What is forestry?
Forestry is the art and science of managing forest resources. If you have a love for the woods, as well as an interest in the sustainable management of forests, you will find camaraderie in the forestry program of the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science at Michigan Tech.
What will I learn?
Find your niche with a program that emphasizes professional development, field skills, teamwork, and leadership. You will build strong working relationships with your professors and peers while gaining a diverse, hands-on technical background in forestry by
- developing management plans and options for forested landscapes and implementing them to meet society’s needs while maintaining ecosystem integrity;
- studying the ecosystem of the Keweenaw Peninsula, bordered by Lake Superior and blanketed with forest and wetlands; and
- working your skills and knowledge to find summer jobs after only your first year of classes.
Forestry (BS) Learning Goals
- Students will develop an in depth knowledge of the field of forestry.
- Students will develop a strong set of field and analytic skills related to the management of natural resources.
- Students will effectively identify and evaluate sources of information relating to forestry.
- Students will provide and evaluate alternative solutions based on the scientific method to situations or problems in forestry.
- Students will be able to communicate effectively (orally and in writing) about issues related to forestry.
- Students will develop skills that ensure they behave with a high level of professionalism and an ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Names of Learning Goals
- Disciplinary knowledge
- Field and analytic skills
- Gathering information
- Solving problems
- Professionalism and teamwork
What sets our program apart?
We are a learning community strongly rooted in both academia and industry. With a faculty that has been ranked first nationally in scholarly productivity, a 5,500-acre educational and research forest, strong connections to industry leaders and employers, and accreditation by the Society of American Foresters, the School is at the pinnacle of forest-resource higher education and research. In our enriching environment, students have many unique opportunities to cultivate their professional and personal development, including
- Capstone— hands-on management of forestland
- The FERM— student Enterprise that provides advanced instruction in key forest-management tools, techniques, and technology
- Integrated Field Practicum (Fall Camp)— unique experience that blends classroom study with hands-on, field-based learning opportunities and skills acquisition
- TreeHouse— residential learning community for first-year students who share a hall with others in their major
Where do foresters find jobs?
The US Forest Service, state divisions of forestry, and the forest industry, including forestry and environmental consulting firms, employ graduates of the School.