Program Overview
The Forest Technology program at the University of New Hampshire provides students with a comprehensive understanding of forestry principles and practices. Graduates are equipped with skills in forest ecology, silviculture, wildlife management, and timber harvesting, preparing them for careers in forestry, conservation, and related industries. The program includes core courses in applied biostatistics, forest ecology, mensuration, and forest harvesting systems, as well as elective options in social sciences and humanities. Upon completion, students can enter the workforce or transfer to the university's accredited four-year forestry program.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Forest Technology (A.A.S.) program at the University of New Hampshire encompasses fundamental forestry skills, techniques, and science to prepare individuals for a career in the forestry field. Students are equipped with knowledge in forest ecology, silviculture, wildlife ecology, forest mapping techniques, wood science, and timber harvesting practices. Graduates gain expertise in natural resource inventory, forest harvesting operation design, planning, and supervision, timber harvest and lumber milling, forestland mapping and surveying, forest management plan development, and forest health issue identification and mitigation, adhering to principles of conservation and sustainability. Students engage with various professionals through coursework and often pursue careers in wood product-related industries, public forestland management agencies, private forestry consulting firms, urban tree care companies, and conservation organizations. Upon completion of the associate degree, qualified students have the option to transfer to the university's accredited four-year forestry program, earning a bachelor's degree in two additional years of full-time study or directly entering the workforce.
Outline:
The Forest Technology program curriculum consists of core courses and elective options. Discovery Program courses (minimum of 20 credits) are required in addition to the Forest Technology program requirements.
Core Courses:
- Applied Biostatistics I (or Finite Mathematics)
- First-Year Writing
- Applied Silviculture
- First Aid: Responding to Emergencies
- Forest Ecology
- Arboriculture
- Mensuration
- Management Operation & Analysis
- Forest Products and Wood Science
- Forest Harvesting Systems
- Ecology and Management of Forest Stressors
- Wildland Fire Ecology and Management
- Applied Geospatial Techniques
- Work Experience
- Natural Resources Field Methods
- Field Dendrology
- Wildlife Ecology
Elective Options:
- Social Science Discovery or Humanities Discovery
Careers:
Graduates of the Forest Technology program are equipped for careers in various fields, including:
- Forestry consultant
- Forest fire control and use technician
- Mapping technician
- Geographic information systems/global positioning systems (GIS/GPS) technician
- Timber and log buyer
- Log scaler
- Lumber grader
- Sawmill technician
- Arborist
- Urban tree care specialist
- Timber cruiser/forest inventory technician
- Forestry equipment/products sales representative
