B.S. Forestry - Learning Outcomes

The expected learning outcomes of the program include: emphasis on verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills, and development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students will be expected to gain an awareness and understanding of differing viewpoints, and to demonstrate knowledge of international forestry, sustainable forest management, certification processes, and broad ecosystems services. 

Learning outcomes for the B.S. in Forestry program: 

1. Demonstrate knowledge of forest ecology and silviculture principles to understand how forests and forested watersheds respond to natural disturbances or management activities.
2. Develop skills in geospatial analysis, basic surveying, mapping, and GIS.
3. Demonstrate ability to measure and inventory forest vegetation with precision and accuracy.
4. Develop an understanding of forestry investment analysis and be able to evaluate typical financial investments in forestry.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the development and execution of strategic, tactical and operational forest plans that support achievement of desired future stand conditions and strategic goals.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the social and political context of forestry and be able to describe current policies, laws, and regulations governing the management of forest lands.

Forest Restoration and Fire Option Learning Outcomes

Specific learning outcomes for the Forest Restoration and Fire option are:

1. Demonstrate ability to develop management responses to natural disturbance on forested landscapes such as wildland fire, insect infestation, windstorm, and disease and to use disturbance as an active management tool in an era of rapid change (e.g. climate change, land use change).
2. Demonstrate knowledge of natural processes in forests, including vegetation growth, wildfire, windthrow, insects and disease, and the ability to use these models of these processes correctly to forecast impacts of disturbance on forests and outcomes of management activities.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of active adaptive management on forested landscapes when outcomes are uncertain.
4. Demonstrate ability to account for risk and uncertainty in forest management decision processes.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the management of ecosystems in an era of rapid change including change in climate patterns, land use patterns, and political and social institutions.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the institutional and economic context in which policy for managing forest disturbance has evolved in the U.S. and elsewhere.
7. Develop skills to facilitate negotiation among stakeholders for collaborative cooperation and management of natural disturbance on forested landscapes, particularly across institutions and property boundaries.