Program Overview

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Forest Science, BS

The Forest Science program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of forest ecosystems and the skills needed to manage and conserve these resources. Forests cover one-third of the Earth and nearly half of Wisconsin, providing diverse habitats, wood and fiber, clean water, carbon storage, recreation, beauty, and connections to many cultures.

Program Description

Students in the Forest Science program learn through a mix of classroom, laboratory, and field instruction, with frequent visits to forests and opportunities for professional and student-led trainings and networking. The program offers excellent teaching, research, and computing facilities, with classes sized to ensure individual attention from faculty advisors. Many students gain experience assisting faculty with research projects, and graduates of the program have an excellent job placement track record.

Career Opportunities

Undergraduates in Forest Science prepare for a variety of career opportunities, including working as foresters, arborists, park rangers, conservation scientists, environmental educators, geospatial analysts, researchers, and more. They also pursue graduate training in forestry, ecology, natural resource policy, or environmental law. Graduates of the program work for many organizations, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Society of American Foresters, the Aldo Leopold Foundation, environmental consultants, and private corporations.

Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Science, students must complete a minimum of 120 credits, including:

• University General Education Requirements
• College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements
• Major Requirements
• Electives

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison must fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. These requirements include:

• BreadthHumanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
• BreadthNatural Science: 4 to 6 credits
• BreadthSocial Studies: 3 credits
• Communication Part A & Part B
• Ethnic Studies
• Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements

In addition to the University General Education Requirements, all undergraduate students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences must satisfy a set of college and major requirements. These requirements include:

• First-Year Seminar: 1 credit
• International Studies: 3 credits
• Physical Science Fundamentals: 4-5 credits
• Biological Science: 5 credits
• Additional Science: 3 credits
• Science Breadth: 3 credits
• CALS Capstone Learning Experience: included in the major requirements

Major Requirements

The Forest Science major requires completion of the following courses:

• Mathematics: 5-6 credits
• Statistics: 3 credits
• Chemistry: 4-5 credits
• Biology: 10 credits
• Wildlife Ecology: 3 credits
• Core: 38-39 credits
• Major Electives: 12 credits
• Capstone: 3 credits

Core Courses

The core courses for the Forest Science major include:

• SOIL SCI 301: General Soil Science
• F&W ECOL 300: Forest Measurements
• BOTANY/F&W ECOL 402: Dendrology: Woody Plant Identification and Ecology
• F&W ECOL 395: Data and GIS Tools for Ecology
• F&W ECOL 305: Forest Operations
• F&W ECOL 390: Learning to Action: Professional Development
• F&W ECOL 410 & F&W ECOL 411: Silviculture: Applied Forest Ecology and Practices of Silviculture
• F&W ECOL/A A E 430: Decision Methods for Natural Resource Managers
• F&W ECOL 448, 449, & 450: Disturbance Ecology and Lab
• ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL 515: Natural Resources Policy
• F&W ECOL 550 & F&W ECOL 551: Forest Ecology and Lab
• F&W ECOL 658: Forest Resources Practicum

Major Electives

Students must complete at least 12 credits of major electives, choosing from a variety of courses in areas such as:

• Soils and Landscapes
• Economics and Business
• Urban and Wildland Forest Management
• GIS/Remote Sensing
• Wildlife and Fisheries Ecology
• Ecology and Biological Diversity
• Conservation Biology
• Natural Resource Management and Policy
• Earth and Atmospheric Science
• Human and Social Dimensions of Ecology

Honors in the Major

To earn honors in the major, students must take at least 20 honors credits, including F&W ECOL 681 and F&W ECOL 682, and complete a thesis project.

Learning Outcomes

The Forest Science program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of forest ecosystems and the skills needed to manage and conserve these resources. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Understand the taxonomy and identification of forest and other tree species, their distribution, and associated vegetation and wildlife.
2. Understand soil properties and processes, hydrology, water quality, and watershed functions.
3. Apply ecological concepts and principles to forest ecosystems, including the structure and function of ecosystems, plant and animal communities, competition, diversity, population dynamics, succession, disturbance, and nutrient cycling.
4. Conduct ecosystem, forest, and stand assessments.
5. Understand tree physiology and the effects of climate, fire, pollutants, moisture, nutrients, genetics, insects, and diseases on tree and forest health and productivity.
6. Identify and measure land areas and conduct spatial analysis.
7. Design and implement comprehensive inventories that meet specific objectives using appropriate sampling methods and units of measurement.
8. Analyze inventory data and project future forest, stand, and tree conditions.
9. Develop and apply silvicultural prescriptions appropriate to management objectives.
10. Analyze the economic, environmental, and social consequences of forest resource management strategies and decisions.
11. Develop management plans with specific multiple objectives and constraints.
12. Understand the valuation procedures, market forces, processing systems, transportation, and harvesting activities that translate human demands for timber-based and other consumable forest products into the availability of those products.
13. Understand the administration, ownership, and organization of forest management enterprises.
14. Understand forest policy and the processes by which it is developed.
15. Understand how federal, state, and local laws and regulations govern the practice of forestry.

Four-Year Plan

The four-year plan for the Forest Science major is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of forest ecosystems and the skills needed to manage and conserve these resources. The plan includes a combination of required and elective courses, as well as opportunities for internships, research, and study abroad.

Advising and Careers

The Forest Science program provides students with academic advising and career counseling to help them achieve their goals. The program also offers opportunities for internships, research, and study abroad to provide students with hands-on experience and to prepare them for careers in forest science and related fields.

Wisconsin Experience

The Forest Science program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison provides students with a unique Wisconsin experience, including opportunities for internships, research, and study abroad. The program also offers a variety of extracurricular activities, such as the Forestry Club and the Society of American Foresters, to provide students with opportunities for professional development and networking.

Resources and Scholarships

The Forest Science program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison offers a variety of resources and scholarships to support students in their academic and professional pursuits. These resources include academic advising, career counseling, internships, research opportunities, and study abroad programs. The program also offers several scholarships to support students in their academic pursuits.

Accreditation

The Forest Science program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is accredited by the Society of American Foresters. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of forest ecosystems and the skills needed to manage and conserve these resources, and to prepare them for careers in forest science and related fields.