Apply Today

SFA Home / Bulletin / College of Forestry and Agriculture

Forestry

Jimmie L. Yeiser, T.L.L. Temple Chair

Faculty

Regents Professors
James C. Kroll, David L. Kulhavy, Michael H. Legg

Endowed Distinguished Professorships
Arnold Distinguished Professor, Kenneth W. Farrish;
Laurence C. Walker Distinguished Professor, Michael S. Fountain;
Joe C. Denman Distinguished Professor, James C. Kroll;
Bone Hill Foundation Professor, Gary D. Kronrad;
Robert E. “Judge” Minton Distinguished Professor, Michael H. Legg;
Kenneth Nelson Distinguished Professor, Hans M. Williams

Professors
Darrel L. McDonald, Brian P. Oswald

Associate Professors
Dean W. Coble, Daniel R. Unger

Assistant Professors
Theresa G. Coble, Christopher E. Comer, Warren C. Conway, I-Kuai Hung, Matthew W. McBroom, David R. Ownby, Daniel G. Scognamillo, Pat Stephens Williams

Research Professor
Shiyou Li

Instructor
Frank B. Shockley

Research Scientist
Zhi Zhen Zhang

Accreditation

The forestry undergraduate degree programs offered by the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture are accredited by the Society of American Foresters.

Advising and Student Services

All students in the environmental science and forestry degree programs with 60 hours or less must consult an academic adviser prior to each registration period. Students in this category will automatically have an advising hold that can only be cleared by the adviser following an advising session. Students with 61 hours or more must meet with an academic adviser at least once per academic year; however, it is recommended that every student, regardless of completed semester hours, consult with an adviser prior to each registration period to ensure satisfactory progress on his or her degree program.

Scholarships

The ATCOFA annually awards numerous scholarships totaling more than $80,000. These are available to undergraduate (including incoming freshmen) and graduate students and are awarded based on academic excellence and/or financial need. Scholarship applications are due by February 1 and are available online on the Office of Student Financial Assistance Web site. Information about other sources of financial aid, including work study and loans, is available from the Office of Student Financial Assistance..

Student Organizations

Professional and special interest student organizations sponsored by the ATCOFA provide opportunities for students to participate in the programs of the college, develop leadership skills, compete in national contests and network with practicing professionals. Official student organizations include the Society of American Foresters (SAF), The Wildlife Society (TWS), Xi Sigma Pi National Forestry Honor Society, Student Society of Arboriculture (SSA), Sylvans Professional Forestry Student’s Club, National Association of Interpretation (NAI), Graduate Student Association, Ducks Unlimited, and Student Chapter of the Association of Fire Ecology (SAFE).

Areas of Study & Undergraduate Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science in Forestry (B.S.F.) with majors in:

A Bachelor of Science in Forestry (B.S.F.) degree in forestry requires 140 semester credit hours of course work. Undergraduate forestry degree programs require completion of:

  1. A general education core designed to provide broad education in the arts, mathematics, and social and natural sciences:
    ENG 131 Composition: Rhetoric & Argument (3)
    ENG 132 Composition and Rhetoric: Critical & Analytical (3)
    BIO 131 Introductory Botany (4)
    CHE 133 General Chemistry I (4)
    ECO 232 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
    HIS 133 & 134 U.S. History (6)
    MTH 143 Finite Math or MTH 138 College Algebra (3)
    MTH 220 Statistics or MTH 144 Elements of Calculus (3)
    PSC 141 & 142    Introduction to American Government (6)
    Humanities: ART, MUS, THR, or DAN* (3)
    Humanities: Literature* (3)
    Six hours communication skills* (6-8)
    Total   47-49

