Distance learning MS. Are there any good programs?

[Wales]

First off I don't know if this is the right forum to post this question. Here is the deal. I am reading a few trade magazines the other day and find myself looking at the classified sections I have noticed that employers are looking for arborists with IPM skills. It may have always been apart of the job, but I have never really had much to do with this side of the industry. Later on in another magazine I see an ad for a distance learning MS degree in pest management. This gets the old brain working and I start to place the two together. So what I am trying to ask everyone is, Are there any good distance learning programs out there? I am thinking either arboriculture, urban forestry or pest management. Any input good, bad or indifferent is welcomed. Thanks
Draig Goch

 

[Nickrosis]

MS - Master of Science? You'd need a bachelor's degree first...

This kind of a topic brings underwor (see his site) out in no time!

But to your question, a degree in pest management will likely leave you unsatisfied if you want to stay in the tree industry. That might be perfect if you want to be an Orkin man, but if you want to be in plant health care, I would strongly recommend starting with a more general study of tree care and then strike out towards the IPM side. Every forestry program these days has some form of pathology/entomology as a part of it, and I would just take that a step further.

If you don't have a bachelor's degree, I would test the waters with a technical college that offers plant courses, possibly even tree health courses. That may be enough to qualify you for some of these positions. Even better yet, ask some of the prospective employers what specifically they are looking for in those positions in terms of experience.

If your current employer or some kind of local connection that you have can put you out in the field doing some plant health care/integrated pest management work, it would give you a great chance at seeing if the work is even up your alley or if you'd prefer sticking to other specializations.

Sorry, but I don't know much about you! If you could share more, maybe the responses could be more specific.

In general, yes, there are good distance tree programs out there! First, though, I would make sure that you know where you want to go!

 

[Wales]

Thanks for the link. Yeah you are right maybe I should have given you some more info. I have been in the tree industry since '93, have a 2 year diploma in Estate maintence(forestry), Cert(Arb),BSc(Hons) Forestry and Woodland , ran my own tree care business for a few year and now work as an arborist.The question of where I want to go that is a good one. I am trying to get more into the consultancy area of the industry and I figured adding a specialiaztion would help it along. Plus my employer is willing to pay 100% of my tution , so who can say no to free money and education.

 

[Nickrosis]

Cool. Then a Master's would be right up your alley. Still, though, I would grab books or sit in on some classes before committing to a degree program. I read a book called "MBA Basics" before I started this program, and it got me excited! So a book on plant pathogens, etc. should be fascinating reading for you or you could end up losing interest in a program, even if the boss is paying for it (which is a really sweet gig!).

If you can, though, try a face-to-face program with night classes or with some classes offered online.

 

[treeseer]

I am trying to get more into the consultancy area of the industry and I figured adding a specialiaztion would help it along. .

Consider www.asca-consultants.org, they have a consulting academy next feb in atlanta. 4 days on diagnostics, report writing, forensics etc. I did it 10 years ago and it helped my move into consulting which now is most of my work. You'd be much more valuable to your employer if you attended, graduated and became a registered consulting arborist, RCA.

With some more experience you could look at the bcma test. That's based on field work so academics won't help you much there. An MS is a huge investment in time and money, but specific courses may be a good investment. Have you talked to UF in Gville about off-campus coursework? partner with a prof to do independent study on a topic of interest. Talk to the Dept of Environmental Horticulture, but definitely

Go for the RCA. :blob5:

 

[Wales]

I have looked at both ASCA and the BCMA test. I have enough points for ASCA and I have 7 points for BCMA. Both of these are definitely on the whole career / self development plan. I just feel like I need a little bit more experience in a few areas before I can honestly call myself a consulting or master arborist.
I have not talked to UF, but that is where the MS was being offered. I attended the Great Southern Tree Conference last year in Gainesville and was very impressed by what I saw. I would love to undertake some independent studies with Dr E Gilman, but that is like having the chance to sit down with Shigo or Mattock. I think I will contact them to see what is available. In the mean time I will go down to the local library and start reading about insects and pest. I will see if they excite me enough to study them for the next 2-4 years.

 

[treeseer]

I have enough points for ASCA I just feel like I need a little bit more experience in a few areas before I can honestly call myself a consulting or master arborist.

OK, the best experience is the ASCA academy, and then you can become an RCA. All you have to do is pay attention at the academy and write a decent report. This should be well worth the expense for your boss to pay for, as it boosts your earning power significantly.

RCA is much more doable than BCMA; as you say that does take a lot of experience, and that test is very tough, while the asca academy tests are far easier.

I'm not against you getting an MS, but the time/$ cost compared to the benefit for an arborist/IPM/consultant is very high.