The Forest Ecology and Management degree is the only 4-year forestry program in Utah and has been accredited by the Society of American Foresters since 1936.
Society of American Foresters
Intermountain Chapter of SAF
Forest Ecology and Management students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to manage public or private forests for a wide variety of objectives such as timber production, recreation, wildlife, water, biological diversity, conservation, and resilience to disturbances such as fire and insects. This professional degree provides future foresters with a broad understanding of the biological, physical, economic, political, and social environmental context that they will work in as forestry professionals.
Current students are encouraged to visit the Wildland Resources Department’s home page’s undergraduate programs tab (here) for current news and 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 some of our graduate and undergraduate students doing in forestry-related professions?
- Area forester, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands
- Silviculturist for the Umatilla National Forest
- Prescribed fire and fuels specialist, USFS
- Sale preparation forester, USFS
- Biological Scientist, USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis program
- Silviculture forester for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
- Forester Weyerhaeuser Company
- Forester working for the Wisconsin Department of Forestry
- Assistant Professor in Forestry at Colorado State University
- Assistant Professor in Silviculture and Applied Forestry at Utah State University
- Assistant Professor in Silviculture and Applied Forestry at University of Minnesota
- Silviculturist for the Tillamook District of the Bureau of Land Management
- Silviculturist, USFS, Pacific Northwest Region, Three Rivers Ranger District
- Silviculture Technician, USFS, Northern Region, Missoula Ranger District
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 | 14 |
| ENG 1010 (CL 1) Intro to Writing: Academic Prose |
3 |
| BIOL 1610 Biology I |
3 |
| BIOL 1615 Biology I Lab |
1 |
| WILD/WATS/ENVS 2000 NR Prof. Orientation |
1 |
| Breadth Social Sciences (BSS) | 3 |
| Breadth American Institutions (BAI) |
3 |
| FRESHMAN SPRING | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 14 |
| BIOL 1620 (BLS) Biology II |
3 |
| BIOL 1625 Biology II Lab |
1 |
| MATH 1050 (QL) College Algebra |
4 |
| Breadth Humanities (BHU) | 3 |
| Breadth Creative Arts (BCA) | 3 |
| SOPHOMORE FALL | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 15 |
| ENVS 3300 Fundamentals of Recreational Resource Management |
3 |
| WILD 2400 Wildland Techniques |
3 |
| MATH 1100 (QL) Calculus Techniques |
3 |
| WATS 2200 General Ecology |
3 |
| APEC 3012 Introduction to Natural Resource and Regional Economics (DSS) |
3 |
| SOPHOMORE SPRING | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 15 |
| CHEM 1110 (BPS) General Chemistry I |
4 |
| WILD/GEOG 1800 Intro to Geographic Information Sciences |
3 |
| ENGL 2010 (CL2) Intermediate Writing |
3 |
| STAT 2000 (QI) Statistical Methods OR STAT 3000 (QI) Statistics for Scientists |
4/3 |
| Elective | 2 |
| JUNIOR FALL | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 17 |
| PSC 3000 Fundamentals of Soil Science |
4 |
| WILD 3800 Wildland Ecosystems |
4 |
| ENVS 3010 Fundamentals of Natural Resource and Environmental Policy |
3 |
| Wild 3820 Forest Plants |
3 |
| ENVS 4000 (DSS) Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Management |
3 |
| JUNIOR SPRING | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 15 |
| 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 | 3 |
| SENIOR FALL | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 16 |
| WILD 5350 (Even Years Only) Wildland Soils |
3 |
| WILD 5750 Applied Remote Sensing |
3 |
| WILD 4750 Monitoring & Assessment in Natural Resources & Environmental Management |
4 |
| WILD 5710 (Even Years Only) Forest Vegetation Disturbance Ecology |
3 |
| Electives | 3 |
| SENIOR SPRING | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 15 |
| WILD 5700 Forest Assessment and Management |
3 |
| Electives | 12 |
