Forest ecology and management students work to gain the knowledge and skills needed to manage public or private forests for a wide variety of resources such as timber, recreation, water and biological diversity. This degree program focuses on providing future foresters with the broadest possible understanding of the biological, physical, economic, political, and social environment that they will work in as forestry professionals.
Current students are encouraged to visit the Wildland Resources Department homepage for current news and information or the Wildland Resources Department's Undergraduate Programs homepage for additional information.
Shelly brings years of experience in academic advising, and her love for the outdoors to help students succeed in their educations and future careers.
- Semester-by-semester planning
- Connecting with clubs
- Changing your major
- Academic success resources
- Career planning
- Graduate school planning
- Undergraduate research opportunities
- Selecting degree program electives
FAQ
What is Forestry?
Forestry is the science and art of attaining desired forest conditions and benefits. Forest ecosystems supply our water, maintain our climate, help purify the air, protect soils, provide for recreational experiences, and serve as habitat for wildlife and preserves of biological diversity.
Foresters develop, use, and sustain and enhance forest resources for diverse benefits now and in the future..
What type of students study Forest Ecology and Management?
Students who …
- Want to work outdoors.
- Are interested in plants and ecology.
- Are interested in sustainability issues.
What do Forest Ecology and Management majors study?
- Foundation courses in biology, math, chemistry, and statistics.
- Forest ecology, water quality, wildlife habitat, and identifying tree species.
- Advanced computer applications such as geographic information systems.
- Forest management policies and economics.
What are recent graduates doing?
- Forester for the Manti La Sal National Forest working on projects to salvage beetle-killed timber and head off large-scale spruce beetle outbreaks.
- Area Forester for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands providing assistance and advice for private forest landowners.
- Extension Forester working in a County.
- Extension office educating the public about trees and forests.
- Forestry consultant working on environmental assessments and other projects for a large consulting firm in Salt Lake City.
- Forester working for the Georgia.
- Department of Natural Resources.
- City Forester managing urban tree resources for a large northern Utah city.
- Graduate student studying forest soil dynamics in the Wasatch Mountains.
- Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota teaching silviculture and forest ecology.
SAMPLE 4 YEAR PLAN
Below is a sample four year plan. Students should meet regularly with their advisor and carefully plan their academic program, keeping in mind that many upper division courses have prerequisites and must me taken in sequence. Students following the recommended schedule listed below should be able to complete degree requirements in four years or eight semesters.
All courses required for the major must be taken on an A-B-C-D-F basis. A grade of C- or better is required for all courses taken in the major department. The grade point average for all courses taught by the Quinney College of Natural Resources must be 2.5 or higher.
| FRESHMAN FALL | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 15 |
| ENG 1010 (CL 1) Intro to Writing: Academic Prose |
3 |
| BIOL 1610 Biology I |
3 |
| BIOL 1615 Biology I Lab |
1 |
| WILD 2000 NR Prof. Orientation |
1 |
| MATH 1050 (QL) College Algebra |
4 |
| Breadth Creative Arts (BCA) |
3 |
| FRESHMAN SPRING | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 14 |
| BIOL 1620 (BLS) Biology II |
3 |
| BIOL 1625 Biology II Lab |
1 |
| Breadth American Institutions (BAI) |
3 |
| WATS 2200 General Ecology |
3 |
| Electives |
1 |
| MATH 1100 (QL) Calculus Techniques |
3 |
| SOPHOMORE FALL | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 15 |
| ENVS 3300 Fundamentals of Recreational Resource Management |
3 |
| WILD 2400 Wildland Techniques |
3 |
| STAT 2000 (QI) Statistical Methods |
4 |
| ENVS 2340 (BSS) Natural Resources and Society |
3 |
| Electives |
2 |
| |
| SOPHOMORE SPRING | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 15 |
| CHEM 1110 (BPS) General Chemistry I |
4 |
| WILD/GEOG 1800 Intro to Geographic Information Sciences |
3 |
| Breadth Humanities (BHU) |
3 |
| Electives |
2 |
| ENGL 2010 (CL2) Intermediate Writing |
3 |
| |
| JUNIOR FALL | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 16 |
| PSC 3000 Fundamentals of Soil Science |
4 |
| WILD 3800 Wildland Ecosystems |
3 |
| APEC 3012 (DSS) Intro to Natural Resources & Regional Economics |
3 |
| WILD 5750 Applied Remote Sensing |
3 |
| Wild 3820 Forest Plants |
3 |
| |
| JUNIOR SPRING | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 16 |
| WILD 3850 Vegetation & Habitat Management |
3 |
| WILD 3810 Plant & Animal Populations |
3 |
| Depth Humanities and Creative Arts(DHA) |
3 |
| WATS 3700 (CI) Fundamentals of Watershed Science |
3 |
| Electives |
4 |
| |
| SENIOR FALL | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 14 |
| WILD 5350 Wildland Soils |
3 |
| ENVS 4000 (DSS) Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Management |
3 |
| WILD 4750 Monitoring & Assessment in Natural Resources & Environmental Management |
4 |
| WILD 5710 (Even Years Only) Forest Vegetation Disturbance Ecology |
3 |
| Electives |
1 |
| |
| SENIOR SPRING | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 15 |
| WILD 5700 Forest Assessment and Management |
3 |
| ENVS 3010 Fund. of NR & Env. Policy |
3 |
| Electives |
9 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