    *See University Core Curriculum Requirements.
  2. A forestry core designed to provide broad exposure to all areas of forest resources management:
    FOR 111    Introduction to Forestry (3)
    FOR 151 Introduction to Outdoor Recreation (3)
    FOR 152 Introduction to Wildlife Management (3)
    FOR 205 Forest Biometrics I (3)
    FOR 209 Forest Ecology (3)
    FOR 219 Dendrology (3)
    FOR 240 Wood Science (3)
    FOR 313 Forest Insects & Diseases (3)
    FOR 337 Introduction to Fire Management (2)
    FOR 347 Silviculture (3)
    FOR 348 Natural Resource Policy (3)
    FOR 349 Principles of Forest Soils (3)
    FOR 409 Forest Hydrology (3)
    FOR 435 Forest Economics (3)
    FOR 458 Forest Resource Management (4)
    GIS 224 Introduction to Spatial Science (3)
    GIS 390 GIS in Natural Resources (3)
    Total:   51
  3. A field station program designed to integrate previous course work with practical field experience:
    FOR 310    Field Silviculture (1)
    FOR 323 Land Measurement (1)
    FOR 325 Timber Cruising (1)
    FOR 329 Harvesting & Processing (1)
    FOR 335 Non-Timber Resources Management (2)
    Total:   6
  4. A major designed to provide added expertise in a specialized field of forestry.
    1. Forest management major (FRMG): the emphasis is on production of wood, fiber and other forest resources:
      FOR 223 Surveying & Mapping (4)
      FOR 317 Forest Biometrics II (3)
      FOR 411 Timber Management (3)
      FOR 427 Regional Silviculture (3)
      FOR 428 Intensive Silviculture (3)
      Nine hours. in the College of Business (9)
      Approved Electives# (9)
      Free Electives## (0-2)
      Total:   34-36
    2. Forest wildlife management major (FRWM): For students especially interested in management of wildlife resources as part of the forest:
      BIO 133    Introductory Zoology (4)
      BIO 341 Genetics or BIO 370 Evolution (3-4)
      BIO 433 Ornithology (4)
      BIO 436 Mammalogy (4)
      FOR 255 Forest Wildlife Management (3)
      FOR 305 Wildlife Techniques (3)
      FOR 450 Wildlife Habitat Management (3)
      Approved Electives# (6)
      Free Electives## (3-5)
      Total:   34-36
    3. Forest recreation management major (FRCM): For students especially interested in park management and utilizing the forest ecosystem for educational purposes:
      HMS 202    Travel & Tourism (3)
      FOR 255 Forest Wildlife Management (3)
      FOR 351 Wildland Recreation Administration (3)
      FOR 405 Environmental Communication & Interpretation (3)
      FOR 451 Management of Outdoor Recreation Areas (3)
      FOR 452 Environmental Interpretation Methods (3)
      FOR 457 Environmental Attitudes & Issues (3)
      Approved Electives# (9)
      Free Electives## (4-6)
      Total:   34-36

      #Approved Electives: Adv. Level (300-400) courses selected with approval of Adviser.
      ##Free Electives: Courses selected from any discipline offered in the university. Adviser’s recommendation is encouraged.
    4. Forestry - Students in this tailored program complete the general education core and the forestry core (including field station) plus sufficient additional courses to equal 140 credit hours of acceptable credit. Individually tailored programs are available in urban forestry, fire management, forest business management, agroforestry and geospatial science.

      These tailored programs are only available for qualified students with specific career objectives and are subject to approval by the associate dean.

Forestry Field Station

All students pursuing the B.S.F. degree are required to attend one session of the forestry field station that is held at the Piney Woods Conservation Center. During a session, students participate with faculty in an integrated sequence of five courses for a total of six semester credit hours. Students attend field station during the summer (six weeks) between their junior and senior years. The following courses are prerequisites for field station: FOR 111, FOR 151, FOR 152, FOR 205, FOR 209, FOR 219, FOR 240, FOR 347, FOR 349, and GIS 224. Students must have an overall grade point average of 2.0 at the end of the fall semester prior to attending field station.

Second Major/Minor in Forestry

  1. A non-forestry student wishing to earn a second major in forestry must complete the forestry core and field station requirements.
  2. A non-forestry student may earn a minor in any of the specialized fields of forestry by completing a minimum of 20 semester hours. At least six semester hours must be at the advanced (300-400) level. Advising for second majors or minors will be in the office of the associate dean or the student services coordinator of the college.

