School of Forestry

Vision

The School of Forestry is dedicated to developing and disseminating knowledge related to the conservation and management of renewable natural resources and the sustainable use of their products and services through teaching, research, and service activities.

Mission

Committed to the integration of teaching, research, and service, the School of Forestry will provide:

Exceptional educational opportunities with hands-on learning, real-world experience, and state-of-the-art science;
Investigation into problems, issues and understanding of state, regional, national and global importance; and
Transfer, dissemination, and continuing education of solutions of state, regional, national and global issues related to renewable natural resources.

Degree Programs

The School of Forestry offers two degree programs: the Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BSF), with concentrations in Forest Management and Wildlife Habitat Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information Science (BS) with a concentration in Natural Resources. The Forest Management concentration is designed for students who desire scientific knowledge of conservation of forests, such as timber inventory, site productivity, resource protection, and many other activities carried out in the management of forest resources. The Wildlife Habitat Management concentration is designed for students who desire scientific knowledge about the management of wildlife and emphasizes the life history, habitat relationships, and habitat management of wildlife species and communities. The Geographic Information Science (GISc) curriculum is designed for students interested in understanding, analyzing, and applying the spatial relationship among human and physical features (e.g., social and economic impact of natural disasters).

Jobs for graduates of the two curricula are found in all sectors of the economy including business, communication, defense, education, engineering, Federal, state, and local government, health and human services, natural resources, transportation, and many others.

Students are encouraged to complete at least one internship (on-the-job experience) during their course of study. Students are required to maintain a minimum grade of “C” on all individual professional courses and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on all courses taken. Professional courses for each of the degree programs are as follows: Forestry - Forestry, Wildlife Habitat Management, Biology, Geographic Information Science prefixes; Geographic Information Science - Geographic Information Science prefixes and any course listed as a Concentration Elective or Other Program Requirement.

The educational program in Forestry leading to the professional degree of BSF is accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) recognizes SAF as the specialized accrediting body for forestry and natural resources education in the United States and Canada.

Field Session

Successful completion of the Forestry Summer Field Session during the junior year is a prerequisite for senior standing for Forestry majors, but not for Geographic Information Science majors. Students who have completed all prerequisites, including all 100 level courses, FOR 201 , FOR 300 , FOR 301 (or BISC 313 /ENSC 313 ), FOR 302 , FOR 306 , GISC 250 , MATH 212 , and have at least an overall “C” average are eligible to enroll. Field Session students are also required to meet the conditions as outlined in the Forestry Summer Field Session Academic and Operating Policies document which is available from the School of Forestry upon request.

Field Trips

Throughout the Forestry program, field trips are made to forest production areas, wood-using plants, and wildlife management areas. These enable students to observe forestry, wildlife management, research, and wood-using activities of private companies and government agencies. Many of the important forest types and management activities, as well as a wide variety of wood-using industries, are located near campus.

Expenses

Field trips cannot always be arranged within the scheduled laboratory hours. In some cases, students must leave the campus earlier and return later than the published class schedule. The payment for meals and lodging when overnight trips are necessary is the responsibility of the individual student. This includes the field session. In addition to regular expenses, a special fee is charged each student who attends the field sessions.

Each student registering for any Forestry, Geographic Information Science, or Biological Sciences course involving field laboratory work should have, for self-protection, an accident insurance policy. Policies are available during registration to all students for a reasonable cost.

A number of student assistants are employed by the School each year. This enables the students to work part-time to defray expenses while attending school.

Transfer Credit

Students may complete 62 semester hours of the Forestry or Geographic Information Science major at regionally accredited institutions. However, transfer credit will only be accepted for courses completed with a “C” or better grade and must be approved during the student’s first quarter at Tech.

The 300- and 400-level Forestry professional courses must be completed at Louisiana Tech University. Students who are considering transfer to the School of Forestry should contact the Director’s Office, School of Forestry, prior to enrollment at other institutions.

Programs

Bachelor Degree Programs

Minor