Forestry & Natural Resources
Managing forests, wildlife, and natural resources sustainably.
Forestry and natural resources studies how to manage forests, wildlife habitats, and natural resources sustainably, combining ecology and biology with land management practice. It's a hands-on field with significant time spent outdoors in forests and natural areas.
Field courses and practicums are central, learning to measure forest stands, assess wildlife habitat, and apply management techniques in real forested or natural areas, often at a university-managed forest or field station.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Forest Ecology
- ✓Dendrology (tree identification)
- ✓Forest Measurements & Inventory
- ✓Wildlife Management
- ✓Silviculture
- ✓GIS for Natural Resources
- ✓Natural Resource Policy
- ✓Field Practicum
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Forest Ecology
- +General education requirement
- ✓Dendrology (tree identification)
- +General education requirement
- ✓Forest Measurements & Inventory
- +General education requirement
- ✓Wildlife Management
- +Free elective
- ✓Silviculture
- +Free elective
- ✓GIS for Natural Resources
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Natural Resource Policy
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Field Practicum
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Loves the outdoors and wants a career centered on it
- ★Interested in conservation and sustainable resource management
- ★Comfortable with physically demanding fieldwork
- ★Enjoys applying science to practical land management decisions
Common minors & double-major pairings
Environmental Science · GIS · Public Policy
Roles this major could lead to
Factual, day-to-day descriptions from our Career Role Encyclopedia, not a guarantee this major leads to any specific job.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Forestry & Natural Resources major?
Managing forests, wildlife, and natural resources sustainably.
What courses do Forestry & Natural Resources majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Forest Ecology, Dendrology (tree identification), Forest Measurements & Inventory, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Forestry & Natural Resources program?
Forestry & Natural Resources coursework typically builds skills like Forest and land measurement techniques, Species identification (trees, wildlife), Sustainable land management planning, GIS and spatial data analysis.
Is Forestry & Natural Resources a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Loves the outdoors and wants a career centered on it" or "Interested in conservation and sustainable resource management" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What can you do with a Forestry & Natural Resources degree?
Majors in this field often go on to roles like Forestry & Natural Resources Specialist. See our Career Role Encyclopedia for more, a major shapes what you study, not a guarantee of any specific job.
What other majors pair well with Forestry & Natural Resources?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Environmental Science, GIS, Public Policy.
How is Forestry & Natural Resources different from Environmental Science?
They're related but distinct. Forestry & Natural Resources: Managing forests, wildlife, and natural resources sustainably. Environmental Science: How natural systems work and how human activity affects them. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Forestry & Natural Resources degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
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