Graduate Degree Programs

The college offers a Master of Science (M.S.) degree that requires a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate course work and six semester hours of thesis research and writing. The M.S. degree is designed for those who wish to further their education in any of the specializations within forest resources either for professional career development or future work toward a doctoral degree. Students with background deficiencies may be required to complete additional credits. A non-thesis Master of Forestry (M.F.) in forest business management also is offered (see SFA Graduate Bulletin for details on these programs).

A Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is offered. A minimum of 36 hours of graduate course work beyond the master’s degree and a dissertation consisting of at least 30 hours are required. The Ph.D. is a research degree awarded in recognition of the student’s ability to think and work independently as a scholar, and to contribute to society by conducting original research in a chosen field of natural resource management.

Graduate study in environmental science is available through the Division of Environmental Science at SFA.

Certified Forester

Students who receive a B.S.F. from SFA fulfill the academic requirements for the Certified Forester (CF) credential from the Society of American Foresters. Certification status is not available until the applicant has a minimum of five years of qualifying professional forestry- related experience and has passed the certification examination.

Certified Wildlife Biologist

Credentialing as a professional certified wildlife biologist by The Wildlife Society is a voluntary program for students in forest wildlife management. It is the responsibility of the student, working closely with his/her adviser, to take the appropriate courses required by The Wildlife Society. Certification status is not available until the applicant has the required course work and a minimum of five years of work experience in wildlife management.

Probation - Suspension Policy

A student receiving a probation or suspension notice must see the associate dean or the student services coordinator for advising.

Degree Plan and Final Graduation Plan

Prior to the end of the sophomore year, all students in the college must select a degree program and prepare a degree plan. To have a degree plan prepared, the student should see the associate dean or the student services coordinator of the college.

A final graduation plan must be filed prior to pre-registration for the semester in which the student plans to graduate. The student should see the associate dean or the student services coordinator for review and for filing of the final graduation plan.

Courses in Forestry (FOR)

All courses are offered both fall and spring semesters unless a specific semester is indicated. A course not regularly scheduled may be offered on demand. Except for courses numbered 460 and 463, all undergraduate courses must have a minimum of 10 students to be offered. Courses with required field trips will have an additional fee.

111.

Introduction to Forestry (FORE 1301) – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Introduction to the multiple use concept of forestry and basic techniques of forest resource management. Required field trips. Course fee required.

151.

Introduction to Outdoor Recreation – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Survey of federal and state policies, commercial and private landowner outlooks, and development in outdoor recreation. Course fee required.

152.

Introduction to Wildlife Management – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Historical perspectives of wildlife management and an introduction to basic wildlife management concepts. Course fee required.

205.

Forest Biometrics I – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Individual tree measurements, forest sampling methods, applied statistics, and computer applications for data analysis. Required field trips. Prerequisite: MTH 138 or 143. Course fee required.

209.

Forest Ecology (FORE 2309) – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Climatic, edaphic, and biotic factors and their relation to woody plant growth and development. Required field trips. Prerequisite: BIO 131. Course fee required.

219.

Dendrology (FORE 1314) – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Identification, distribution and silvical characteristics of angiosperms and gymnosperms. Required field trips. Prerequisite: BIO 131. Course fee required.

223.

Surveying and Mapping – Four semester hours, three hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Introduction to principles and methods of land surveying and associated map production techniques. Prerequisite: MTH 138 or 143. Course fee required. Spring only.

240.

Wood Science – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Physical and chemical properties of wood as related to its anatomy and economic use. Prerequisites: MTH 138 or 143, BIO 131, CHE 133.

241.

Wood Properties – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Non-mechanical and mechanical properties of wood and their relation to timber grading, processing and manufacture of forest products and their end use. Prerequisite: FOR 240. Course fee required.

255.

Forest Wildlife Management – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Principles and techniques of wildlife management. Required field trips. Prerequisite: FOR 152. Course fee required.

304.

Arboriculture – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Establishment and care of individual trees in a non-forest context.

305.

Wildlife Techniques – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Instruction and practice in a variety of field methods used to conduct and evaluate resource management and research. Assumptions, biases and problems associated with various techniques, as well as analysis of data, interpretations, and application of results. Prerequisites: FOR 152. Course fee required.

