Concentration in Wood Products
Manufacturing and Marketing

Wood—nature’s most versatile raw material—has been used by people for time immemorial. But the rapidly changing economic needs of our global society put increasing pressures on the construction manufacturing industry to (i) provide environmentally accepted wood products to satisfy human needs while ensuring the sustainability of forest ecosystems; (ii) use environmentally friendly processes and technologies to minimize disturbance of the environment while promoting efficient manufacturing; and (iii) remain competitive in the global marketplace.  Understanding of wood properties, manufacturing processes, and marketing strategies is paramount to achieving these goals.

The Wood Products Manufacturing and Marketing concentration is designed to fulfill the need for well-educated, highly trained, and dedicated professionals with both technical and managerial skills in forest products. The curriculum is designed to give you an understanding of wood manufacturing processes, wood formation and properties, wood gluing, wood preservation, and engineered wood composites in parallel with training in product marketing, sales, distribution and accounting.  Graduates of the curriculum will find well paid and rewarding employment and will be poised to become leaders in the forest products industry. Job titles may include market analyst, manufacturing engineer, purchasing manager, technical field representative, quality assurance supervisor, sales and distribution manager, research scientist, product engineer, environmental engineer, process improvement manager, plant manager, or international sales representative. 
Each year the Department of Forestry awards $40,000 to $60,000 in scholarships to students who have achieved academic excellence in their studies. Several of these scholarships are specifically targeted for students in the Wood Products Manufacturing and Marketing concentration.  Newly enrolled students in the department also may qualify for an up-front recruiting scholarship. A paid work study program is available in the department to offer students hands-on experience in a forest products field during their studies. In addition, students can gain pre-professional employment experience through paid, career-related summer jobs or internships in the forest products industry or government agencies.

Do you know that wood-based building materials represent long-term carbon storage, which helps mitigate global warming?

Requirements for a concentration in
Wood Products Manufacturing and Marketing
(beyond university, college, and department core requirements)