Providing students with a solid understanding of ecology, this major prepares students to manage and develop forest areas for economic, recreational, and ecological purposes. Forest Resources and Conservation students study natural resource management and analysis, soil and water sciences, plant identification, law and policy, fire management, and natural resource economics. Prepares students to address the many and varied management issues associated with water resources, including wetlands, soils, policy, and water quality.
The Forest Resources and Conservation major prepares students to sustainably manage forests to meet some combination of ecological, economic, and social/recreational objectives. Graduates are commonly employed in managing public or private land, in areas such as timber management, habitat restoration, outdoor recreation management, environmental law and policy, and similar.
Coursework is diverse, with an emphasis on field experiences which give students hands-on exposure to topics in ecology and biology, economics, administration and planning, and the use of various tools and techniques to manage forests to meet society's needs. Students have the option to complete a certificate in Fire Ecology and Management, Urban Forestry, Recreation Resource Management, or Environmental Policy, Law, and Regulation. This major is accredited by the Society of American Foresters.