environmental management, and sustainable natural resource use. The degree requires a minimum of 24 units at 8000-level and is structured around a combination of core, specialist, research, and contextual coursework. Students begin with compulsory subjects including Partnership Research for Agricultural and Natural Resource-Based Development and a Forests Research Essay, which provide foundational research experience and applied understanding of forest systems. They then complete core forest-focused courses such as Environmental Governance, Biodiversity Conservation, and Managing Forested Landscapes, developing a strong scientific and policy-based understanding of forest management. Research skills are strengthened through methods courses in areas such as ecological modelling, environmental measurement, social analysis, and scientific computing. Applied professional practice is further developed through courses in GIS, impact assessment, science communication, leadership, internships, and independent research projects. A major component of the degree involves 24 units of contextual electives spanning environmental economics, climate change, ecological policy, land and catchment management, fire ecology, water management, human ecology, and sustainable agriculture, allowing interdisciplinary specialisation. Students may also take additional electives across environment and science communication fields. Overall, the program equips graduates with interdisciplinary, research-driven, and practical skills to address complex challenges in forest conservation, climate adaptation, biodiversity protection, and sustainable resource management.