310.

Field Silviculture – One semester hour. Study of regeneration techniques, thinning and intermediate cultural operations. Required field trips. Prerequisite: All forestry core courses through 300 level. Course fee required. Summer only at forestry field station.

312.

Tree Growth and Wood Quality Relations – Three semester hours, three hours lecture per week. Introduction to the variability of wood structure and properties. Assessment of information regarding genetic, silvicultural and environmental factors influencing tre development and wood properties as related to end use. Prerequisite: FOR 240.

313.

Forest Insects and Diseases – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Examination of the effects of forest pests on forest products, forest stand structure and function, and both economic and non-economic losses. Prerequisite: FOR 209. Course fee required.

317.

Forest Biometrics II – Three semester hours, three hours lecture per week. Quantifying forest timber stand structure with respect to basic stand parameters. Prerequisite: FOR 205. Fall only.

323.

Land Measurement – One semester hour. Study of boundary surveying of forestland. Required field trips. Prerequisite: All forestry core courses through 300 level. Course fee required. Summer only at forestry field station.

325.

Timber Cruising – One semester hour. Study of timber stand estimation. Required field trips. Prerequisite: All forestry core courses through 300 level. Course fee required. Summer only at forestry field station.

329.

Harvesting and Processing – One semester hour. Study of methods of harvesting materials from the forest and procedures used in the manufacture of wood products. Required field trips. Prerequisite: All forestry core courses through 300 level. Course fee required. Summer only at forestry field station.

335.

Non-timber Resources Management – Two semester hours. Study of inventory and management principles for non-timber uses of forestland. Required field trips. Prerequisite: All forestry core courses through 300 level. Course fee required. Summer only at forestry field station.

337.

Introduction to Fire Management – Two semester hours, two hours lecture per week. Explore fire history in the U.S., fire occurrence, effects and behavior, detection, and control. Study the integration of fire in land management planning and policy. Prerequisite: FOR 209 or permission of instructor. Course fee required.

344.

Forest Entomology – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Study of insects that attack forest trees and products. Required field trips. Prerequisite: FOR 209 or eight hours of BIO. Course fee required.

347.

Silviculture – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Study of silvicultural systems, regeneration and intermediate management from ecologic and economic viewpoints. Required field trips. Prerequisites: FOR 205, FOR 209. Course fee required.

348.

Natural Resource Policy – Three semester hours, three hours lecture per week. Forest history and natural resource policy in the United States including effects of the environmental movement. Spring only.

349.

Principles of Forest Soils – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Physical, chemical and biological properties of forest soils. Management and classification of soils. Required field trips. Prerequisite: CHE 133. Course fee required.

351.

Introduction to Wildland Recreation Administration – Three semester hours, three hours lecture per week. Structure, staffing and financing of parks, wildernesses, and other forest recreation areas. Spring only.

402.

Field Ecology – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Principles of synecology and population ecology as they affect vegetative and animal communities. Ecological impacts of management, quantitative analysis of communities. Prerequisites: FOR 209 or BIO 313. Course fee required. Fall only.

404.

Urban Forestry – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Planning, establishment, protection, and management of individual trees and forest systems within an urban environment. Required field trips. Prerequisites: FOR 209, 349. Course fee required.

405.

Environmental Communication and Interpretation – Three semester hours, three hours lecture per week. Overview of the field of natural resource communication and interpretation. Of particular interest to those whose careers require public interaction. Fall only.

409.

Forest Hydrology – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Study of the effects of forests and forest activities on water quantity and quality, soil erosion and stream sedimentation. Required field trips. Prerequisite: FOR 349. Course fee required.

411.

Timber Management – Three semester hours, two hours lecture per week. Concepts of stand-level and forest-level timber harvesting schedules. Prerequisite: FOR 317.

427.

Regional Silviculture – Three semester hours, three hours lecture per week. Multiple use management of the major forest types of the U. S. Prerequisite: FOR 310. Fall only.

428.

Intensive Silviculture – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Study of tree improvement in silviculture context. Fundamental concepts of tree breeding, vegetation management and forest fertilization. Prerequisite: FOR 310. Course fee required. Spring only.

