Russell Kramer
SEFS graduate student Russell Kramer conducting field research in a forest canopy.

Below are resources that graduate students in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences may find helpful:

General Information

Planned SEFS Graduate Student Course Offerings 2024-2025

Graduate Student Handbook (Last Major Update 09/2023, Program of Study and Annual Meetings updates 7/2024)
This graduate student handbook provides essential information about the requirements and policies of School of Environmental and Forest Sciences graduate programs. Students are expected to consult their supervisory committee, the UW Graduate School website and the Environmental and Forest Sciences Student and Academic Services Office if they have questions.

SEFS Graduate Student Mentoring Resources
This document provides suggested Steps Toward Effective Mentorship Relationships, a template for General Degree Timeline, and questions to guide Annual Review conversations.

Environmental and Forest Sciences Graduate Student Symposium
We hold a student-organized Graduate Student Symposium each spring. The symposium is an opportunity for students to present their research or projects and receive feedback from faculty and other students. Undergraduates may submit posters to be included in the symposium poster session as well.

ResearchWorks Archive – Forestry Theses Collection
Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy students are required to publish their research at UW Libraries using ResearchWorks, the electronic publications archive which holds both recent and historical theses and dissertations. Master of Environmental Horticulture and Master of Forest Resources students may also produce publications as part of their degrees.

Graduate Course Descriptions

School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
Course Catalog for ESRM Courses
Course Catalog for SEFS Courses
Graduate students may take both 400-level ESRM courses, or our 500-level School of Environmental and Forest Sciences graduate courses. Some ESRM courses have joint graduate versions to ensure space is available for graduate students. If there is no space in an ESRM course, check the Environmental and Forest Sciences course in the time schedule. Consult your faculty supervisor or School of Environmental and Forest Sciences Student Services for help with coursework that will meet degree requirements.

Forms

Submit Forms to SEFS Advising Here

Independent Study Registration Request and Documentation Form (SEFS 595, SEFS 601, SEFS 600, SEFS 700, or SEFS 800)
Committee Appointment Form

The program of study form is required for each graduate student in the first year. Students enter courses they have taken and courses they plan to take to meet their degree requirements. This document is signed by the graduate student committee and kept on file by Environmental and Forest Sciences Student Services.

Program of Study Forms

Fillable versions of these forms will be posted as soon as possible. Please check back towards the end of September. If you need a fillable form faster, contact:
Sefspga@uw.edu

M.S. Program of Study Form
M.F.R. Program of Study Form
Ph.D. Program of Study Form

Graduate Program Requirement Petition Form
The Graduate Program Requirement Petition Form is used to request a change in the program requirements for a graduate degree (e.g. course substitution, waive a course requirement). The form and associated materials must be submitted after the Program of Study Form is completed and prior to the quarter during which the petitioned course is taken or waived. The faculty Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) reviews petitions and makes final decisions.

M.S. Research Proposal Defense Outcome Form
The Proposal Defense form is for M.S. students, to provide the outcome of their Research Proposal Defense to the Advising office for their student record. Submit this form, along with a copy of your written research proposal to advising.

Ph.D. Qualifying Exam Form
The Qualifying Exam form is for Ph.D. students, to provide committee approval of a qualifying exam to be taken in the second year of study, prior to the general exam.

Information on How to Submit Financial Related Items (expenditures for reimbursement, mileage, etc.)

Forms for Submitting Administrative and Financial tasks

Graduate Student Faculty Advisers and Committees

To set up or change your adviser or committee in the UW system, please review the important rules for SEFS Graduate committees in the Graduate Student Handbook, then submit the completed and signed Supervisory Committee Form to sefsgpa@uw.edu.

Graduate Student Completion Fellowships

SEFS has limited fellowship funds available for graduate students who would benefit from a final quarter of financial support without research or teaching obligations in order to focus on completion of their thesis or dissertation.

Academic Student Employees (ASEs)

Academic Student Employees (ASEs) at the University of Washington are governed by a contract between the University of Washington and UAW. Details of the contract may be found at UAW Academic Student Employees (ASEs) Contract. Salaried positions at SEFS, such as research assistants (RAs) or teaching assistants (TAs), are paid at the base rates in the graduate student salary schedules, according to the graduate student’s degree level. Pay rates for hourly ASE positions such as readers/graders are $24 per hour.

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