Forest ManagementCurriculum: by semester
FER Home : Undergraduates : Forest Management
Forest management involves making forests healthier, protecting forests and related resources against disease or disaster and promoting sound ecology and management practices.
Do you like science, working outdoors, the environment and people? Do you want to make forests healthier and more productive for timber, wildlife, recreational and other purposes? Are you seeking a career that will get you out from behind a desk and in the great outdoors? If so, Forest Management may be right for you.
Forest Management is the science of balancing the natural cycles of forests and our planet’s need for sound, sustainable forestry practices with the social and economic needs of communities and forest owners. Our Forest Management program combines state-of-the-art technology with hands-on field work and imparts a working knowledge of a variety of disciplines, from silviculture to tree physiology, forest engineering, hydrology, ecology management, genetics, soils, biometrics, entomology, economics and more. FER’s Forest Management Program provides an education in all of these areas, combining coursework with fieldwork opportunities and participation in cutting-edge research for a top-notch professional education in a complex field. Our program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters and has long been ranked as one of the best such professional programs in the country.
Beyond academics, FER’s Forest Management program builds initiative, motivates students to become future leaders in forestry and often teaches by example. Because FER sponsors more forestry research and extension activities (than any other university in America), students in our Forest Management program are given many opportunities to work side-by-side with world-renowned experts, helping solve real-word problems. In addition, because recognizing the global implications of forest ecology and management is a key component of our program, many of these projects have an international focus.
While a student, you will have a chance to join several forestry-related organizations including the Forestry Club, International Society of Tropical Foresters, and Xi Sigma Pi National Forest Honor Society. These clubs are active at the University level and within the surrounding community.
Curriculum
The curriculum in Forest Management teaches students how to measure and monitor forest conditions and health, regenerate and grow forest stands, manage wildlife habitat and implement laws and policies. Much of this learning happens on forests owned and managed by the College of Natural Resources. Courses offered as part of our curriculum begin with instruction on basic silviculture and ecological principles, then move on to include advanced instruction in specialized scientific areas, the economic, management and policy issues affecting forest lands today and technology courses in modeling and geographic information sciences.
View the Eight Semester Display of courses you will take for a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management.
View Degree Audit Information (links to course descriptions) for our six concentrations:
- Forest Management - Biology
- Forest Management - Business
- Forest Management - International Forestry
- Forest Management - Management
- Forest Management - Related Fields
- Forest Management - Urban Forestry (degree audit info coming soon)
View the Forest Management's Program Educational Objectives.
Fieldwork
Forestry is a hands-on field of study. Courses are often taught as a combination of classroom lecture/discussion, outdoor instruction/ discussion, practical exercises, tours, field trips, guest speakers and self-study. As a forestry student, you'll find yourself spending a lot of time in the woods or in the laboratory gaining experience applying the concepts you learn about in class.
The College of Natural Resources owns and manages approximately 93,000 acres of forests and facilities, including the 254-acre Schenck Forest located just 10 minutes from campus. Many classes take place on these lands, giving students a realistic look at what a career in forest management is actually like.
Another unique aspect of the Forest Management Program is our annual 10-week summer camp taught at the 2,400-acre Hill Demonstration Forest in Bahama, NC about one hour from the NC State campus. This full-time summer school residential program is open to students at the end of their sophomore year. During camp, they participate in field courses such as forest measurements, plant identification, silviculture, fire management and wildlife management.
Find out more about the Forest Management major:
- Watch this YouTube video about summer camp
- View the Forest Management's Overview Flyer
Career Opportunities
Potential employers for Forest Management graduates include companies operating in forest and wood-related industries, state and federal land-managing agencies, environmental consulting firms, non-profit organizations, state forestry and agriculture extension services, nurseries and landscape management firms, urban natural resource management agencies and more.
Graduates might become a public forester and manage public lands for multiple uses, advise private landowners, or protect forests from fire and disease. Or they might choose to work in industry, managing company lands for timber production, making timber purchases from private owners or producing such products as paper, lumber and plywood. They would even be qualified to work as a private consultant advising forest landowners in how to manage their forests and make timber sales.
Because of the long standing relationships between the College and the forest products industry plus our program’s many opportunities to make professional contacts as an undergraduate, the placement rate for NC State forestry graduates is outstanding. In fact, over the last five years, (90%) of our students have gained employment as foresters. Many of our undergraduates choose to go on to graduate school in order to specialize in a wide variety of forestry and related programs.
Learn more about careers in forestry at forestrycareers.org, a website sponsored by the National Science Foundation:
