Academic Program for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry
With a B.S. degree in forestry from Michigan State University, you can combine your interest in biology, ecology, environmental science, politics, economics, sociology, engineering, communications, or electronic technology in a rewarding career. As a professional forester you will be concerned with conserving urban trees and wild land environments, ensuring forests and wood products for the future, and pushing back the frontiers of science.
Student pursuing a B.S. degree in forestry must satisfy core requirements established by the university, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Department of Forestry. In addition, forestry students must chose one of five concentrations—Forest Conservation and Environmental Studies, Forest Resource Management, Forest Sciences, Urban and Community Forestry, and Wood Products Manufacturing and Marketing—and then complete the requirements of that concentration.
Core requirements
Students must complete the following:
1. University requirements. For bachelor's degrees these are described in the Undergraduate Education section of the MSU Academic Programs catalog (http://www.reg.msu.edu/UCC/AcademicPrograms.asp); 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry. The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Forestry major is met by completing Forestry 464 (see item 3. a. below). Students who are enrolled in the Forestry major leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in the Department of Forestry may complete an alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that consists of the following courses:
- Biological Science 110, or Plant Biology 105 and 106 combined.
- Chemistry 141, 143, and 161. The completion of Chemistry 161 and either Biological Science 110 or Plant Biology 106 satisfies the laboratory requirement. Biological Science 110, or Plant Biology 105 and 106 combined, and Chemistry 141, 143, and 161 may be counted toward both the alternative track and the requirements for the major (see item 3. below). The completion of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources mathematics requirement may also satisfy the University mathematics requirement.
2. College of Agriculture and Natural Resources requirements. For the Bachelor of Science degree certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate. The completion of Mathematics 116, 124, or 132 satisfies the College's mathematics requirement.
3. Forestry major core requirements:
| CREDITS | 61 total |
| (1) All of the following courses: (61) | |
| CEM 141 General Chemistry | 4 |
| CEM 143 Survey of Organic Chemistry | 4 |
| CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| COM 100 Human Communication | 3 |
| CSS 210 Fundamentals of Soil and Landscape Science | 3 |
| EC 202 Introduction to Macroeconomics | 3 |
| FOR 202 Introduction to Forestry | 3 |
| FOR 204 Forest Vegetation | 4 |
| FOR 304 Wood Technology | 4 |
| FOR 306 Forest Biometry | 4 |
| FOR 330 Social Applications in Forestry | 2 |
| FOR 404 Forest and Agricultural Ecology | 3 |
| FOR 404L Forest and Agricultural Ecology Laboratory | 1 |
| FOR 406 Silviculture | 4 |
| FOR 420 Forestry Field Studies | 3 |
| FOR 464 Forest Resource Economics (W) | 3 |
| GEO 221 Introduction to Geographic Information | 3 |
| MTH 116 College Algebra and Trigonometry | 5 |
| PLB 105 Plant Biology | 3 |
| PLB 106 Plant Biology Laboratory | 1 |
4. Concentration requirements:
| CREDITS | 19 to 30 total |
| See specific concentration | |
| Forest Resource Management | |
| Wood Products Manufacturing & Marketing | |
| Urban and Community Forestry | |
| Forest Conservation and Environmental Studies | |
| Forest Science |