Initial Contact: Dr. TheodoreE. Howard E-mail: tehoward@unh.edu Telephone: (603) 862-2700 Office: 225 James Hall Degree offered: B.S.F.
Print the Programs of Study
	Major in Forestry
	Minor in Forestry
	Forestry Honors-in-Major

Our forests are a precious natural resource that need skillful management by trained professionals. Foresters must respond to a variety of ecological and societal demands as they manage forests, protect wildlife habitats, care for forest recreation areas, and improve our water resources.

A major in forestry at UNH combines a basic education in social and natural sciences with professional forestry courses and courses in closely related disciplines. A major emphasis is placed on satisfying human needs and enhancing our lives by focusing on structure and function of forested ecosystems. As juniors, students choose between two options: Forest Management for students who intend to plan a career in managing forest resources, and Forest Science for those interested in forest biology, ecology, soil science, watershed management, international forestry, or other areas of specialization.

Professional foresters must be prepared to undertake a broad range of responsibilities, including planning and managing a sustainable supply of timber products, protecting forests from adverse impacts due to wildfire, insect attacks and diseases (as well as negative human influences); protecting and enhancing habitat for wildlife diversity, maintaining watersheds to protect soil productivity, water yield and quality; promoting visual quality and providing for recreational opportunities, and observing and enforcing laws and regulations that are formulated to promote these ends.

Program of Studies

The forest management and forest science options of the forestry major leading to a bachelor of science in forestry degree (B.S.F.) are accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). The SAF is recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education as the accrediting body for forestry in the United States. The bachelor's degree in forestry is generally the only degree necessary for professional advancement. However, research and teaching usually require a Ph.D. and certain specialty areas require a master's degree.

Starting with basic sciences, mathematics, and social sciences required for background and a well-rounded education, the program introduces students to the biological and social managerial aspects of forest resources. Our objective is to educate foresters in a program oriented to the Northeast, but which is broad enough to provide a good background in national, and international forestry policies, practices, and problems. Those who plan to major in Forestry should complete 3-4 units of high school mathematics, including trigonometry, 2-3 units of laboratory sciences, 4 units of English, and 2-3 units of social sciences.

In addition to forestry and natural resources core course requirements, each student must select either a Forest Management or Forest Science Option. An option consists of six courses (24 credits), some of which are selected by the student in consultation with the student's advisor; others are predetermined. These flexible options allow the students to conduct in-depth studies of specific forest resources such as soils, timber, watersheds, or wildlife. Students may contribute to their option by means of a minor in related areas. All students in forestry are required to attend 2 two-week field sessions at the end of selected spring terms and to complete at least one summer of related work experience.

Forestry Faculty

General areas of forestry research include forest ecology, silviculture, remote sensing and forest management, forest policy and economics, forest protection, soils, and genetics. You can view Faculty Profiles here.

Graduate School Placement

Many students enter graduate school for advanced training in forest biology or forest management. Approximately 20 percent of the program's graduates go on to graduate school. A sample listing of those schools include: Colorado State, North Carolina State, Yale, Minnesota, Michigan State, Oregon, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

Employment Opportunities

Employment opportunities for bachelor degree graduates are good, both in New England and in the eastern United States. Employment is largely with private organizations, including forest industry and consultants. About 25 percent of our graduates are employed in public forestry positions. Graduates have found jobs in the areas of resource protection and environmental quality improvement, production and use of raw materials, soil conservation, and watershed and recreation management. Successful employment searches are aided by effective choices within the program options. Go to our Job Search page to search for the job!

Facilities

Forestry education at UNH uses access to 3,800 acres of university woodlands for extensive field trips, including College Woods, as well as specialized indoor and outdoor laboratories. This land is managed by the Department of Natural Resources' Office of Woodlands and Natural Areas.

Other facilities include dry-kiln and sawmill, remote sensing equipment, a full range of forest measurement instruments and specialized research and instructional equipment.

Blackboard for the Prospective Student

So, you're interested, right? Now you want to know what it's like to be a Natural Resources undergraduate student. Well, you can get an in-depth look at the courses we offer, and experience what it's like to be a part of the Department of Natural Resources by visiting our Blackboard for the Prospective Student web site. Here you can tour some of our most popular courses - view photo slideshows of students in the field and in the classroom, read course syllabi, hear from the Department Chair, and much more!

To experience it now, follow these simple instructions:
Note: Blackboard must be viewed using Internet Explorer.

• Start at the Blackboard home page: http://blackboard.unh.edu
• Click on the Organizations & Departments tab at the top
• Follow the link for Academic Departments
• Click on Department of Natural Resources - Outreach