Forestry
The Forestry Major is designed to provide students with the educational basis for successfully pursuing a professional career in forestry. This program is fully accredited by the Society of American Foresters. Each forestry student, in addition to completing the university GER’s, basic science requirements, natural resource core and the forestry core classes, selects a professional option. The choice of the option is usually made at the end of the sophomore of beginning of the junior year. The forestry options include business management, directed studies, forest management, and wildlife habitat. The forest management option provides a student with an understanding of the underlying principles and techniques used in forest management. The forest business option (with business minor) provides students with a basic understanding of business and forestry needed in the business aspects of forestry in the public and private sectors
The Wildlife Habitat option provides organizations with forestry professionals sensitive to the needs of wildlife and are able to bridge the gap between the traditional forester and the wildlife biologist. The directed studies option provides a student with the opportunity to develop a professional program that will meet individual career goals.
Students completing the forest management option meet the qualifications of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for forester. With careful selection of courses students in the wildlife habitat option will meet the federal qualifications for wildlife biologist.
Forestry Options
At the end of your sophomore year or beginning of your junior year, you select an option that helps you specialize your degree to fit your interests and career goals. You will generally take four courses (12-13 credits) in your specialty area.
- Forest Management
Focus on the techniques and underlying principles of forest management. This option meets the qualifications of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for professional forester. - Directed Studies
Work with your advisor to select courses focusing on an area that meets your professional interests.
Major Core Courses
Generally, you begin taking these courses in your sophomore year.
Course |
Course Title |
Credits |
| NATRS 305 | Silviculture | 3 |
| NATRS 374 | Chemistry Related to Life Sciences | 4 |
| NATRS 410 | Forest Finance and Valuation | 3 |
| NATRS 413 | Forest Measurements and Yield Prediction | 4 |
| NATRS 414 | Ecosystem Surveys and Inventories | 3 |
| NATRS 460 | Watershed Management | 3 |
| ES\RP 486 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| SoilS 201 | Soil: A Living System | 3 |
| Choose any one of the Mathematic Electives: | ||
| Math 140 | Calculus for Life Scientists | 4 |
| Math 171 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Math 202 | Calculus for Business and Economics | 3 |
| Stat 410 | Topics in Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| Stat 412 | Biometry | 3 |
| Stat 422 | Sampling Methods | 2 |
| Subtotal: Forestry Core | 32-35 |
|
Careers in Forestry
Highly trained and motivated resource managers and scientists are in demand. WSU graduates are sought out by employers, who know that our forestry majors are prepared to evaluate, study, and manage the complex demands society places on our forests and related natural resources.
Forestry majors find rewarding employment in:
- Private consulting firms
- Various non-governmental organizations, including
businesses and nonprofit organizations - County and state government
- Federal land management agencies, such as
the BLM, U.S. Forest Service, and Army Corps
of Engineers
A major in forestry also can be ideal preparation for graduate programs in environmental and natural resource sciences.
Career options are diverse. Examples of careers include foresters, range conservationists, wildlife biologists, wildlife ecologists, park managers, information specialists, environmental educators, Peace Corps workers, policy advisors, land restoration specialists, environmental consultants, and environmental lawyers.
Options Available
To learn more about the following options available from the Forestry major, select from the following below:
Strengths of the Program
- The only fully accredited undergraduate forestry program in the state of Washington (accredited by the Society of American Foresters).
- Get hands-on experience and personal attention from professors who have expertise in all major areas of natural resource science.
- Learn forest and range measurement techniques and plant identification at the on-campus E.H. Steffen Center, which features forest and rangeland plantings and several greenhouses.
- See sustainable multiple-use and wildland management strategies in action at the Colockum Multiple Use Unit, an 11,300 acre forest and rangeland watershed near Wenatchee, WA.
- Student clubs such as the Society of American Foresters, Society for Range Management, and Wildlife Society connect you with others in your major and give you leadership experience.
- The integrated natural resource sciences curriculum gives you a broad understanding of natural resource management, as well as helping you develop in-depth expertise.
- Join other science, math, and engineering students in the Gannon-Goldsworthy residence hall—share courses with your neighbors, study together, get free tutoring, and use the hall’s own computer lab.
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