Forestry

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• Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Forestry ­ options available in forest hydrology, forest operations, forest resource conservation, forest soils, or wildland fire management
  
• Minor in Fire Ecology
• Minor in Forestry
  
• Minor in Watershed Management (administered by the Department of Forestry and Wildland Resources)

See Natural Resources for details on the Master of Science program.

Department Chair
K. O. Fulgham, Ph.D.

Department of Forestry and Wildland Resources
Forestry Building 205
(707) 826-3935

The Program

Students completing this program will have demonstrated:

• understanding of taxonomy, autecology of trees, plant and wood identification; physiology of trees; ecological concepts, ecosystem processes, structure and function; soil formation, classification, composition and properties; silvicultural principles, stand structure and composition; growth and quality of forests and forest health; fire ecology and use of fire; entomology and pathology; wildlife and fish ecology; plant, soil, water interactions, watershed processes, land measurement, mapping, photogrammetry, remote sensing; sampling theory and methods, statistical literacy; measurement of trees, forests, and forest products; wildlife habitat assessment; measurement of water yields and quality; assessment of non-timber forest values; integrated forest management, multiple-use principles; stand scale management; system and landscape management; forest engineering and road design; harvesting systems; utilization; policy development, sociological influences; administration, environmental regulation; land and resource planning; budgeting, finance, personnel management, cost, and economics
• capable practice of critical thinking; writing; quantitative thinking; public speaking, debate and persuasion; leadership; group cooperation; conflict resolution; time management; professional integration; independent life-long learning; computer literacy and skills
• the attributes of adaptability; integrity; open-mindedness; professional decorum.

Humboldt State University is located in the heart of the coast redwood forest. This environment provides outdoor classrooms for more than half of the forestry courses.

Field trips illustrate lecture concepts and teach field techniques. Excellent on-campus laboratories complement the outdoor lab. Students have access to the college forest, the Schatz Tree Farm, public and private forest lands, and various production centers. Because Humboldt County also has a large forest products industry, Humboldt State is an excellent place to study the resolution of environmental issues with economic concerns.

Students and faculty interact with professional forest managers and researchers of the region both in the classroom and in the field.

Forestry is an incorporative discipline, drawing from the biological, physical, social, and managerial sciences. The curriculum aids in understanding the biological complexities of the forest and the interactions between the forest and social and economic demands.

The program provides sufficient background and depth of education to give a sound basis for professional growth within a broad range of forestry-related careers.

Our graduates often start as forest rangers, park rangers, fire fighters, timber cruisers, or surveyors. Some hold staff positions in the federal and state agencies, forest products industry, or with environmental organizations. Graduates go on to build careers in: wildland fire management, forest management, park management, forest protection, watershed management, forest biology, industrial management, forest engineering, resource planning, forest conservation, and research and education.

Visit our Web page at www.humboldt.edu/~fwr.

Preparation

In high school, take a broad background. Biological/physical sciences, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts are helpful.

Requirements for the Major

LOWER DIVISION CORE

• At least one course in a basic biological science that meets general education requirements and is comparable to BOT 105 or BIOL 105;
  
  
• At least one course in a basic physical science that meets general education requirements and is comparable to CHEM 107;
  
  
• One course in calculus which includes integration, meets general education requirements, and is comparable to MATH 105;
  
  
• One course in statistics or biometrics that includes regression and is comparable to BIOM 109;
  
  
• Plus the following:
  FOR 116 The Forest Environment
  FOR 210 Forest Measurements
  FOR 216 Forest Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Systems
  FOR 222 Forest Health & Protection
  FOR 223 Intro to Wildland Fire
  FOR 230 Dendrology
  FOR 231 Forest Ecology
  FOR 250 Intro to Forest Operations
  FOR 285 Department Seminar
  SOIL 260 Intro to Soil Science

Take all lower division courses before beginning upper division work.

