Major: Forestry
By 2004, there were 200,000 acres in
If you go into forestry, you'll have to balance growing trees for wood products with preserving the variety of living things in an area. To meet challenges like these, you'll have to combine ideas from the life, physical, and social sciences and be a strong communicator.
Students in this major learn how to manage and develop forests for varied purposes, from the production of wood products to recreation to preserving biodiversity (the variety of living things in an area).
“[Working in forestry] gives me a chance to constantly learn new things as better techniques are developed and as technology for doing the job evolves.”
Steven E. Jungst, Professor, Department of Forestry, Iowa State University
Are You Ready To...?
- Conduct research outdoors and in the lab
- Join professional organizations and clubs to practice teamwork and leadership skills
- Choose a specialty, such as natural resources conservation
- Get hands-on experience in an internship or a summer job
It Helps to Be...
Passionate about the outdoors and comfortable working with people. You must be a problem solver who enjoys looking thoroughly at every aspect of an issue to come up with original solutions. You should have an interest in math, science, and computers.
College Checklist
- Is the program accredited by the Society of American Foresters or the Society of Wood Science and Technology?
- Does the program focus on a specific geographic area or topic? On preparing students for work or for further schooling?
- What subjects are professors researching?
- What opportunities will you have to do research?
- Does the department have labs, greenhouses, up-to-date equipment for mapping and collecting data, nearby forests?
- Will the department help you find an internship or a summer job?
- What graduate programs and jobs have recent grads gone on to?
Did You Know?
- You don’t have to live in the country to work in forestry. Urban foresters look out for trees -- and the people who benefit from their presence -- in towns and cities.
Course Spotlight
Silviculture (the care of trees) is often one of the core courses for this major. In this small class, you'll learn methods of tree care and explore how to make environmentally sound silviculture decisions by looking at biological, economic, and social issues.
The course will probably feature lectures and discussions and may include labs. You'll complete reading assignments, write short papers, and take exams. You might even write a final paper or make a presentation about your own solution to a real forestry problem.
