Foresters play a critical role in managing our natural resources. As a forestry major, you take care of our forests while addressing some of the biggest challenges facing our forest landscapes, ecosystems and communities. Our forestry program is ranked as one of the best in the world. And when you graduate, you'll get a job, often with endless opportunities to work outside. You could go on to actively manage forested landscapes to ensure their health, clean water and other ecosystem services.

Why a Forestry Studies degree?

Foresters protect and preserve forests while making them available for human use. Doing this in a balanced way is challenging. Growing populations are putting pressure on forests, and climate change is making trees more vulnerable to fires and migrating pests. The field is evolving to respond to these challenges. This is a field that deals with the planning and management of forests and green spaces in metropolitan areas. With so many changes and challenges in this field, it's an exciting time to be a forest ranger.

Forestry Undergraduate Programs

Professional forestry positions generally require a bachelor's degree. Forestry programs begin with foundational courses in biology, chemistry, and geology. Students then progress to coursework in forestry, ecology,antural resources management, hydrology, geography, and environmental science. They also take classes in the social sciences and arts. Since foresters must understand the interplay between forests and society and be able to communicate their findings, these classes are also important. It's best to seek out a baccalaureate degree that's accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF), which will demonstrate that you've received adequate training for professional forestry work.

Master's Degrees in Forestry

Graduate programs in forestry focus on policy issues and managerial techniques. They also include advanced scientific coursework. These programs are geared towards experienced foresters and natural resource managers who want to advance into higher-level careers.
The program develops an understanding the social, political, and scientific aspects of forest resource management. The curriculum is comprised of three educational stages. The Basic Knowledge stage focuses on scientific issues. The Frameworks and Skills for Integrating Knowledge stage focuses on quantitative methods in science and economics.

Doctoral Programs in Forestry

Doctoral programs teach students to conduct original scientific research, in preparation for careers in research and academia. Courses typically focus on research methodology, statistics, quantitative methods, dissertation, and effective teaching techniques. Ph.D. programs also offer further study in the science of forestry, forest management, and the human dimensions of natural resource management, such as policy and law.

Career prospects

There are a handful of specialist roles in forestry management available every year, and this is the degree preferred for those jobs. If you want to find out more specifically about the prospects for your chosen subject, it might be a good idea to go on open days and talk to tutors about what previous graduates from your chosen subject went on to do.