A woman in a yellow shirt and hard hat holding a drip torch and lighting low level vegetation on fire.
College of Arts and SciencesUndergraduate StudiesDegree PlansForest Ecology & Management Degree Plan

Forest Ecology & Management Degree Plan

Degree Options

Bachelor of Science in Earth and Environmental Sciences

Major

Forestry

Minors

  • Earth Sciences
  • Environmental Science
  • Forestry
  • Geospatial Analysis
  • Natural Resources
  • Wildlife Ecology

Admission to the Major Requirements

Students may be admitted as Forestry majors upon declaring their intent to the department.

Downloads

Degree Plan (PDF)

Suggested Classes for First-year Students

  • BIOL 106: Introductory Biology: Organismal Biology
  • BIOL 107: Introductory Biology: Cellular Biology and Genetics
  • CHEM 101: Introduction to Chemistry
  • ECONS 101: Fundamentals of Microeconomics
  • MATH 106: College Algebra
  • MATH 108: Trigonometry

Suggested Classes for Transfer Students              

  • SOE 204: Natural Resource Measurements
  • SOE 300: Natural Resources Ecology
  • SOE 301: Forest Plants and Ecosystems
  • SOE 302: Arid Land Plants and Ecosystems
  • SOE 305: Silviculture
  • SOE 312: Natural Resources, Society and the Environment

Math Requirement        

  • MATH 106: College Algebra
  • MATH 108: Trigonometry
  • STAT 212: Introduction to Statistical Methods
  • Advanced sampling/statistics

School of the Environment Core Courses             

Ecology, Earth Systems, Water Science, Modeling and Spatial Analysis, Society and Environmental Management, Statistics, Advanced Communications, Integrated Capstone, Experiential Learning Opportunity

Forestry Core Courses

  • ECON 330: Natural Resources Economics
  • SOE 204: Natural Resource Measurements
  • SOE 301: Forest Plants and Ecosystems
  • SOE 302: Arid Land Plants and Ecosystems
  • SOE 304: Forestry Measurements
  • SOE 305: Silviculture
  • SOE 404: Sampling Terrestrial Ecosystems
  • SOE 430: Introduction to Wildland Fire
  • SOE 438: Natural Resources Policy and Law
  • SOE 464: Landscape Ecology
  • SOE 485: Disturbance Ecology
  • SOIL SCI 368: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
  • SOIL SCI 374: Remote Sensing and Airphoto Interpretation
  • SOIL SCI 468: GIS Spatial Analysis
Find an advisor

For more information

environment.wsu.edu
soe@wsu.edu
509-335-3009

Program Strengths

  • The Forestry major prepares you to work as a professional forester, performing tasks ranging from increasing timber production to restoring wildlife habitat.
  • The major combines a strong background in the plant sciences with a strong emphasis on spatial analysis including landscape ecology and GIS
  • Graduates are expected to be field ready with a strong background in plant identification, forest measurements, and forest stand management
  • Students benefit from an integrated common core of course work rooted in the environment, taken in concert with students majoring in related disciplines.
  • Hands on experience in on-campus and off-campus laboratory exercises and internship opportunities
  • Students may elect to complete a minor in geospatial analysis along with a major in forestry

Student Clubs

  • Forestry Club
  • Environmental Science Club
  • Geology Club
  • The Wildlife Society

Career Options

  • Forester
  • Government Agency Forester
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Land, refuge, or wildlife habitat manager
  • Harvest Manager
  • Geographic Information Systems Specialist

The School of the Environment is affiliated with both the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.