BA or BS/MF (3+2)
The dual degree program in forestry is a competitive cooperative program between Drew University and the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. Students spend three years at Drew and two years at Duke in an integrated course of study that allows them to receive their bachelor’s degree from Drew and Master’s of Forestry (MF) degree from Duke in a total of five years. Students in the program earn their bachelor’s degree from Drew after successfully completing their first year at Duke and earn their master’s degree from Duke after their second year at the Nicholas School. Students interested in pursuing a dual degree program should contact Drew’s program advisor to plan their course of study.
In Duke’s Master’s of Forestry degree students integrate forest ecology and management within an educational program that also emphasizes related environmental fields.
Prerequisites for Entering the Dual Degree Program
To be eligible to enter a master’s program a Duke after three years of undergraduate study, students must have taken:
- College level course in Calculus* (required)
- College level course in Statistics* (required)
- Natural or Social Science courses related to the student’s area of interest
*Students must earn a minimum grade of B- and earn college credit in order for these courses to count toward the prerequisite. Pass/Fail courses and self-paced courses will not fulfill these requirements.
Students should have undergraduate experience and training in professional writing, which in most cases is satisfied by Drew’s Writing in the Major requirement.
It is extremely helpful if students wishing to pursue the 3-2 program have taken advantage of summer internship, externship, and research opportunities during their first three years of study at the undergraduate level. Final acceptance to the program is dependent on a candidate’s application to Duke which is submitted in a student’s third year at Drew.
Program-Specific Prerequisites
In addition to the school-wide prerequisites in calculus and statistics (see above), program area of study requires or recommends additional college-level course preparation, see the list below:
Master’s of Forestry (MF) degree
- Principles of Ecology and an Introductory Economics course that includes microeconomics are both required
Although students without the level of preparation described above may be accepted for admission, it is expected that deficiencies will be made up prior to entrance by means of formal coursework.
Eligibility and Application Criteria
How to Apply
Students should consult with Drew’s Drew-Duke program advisor to plan their course of study. Students apply directly to the Nicholas School to enter the MF program. Admission to the program is not automatic and is ultimately determined by Duke. See Duke’s website (Application Materials & Requirements) for deadlines and a list of required materials.
Special Requirements
In addition to the materials required of all MF applicants, prospective 3-2 students must submit a statement from the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts stating that the student will be released from their final undergraduate credits in order to enroll in a 3-2 program.
In addition, at least one letter of recommendation should be from Drew’s Drew-Duke program adviser and a second letter should be from another faculty member acquainted with the student’s undergraduate career. If the student has had a significant amount of work experience related to his or her intended graduate program, the third letter may be from an employer.
Tuition & Financial Support
See Duke’s website for current tuition rates and details on living expenses you can expect during your time at Duke.
See Financial Support on Duke’s program website for details on the many scholarships, fellowships, and loans that are available, which include both need-based and merit-based forms of financial support. Admissions decisions are made independently from any applications for financial assistance.
Drew Requirements for Dual Degree Program in Forestry
- Before starting at Duke, students must complete at least 104 Drew approved credits, with at least 48 credits in residence at Drew.
- Before starting at Duke, students must complete all Drew general education requirements.
- Students are encouraged to complete all requirements for their major while at Drew. However, students may transfer up to 8 credits taken during their first year at Duke as electives toward their Drew major. Students pursuing this option must:
- Complete the Pre-Approval for Study Elsewhere form to have their Duke courses approved as electives for their major before beginning their final semester at Drew.
- Talk to the program and their major adviser about how they will fulfill Drew’s major capstone requirement.
Students planning to transfer electives from Duke towards their Drew major should declare their intent to do so as early as possible to their Academic Advisor, Chair or Director of their major, and the 3-2 Program Advisor. Please note, not all majors may be feasible with this joint 3-2 program.
Upon successful completion of the first year at Duke (with grades of C- or higher in all courses), students in the 3-2 program will be granted their Drew bachelor’s degree. In other words, Drew will allow a student to transfer up to 24 upper-level credits from their first year at Duke to Drew to complete the credits for the bachelor’s degree. A student who, for any reason, earns less than a C- at Duke, or fails to complete their first year of graduate study, may return to Drew to complete the bachelor’s degree requirements. In such a case, transfer credit will be given for courses satisfactorily completed at Duke with a grade of C- or higher.
For more information about the Drew-Duke 3+2 program, contact Professor Lisa Jordan, ljordan@drew.edu.