435.

Forest Economics – Three semester hours, three hours lecture per week. Economic analysis for decision making in forestry. Prerequisites: ECO 232, FOR 310. Summer II and fall.

438.

Fire Use in Land Management – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Study of fire in land management. Preparation of burning plans and field applications of prescribed burns. Required field trips. Prerequisite: FOR 337 or permission of instructor. Course fee required. Spring only.

448.

Range Management – Three semester hours, three hours lecture per week. Principles of range management. Characteristics of rangelands and range plants, management of grazing animals, and vegetation. Emphasis on interactions with recreation, wildlife and forests. Spring only.

450.

Forest Wildlife Habitat Management – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Theory and practice of evaluating and managing a forest habitat for wildlife. Required field trips. Prerequisite: FOR 305. Course fee required. Fall only.

451.

Management of Outdoor Recreation Areas – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Planning, development and maintenance of parks and forest recreation areas. Required field trips. Prerequisite: FOR 351. Course fee required. Fall only.

452.

Environmental Interpretation Methods – Three semester hours, three hours lecture per week. Development of effective techniques for interpreting natural and cultural resources, and in planning and managing interpretive programs. Required field trips. Course fee required. Spring only.

454.

Non-game Wildlife Ecology – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Ecology of non-game animals in forest ecosystems. Topics include population ecology and the relationships of animals to forest ecosystems. Some bird and small mammal sample techniques included as is management of some endangered species. Required field trips. Prerequisite: FOR 255 or permission of instructor. Course fee required. Spring only.

457.

Environmental Attitudes and Issues – Three semester hours, three hours lecture per week. Overview of the global historical origins and current influences on attitudes toward the outdoor environment. Examination and discussion of environmental policy, ethics and issues. Spring only.

458.

Forest Resource Management – Four semester hours, three hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Formulation, calculation, writing, and implementation of multiple-use resource management plans and environmental impact statements and assessments. Prerequisites: forestry field station and FOR 435. Course fee required.

460.

Forestry Internship – Three semester hours. Studies of resource management in an operational setting under the supervision of an approved organization. Must be arranged in advance and approved by the dean’s office. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of six credit hours.

463.

Special Problems – One, two, or three semester hours. Individual study in an area of the student’s choice. Must be arranged in advance and approved by the dean’s office. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of nine credit hours.

464.

Contemporary Problems in Forestry – Three semester hours. Classes conducted on current topics in forestry. Must be arranged in advance and approved by the dean’s office. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of nine credit hours.

465.

Range Development and Evaluation – Three semester hours, three hours of lecture per week. Principles of the development, improvement, and evaluation of rangeland resources. Required field trips. Course fee required. Spring only, odd years.

466.

Urban Wildlife Management – Three semester hours, three hours lecture per week. Techniques of managing wildlife population in urban/suburban landscapes. Includes nuisance wildlife and habitat restoration. Spring only, odd years.

Courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

201.

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Overview of computer-based GIS concepts and components. Topics include spatial (location) and attributes (description of features), base maps, spatial data manipulation and analysis. Course designed for non-forestry/environmental science majors who want a broad overview of GIS. Course fee required.

224.

Introduction to Spatial Science – Three semester hours, two ours lecture and three hours lab per week. An introduction to the spatial disciplines of aerial photography, satellite remote sensing, global positioning systems and geographic information systems as applied to mapping, monitoring and managing natural resources. Prerequisite: MTH 138, 143 or 233. Course fee required.

301.

GIS Applications – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Advanced overview of GIS applications. Develop GIS topics such as geodata-base construction, thematic map analysis, spatial modeling, data classification and verification and GIS application design. Prerequisite: GIS 201. Course fee required.

390.

Geographic Information Systems – Three semester hours, two hours lecture and three hours lab per week. Specific approaches to applications of geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems, (GPS) and remote sensing to problems in natural resource analysis. Prerequisite: GIS 224. Course fee required.

Top of page

Become a Student Academics & Research Students Alumni & Friends Faculty & Staff Arts & Athletics A-Z List