UPPER DIVISION CORE

FOR 311 Forest Mensuration & Growth
FOR 331 Silvics ­ Foundation of Silviculture
FOR 432 Silviculture
FOR 470 Professional Forestry Ethics
FOR 471 Forest Administration
NRPI/ENVS 309 Communication in Natural Resource Conflict Resolution
WSHD 310 Hydrology & Watershed Management

Plus one of the following:
FISH 300 Intro to Fishery Biology
RRS 306 Rangeland Resource Principles
WLDF 300 Wildlife Ecology & Mgmt

Take all lower division courses before beginning upper division work.

Forest Hydrology Option

Lower Division

GEOL 109 General Geology
MATH 205 Multivariate Calculus for the Biological Sciences & Natural Resources

PHYX 106 College Physics: Mechanics & Heat or
PHYX 109 General Physics I: Mechanics

Upper Division

GEOL 350 General Geomorphology
SOIL 467 Soil Physics
WSHD 424 Watershed Hydrology
WSHD 425 Forest Hydrology Capstone

This program meets the qualifications for "Forester" and for "Hydrologist" in federal employment.

Forest Operations Option

FOR 350 Forest Harvesting Systems
FOR 353 Forest Road Location & Design
FOR 365 Forest Financial Administration
FOR 450 Harvesting Systems Design & Cost Analysis
FOR 475 Forest Management Decision Making
FOR 478 Forest Operations Capstone

Plus three units of forest-based natural resource technical electives or courses in allied fields. These technical electives must be approved by the student's advisor and the department chair.

This program meets the qualifications for “Forester” in federal employment.

Forest Resource Conservation Option

FOR 321 Fire Ecology

FOR 374 Wilderness Area Mgmt, or
FOR 431 Forest Restoration

FOR 430 Forest Ecosystems
FOR 433 Forest Resource Conservation Capstone
FOR 365 Forest Financial Administration
WHSD 458 Climate Change & Land Use

Plus four units of forest-based natural resource technical electives or courses in allied fields. These technical electives must be approved by the student’s advisor and the department chair.

This program meets the qualifications for “Forester” in federal employment.

Forest Soils Option

GEOL 109 General Geology
SOIL 360 Origin & Classification of Soils
SOIL 363 Wetland Soils
SOIL 460 Forest & Range Soils Mgmt
SOIL 461 Forest Soils Capstone

SOIL 462 Soil Fertility, or
SOIL 465 Soil Microbiology, or
SOIL 467 Soil Physics

Plus four units of forest-based natural resource technical electives or cours­es in allied fields. These technical electives must be approved by the stu­dent’s advisor and the department chair.

This program meets the qualifications for “Forester,” “Soil Scientist,” and “Soil Conservationist” in federal employment.

Wildland Fire Managment Option

FOR 321 Fire Ecology
FOR 323 Wildland Fire Behavior & Use
FOR 423 Wildland Fuels Managment
FOR 425 Wildland Fire Management Capstone
FOR 431 Forest Restoration
RRS 370 Rangeland Ecology Principles

Plus four units of forest-based natural resource technical electives or courses in allied fields. The student's advisor and the deparment chair must approve these technical electives.

This program meets the qualifications for “Forester” in federal employment.

Requirements for the Fire Ecology Minor

Required courses:
FOR 230 Dendrology, or an approved course in Plant Taxonomy
FOR 231 Forest Ecology, or an approved course in Ecology
FOR 321 Fire Ecology
FOR 323 Wildland Fire Behavior & Use
FOR 423 Wildland Fuels Management

Requirements for the Forestry Minor

Required courses:
FOR 210 Forest Measurements
FOR 230 Dendrology
FOR 231 Forest Ecology
FOR 315 Forest Management

Plus one of the following four courses:
FOR 321 Fire Ecology
FOR 374 Wilderness Area Management
FOR 302 Forest Ecosystems & People
FOR 431 Forest Restoration