Forestry Degree Online

What is Forestry?

Forestry is the science of managing and caring for forests. Forestry students learn how to manage forests for wood harvesting, while maintaining sustainability and protecting ecosystems. Some programs focus on forestry in a particular region, while some offer a more generalized curriculum.

Is Forestry a Good Major / Degree for Me?

Do you love trees? Do you love to spend lots of time outside? Are you good at math? Do you enjoy problem solving? Are you a good team player? Do you like working with computers? Do you like working with heavy equipment? Do you like to work on your feet? If you’ve answered yes to some of these questions, then a degree in Forestry might be for you!

High School Classes Needed for a Forestry Degree in College:

• 4 English Credits
• 4 Math Credits
• 4 Lab Science Credits
• 3 Social Studies Credits
• 2 Foreign Language Credits
• If your high school offers the following courses, take advantage!
  • AP Biology
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Environmental Science
  • AP Calculus
  • AP Statistics
  • Computer Classes
• If your high school offers the following co-curricular activities, take advantage!
  • Team Sports
  • Student Government

Common Forestry Courses in College:

• Chemistry
• Economics
• Forestry Biology
• Forest Ecology
• Forest Management
• Forest Resources
• Forest Surveying and Mapping
• Forest Vegetation
• Public Communication
• Soil Science
• Statistical Inference for Forest Management
• Technical Writing
• Tree Pests and Disease
• Watershed Management
• Wildlife Conversation
• Wood Processing
• Wood Science and Technology

Similar Degree Programs You Might Want to Explore:

• Forest Engineering: a course of study that covers forestry topics and engineering in order to improve forestry processes
• Forest Operations Science: a forestry major that also explores ecology, wood harvesting, engineering, and business management
• Parks and Recreations: a course of study that explores how and why people interact with the outdoors, and how to manage these people and natural resources
• Pulp and Paper: a branch of chemical engineering that specializes in producing paper from wood
• Surveying Technology: a course of study that teaches students how to measure distances and angles on the earth’s surface
• Sustainable Agriculture: a branch of agriculture study that focuses on conserving and protecting natural resources while producing healthy food
• Urban Forestry: the study of how to care for trees in and near heavily populated areas
• Wildlife and Wilderness Management: a course of study that combines all of the sciences to manage plants and animals

Forestry Careers:

Most forestry majors go on to become foresters. Foresters can work for themselves, private companies, agencies, or for the U.S. Forest Service. Wherever there are trees, there are probably foresters at work behind the scenes. Some forestry graduates have also gone on to work as park rangers, salespeople, and teachers.