The Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management carries the Society of American Foresters’ accreditation of Professional Foresters. Approximately 60 undergraduate students are currently enrolled in the program and over a dozen faculty work directly with students in classes, field labs, and college activities.

The Forest Management profession requires an understanding of natural resource systems and the management of forest resources for multiple uses. The core curriculum is a broad-based education which includes basic courses in the biological, physical, social sciences, as well as professional courses and 6 months of work experience designed to prepare students to manage forest resources. Strength in a specific area is obtained by selecting an option in one of the following areas and serves to fulfill the 180 credits for graduation:

• Forest Ecosystem Science
• Forest Environmental Consultation
• Human-Forest Interactions
• International Forestry
• Plantation Silviculture
• Restoration of Forest Landscapes
• Wildland Fire Management

Graduates are employed by private and public organizations. The private sector includes the forest timber and products industry, forestry consulting firms, environmental organizations, and self-employment. Public employers include federal, state, and local government agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Peace Corps, and State Departments of Forestry and Natural Resources. Successful Forest Managers must communicate with others and make decisions based on the biological processes of the forest, as well as the social and economic forces that influence forest policies.

All students pursuing the BS in Forest Management are required to earn a grade of “C-” or better in the required courses taught within the College of Forestry or their approved substitutes taught elsewhere.

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The Bachelor of Science in Forest Operations Management will educate society-ready natural resource professionals with strengths in forest operations, forest management, and business management to support the needs of the forestry sector in Oregon. Currently, we anticipate the greatest demand for these graduates to be from the forest industry and the contractors that support operations on industrial and state agency forestlands where timber production is a land management objective. For example, the graduates will be well-prepared to work in the forest products industry as entry-level managers of forest operations projects for service firms such as logging or silvicultural contractors, or be employed directly as company or agency representatives that supervise this growing contracting work force. Additionally, graduates will have the business background that will allow them to add value to the growing new class of forest landowners in Oregon - the timberland investment management organizations. We anticipate relatively little demand for these graduates from the federal land management agencies at the present time because of non-production land management objectives, but some projections call for an emerging shift in objectives that could trigger demand for FOM graduates within the decade.

Those who complete this program will be well prepared to continue on to graduate school in a variety of disciplines that range from forestry to business. Graduates will have completed the foundational coursework required to apply for admission into an MBA graduate program. Completion of this graduate degree is a common approach used to enhance career options in the private forestry sector.

To achieve program goals, the curriculum includes a traditional forestry foundation with courses in forest biology, economics, management and operations. Prescribed requirements for the Business Minor enhance students’ skills in accounting, finance, business law, and organizational behavior. The curriculum includes a business elective that can be applied to a marketing class, which completes the typical set of required courses needed to apply for admission into an MBA degree program, or to take a family business management course for those interested in managing a family business after graduation.

The FOM degree program will conclude with two quarter-long capstone courses in which students will apply their forestry and business knowledge to solve a large integrated forest operations problem.

For more information please refer to the Forest Operations Management Undergraduate Advising Guide (pdf).

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