Thank you for your interest in the UF School of Forest, Fisheries, & Geomatic Sciences (SFFGS). The Forest Resources & Conservation MS degree with a concentration in Geomatics has applications in all disciplines which depend on spatial data – including forestry, environmental studies, planning, engineering, navigation, geology, and geophysics. Students majoring in Geomatics focus on Surveying, Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry, Cartography, Geographic Information Systems, Property or Cadastral Studies and Global Positioning.
This email contains information about the program and admission process.
Program Requirements
There are no specific prerequisites for this program, other than to hold a Bachelor’s degree and complete the application. Some courses may involve a deeper knowledge of math than others, but the expectation is that any graduate-level student will not have excessive trouble with the content. Some specific courses may have unique prerequisites and you can check for those by viewing the syllabi on the course offerings page. Should you or your advisor feel the need for prerequisite coursework, you can complete this while pursuing the degree.
The degree is 30 credits of coursework tailored to your specific interest; 15 credits must be Geomatics-specific coursework and the other 15 can be additional Geomatics or other coursework, depending on your focus. Many of our students tend toward natural resources, but others are interested in engineering or urban planning. The program does not require a thesis and all coursework can be completed without coming to Florida (though this is encouraged if you are able and interested).
The courses and degrees we offer online are identical to our on-campus programs. They have the same faculty, content, and accreditation. Courses are delivered online through the UF e-learning system (Canvas) and most are 100% asynchronous, allowing for time zone differences and full-time working professionals, though courses do follow the traditional UF calendar with start and stop dates as well as regular assignment deadlines. None of our programs require that your coursework be taken in a particular order; you are free to choose your courses each semester pending the approval of your advisor.
The course offerings are listed on our website. We may add or change courses, but you can generally expect the offerings to conform to this schedule.
Tuition
Tuition is currently about $565 per credit regardless of residency status.
Admission
To be admitted into the program, you must secure a faculty advisor who will serve as your committee chair and provide direction for the technical paper/project, help with course selection, and administer the final exam. Familiarize yourself with the faculty page and contact the individuals who seem to fit with your experience and interests. The best method for reaching them is via email, with an attachment of your CV/resume and details regarding your interests and goals. Make a case for your admission under their guidance and provide some background so they have a sense of who you are. The more information you can provide, especially when it comes to your academic background, the better.
Visit the University of Florida Office of Admissions website to begin the application process. You will need to provide the following in addition to the online application:
International students should review the UF International Center website and must also provide:
Please include within your application:
Deadlines for complete applications:
Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission, however, your graduate application will remain active in the UF system for 12 months, so if needed you may request a change in the term for which you have applied. Distance applicants should have their applications completed by at least 2-3 months before the start of classes for their intended first term.
Graduate Certificate Program
You may wish to obtain a Graduate Certificate during your studies, and we encourage you to do so. We have designed the Certificates (ranging from 9-15 credits) to work easily into your degree program and satisfy elective credits, pending the approval of your faculty advisor. We offer Certificates in Aquaculture & Fish Health, Ecological Restoration, Environmental Education & Communication, Forest Health & Resilience, Geospatial Analysis, Natural Resource Policy & Administration, Quantitative Fisheries Sciences, and Mapping with Unmanned Aerial Systems (in-person only). You will need to complete a Certificate Application.
If you have specific questions about the program or process, please let me know. I’m happy to help.
This email contains information about the program and admission process.
Program Requirements
There are no specific prerequisites for this program, other than to hold a Bachelor’s degree and complete the application. Some courses may involve a deeper knowledge of math than others, but the expectation is that any graduate-level student will not have excessive trouble with the content. Some specific courses may have unique prerequisites and you can check for those by viewing the syllabi on the course offerings page. Should you or your advisor feel the need for prerequisite coursework, you can complete this while pursuing the degree.
The degree is 30 credits of coursework tailored to your specific interest; 15 credits must be Geomatics-specific coursework and the other 15 can be additional Geomatics or other coursework, depending on your focus. Many of our students tend toward natural resources, but others are interested in engineering or urban planning. The program does not require a thesis and all coursework can be completed without coming to Florida (though this is encouraged if you are able and interested).
The courses and degrees we offer online are identical to our on-campus programs. They have the same faculty, content, and accreditation. Courses are delivered online through the UF e-learning system (Canvas) and most are 100% asynchronous, allowing for time zone differences and full-time working professionals, though courses do follow the traditional UF calendar with start and stop dates as well as regular assignment deadlines. None of our programs require that your coursework be taken in a particular order; you are free to choose your courses each semester pending the approval of your advisor.
The course offerings are listed on our website. We may add or change courses, but you can generally expect the offerings to conform to this schedule.
Tuition
Tuition is currently about $565 per credit regardless of residency status.
Admission
To be admitted into the program, you must secure a faculty advisor who will serve as your committee chair and provide direction for the technical paper/project, help with course selection, and administer the final exam. Familiarize yourself with the faculty page and contact the individuals who seem to fit with your experience and interests. The best method for reaching them is via email, with an attachment of your CV/resume and details regarding your interests and goals. Make a case for your admission under their guidance and provide some background so they have a sense of who you are. The more information you can provide, especially when it comes to your academic background, the better.
Visit the University of Florida Office of Admissions website to begin the application process. You will need to provide the following in addition to the online application:
- $30 application fee, paid to the Office of Admissions
- Official transcripts of all academic work sent directly to UF Office of Admissions from your academic institutions via email to [email protected] or regular mail to Office of Admissions 201 Criser Hall-PO Box 114000 Gainesville, FL 32611. Cumulative 3.0 GPA is expected. Transcripts should not be sent to SFFGS. If you upload your transcripts to your application, they are not considered official. You must still have official transcripts sent from your educational institutions to UF Office of Admissions.
- Three letters of recommendation from relevant academic or employment colleagues – these should be requested online through the automated application system
- Statement of Purpose detailing the areas you wish to study and/or your background
- CV/Resume uploaded to the application system. Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.
- Information on your preferred or preliminary faculty advisor, who will review your application
- GRE scores are no longer required or accepted.
International students should review the UF International Center website and must also provide:
- TOEFL/IELTS scores, except for native English-speaking countries
- Transcripts and degree/diploma in native language including a certified, literal (exact) English translation of both the transcripts and the degree/diploma
Please include within your application:
- The degree program you wish to pursue (PhD applicants must possess a prior MS degree)
- Self-report your last two years’ GPA for your undergraduate degree (please do not include any non-degree/certificate or other graduate classes)
- Any chosen concentration (e.g., Geomatics)
- Whether you wish to pursue your degree on campus or online
Deadlines for complete applications:
- Fall admission (funded or international students): January 1
- Fall admission (distance/online or non-funded students): June 1
- Summer admission: March 1
- Spring admission: September 1
Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission, however, your graduate application will remain active in the UF system for 12 months, so if needed you may request a change in the term for which you have applied. Distance applicants should have their applications completed by at least 2-3 months before the start of classes for their intended first term.
Graduate Certificate Program
You may wish to obtain a Graduate Certificate during your studies, and we encourage you to do so. We have designed the Certificates (ranging from 9-15 credits) to work easily into your degree program and satisfy elective credits, pending the approval of your faculty advisor. We offer Certificates in Aquaculture & Fish Health, Ecological Restoration, Environmental Education & Communication, Forest Health & Resilience, Geospatial Analysis, Natural Resource Policy & Administration, Quantitative Fisheries Sciences, and Mapping with Unmanned Aerial Systems (in-person only). You will need to complete a Certificate Application.
If you have specific questions about the program or process, please let me know. I’m happy to help.
