Online
Associate Degrees in Forestry
Entry-level education in forestry can lead to an AS degree or Associate of Applied Science degree
in forestry, environmental management sustainability, forestry science, wildlife and natural
resourcesand forest technology. These two-year programs require 60 credit hours of coursework,
divided into general core education classes and undergraduate classes in botany, dendrology,
ecology, surveying, silviculture, harvesting and forest products, diseases and insects and wildlife
management. Admissions requirements typically include completion of a high school diploma. An online
certificate program in forestry at the undergraduate level allows students to focus on a specific
area in forestry. The programs take a year or less to complete because they do not require the
general education classes required in a full associate degree program. Some online undergraduate
certificates in forestry are in specializations such as community forestry, restoration, land use
and urban forestry, water resources, or another related field of study. Certificate programs are
often offered as an interdisciplinary program, drawing on faculty from forestry and ecology fields.
Graduates of the associate or undergraduate certificate programs typically seek entry-level roles in
land management, forestry, or ecology organizations or within the wood products industries.
Online
Forestry Degrees at the Bachelor's Level
The majority of jobs in the forestry or wood products profession require a post-secondary
education, and many of them set the educational bar at the minimum of a four-year degree. Often,
degree programs are interdisciplinary in nature, drawing from numerous sciences. The wide range of
online bachelor's of science degree programs in forestry lead to credentials with unique names,
including:
- BS in Forest Engineering
- BS in Forestry
- BS in Forest Health
- BS in Forest Operations Management
- BS in Forest Resources Management
- BS in Paper Engineering
Online four-year forestry programs usuallyrequire students to accrue 120 credit hours. Half of the
courses may concentrate on general core education studies in the liberal arts and sciences. The
balance of the programs concentrate on studies in courses such as soil science, plant biology,
conservation, restoration ecology, field methods, vegetation, hydrology, microeconomics,
silviculture, wildland fire science, forestry technology and statistical data analysis, geographic
information systems, natural resource policy, and human impact on forests.Degree completion
requirements may also include extensive laboratory or field work, an internship, and senior research
project. Admissions requirements can vary by institution, but in general, BS degree applicants are
expected to hold a high school diploma, to submit all previous secondary or post-secondary
transcripts and scores from college admissions exams such as the SAT.
Online
Graduate Education in Forestry
For professionals wanting to build on their forestry expertise or move into leadership and
educational roles in forestry, there are online graduate programs that lead to master's degrees and
doctorates. Many employed in the industry pursue graduate online professional certification programs
to earn advanced credentials in their specialty in as little as a year.
Online Master's
Degrees in Forestry
Master's degree programs take two years to complete and require 30 credit hours of advanced study.
The programs may involve extensive field work and laboratory research, as well as completion of a
major study. Online master's degrees in forestry are offered with a number of designations,
including:
- Master of Forestry (MF)
- Master of Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology
- Master of Science in Forest Resources (MSFR)
- Master of Natural Resources (MNR)
- Master of Science in Forest Resources and Conservation, Ecological Restoration
- Master of Natural Resource Stewardship (M.N.R.S)
Master's-level curriculum can include studies in forest operations planning, forest resources
economics, pests and diseases, image interpretation and mapping, graduate seminar, and completion of
an advanced research project. Admissions requirements may include an undergraduate degree,
submission of official post-secondary transcripts, and test scores from the Graduate Record
Examinations (GRE).
The Online PhD
Program in Forestry
Online PhD programs take an estimated four years to complete following a bachelor's degree, and may
be focused on research and scholarship in forestry and related areas. These programs are suited for
forestry specialists who wish to teach or conduct research at accredited universities, governmental
organizations, or forest products firms. Doctor of Philosophy degrees include:
- PhD in Forestry
- PhD in Forest Resources
- PhD in Forest Ecosystems and Society
- PhD in Wood Science & Engineering
- PhD in Sustainable Forest Management
Doctoral coursework in forestry may be the most specialized of advanced education in the field.
Studies can be in areas of forest social science, forest management and economics, and ecosystem
science. Other specializations include forest biometrics and geomatics, watershed management,
sustainable engineering, policy, biodeterioration and materials protection, genetics and physiology.
Graduation requirements typically involve research, presentation and defense of a scholarly
dissertation. Students may also be required to take summer internships with conservation, forestry,
or wood products organizations. Admissions requirements to online PhD forestry programs typically
require completion of a bachelor's or master's degree, submission of all official transcripts,
letters of recommendation, and scores from the GRE.
Online graduate certificates in forestry are for professionals who want to add expertise or
distinction to their existing scholarship. Unlike graduate degrees, these advanced certificates
focus on coursework directly applicable to their major field instead of mixing in general courses.
Some online graduate-level certificates include:
- Ecological Restoration Graduate Certificate
- Environmental Education and Communication Graduate Certificate
- Forest Health and Ecological Restoration Certificate
- Graduate Certificate in Forest Carbon Science, Policy and Management
- Graduate Certificate in Urban Forestry
- Graduate Certificate in Wilderness Management
- Natural Resource Policy & Administration Graduate Certificate
- Geospacial Analysis Graduate Certificate
Online certificate programs in forestry set their own admission requirements. Students who are
earning a certificate (not an advanced degree) can apply to forestry schools, colleges and
universities by submitting all post-secondary institutional transcripts. They may also be required
to write an admissions essay. Non-degree students are not usually required to submit GRE test
scores. Students should contact prospective forestry certificate programs to determine the
admissions procedure.
Assessing Potential Online Forestry Degree Programs
There are critical factors to consider when evaluating online forestry degree and certificate
programs. Potential students need to know how well their degree or certificate is accepted in the
academic and professional forestry communities. Since programs can vary in terms of degree
completion requirements and individual courses in the major, students should take painstaking care
to evaluate each online forestry degree program in terms of how the classes map to their career
goals. Are students supported by the school during and after graduation in career and job searches,
resume preparation, and recruitment job fairs? The first assessment should be of the program and
school's accreditation by independent evaluators.
School or Program Accreditation
Accreditation is a voluntary process through which a school, college or university participates in
a non-biased review of academic standards and financial status. Accreditation protects the value of
the student's education or degree and can be instrumental for applying for jobs or enrolling in
additional forestry degree programs. There are six regional organizations endorsed by the U.S.
Department of Education for accrediting entire institutions or individual forestry programs. The
Society of American Foresters (SAF) is a major accreditation agency for evaluating online forestry
schools. Colleges
and schools offering online degree programs may also choose to seek accreditation from the
Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Schools that do not have endorsed accreditation may
not be eligible to offer their students federally backed financial aid packages including loans,
grants and scholarships.
Forestry Student Learning Assistance and Technical Support
In addition to evaluating the curriculum and accreditations, students should examine the online
course delivery systems at prospective schools, colleges, and universities offering forestry degrees
or certifications. Most schools offer online demos that illustrate the course delivery systems
features such as streaming lectures, multimedia presentations, chat sessions, threaded discussions
and research libraries. Are online programs delivered in an asynchronous format, allowing for 24/7
access? Is there a technical support staff available for resolving issues with the technology or
tools?
Student and Graduate Services
Potential enrollees need to know the graduation success rate for students at their target schools,
how long it takes on average to complete the program, and whether grads find work in the field. Are
faculty members active participants in the larger forestry science community? Do they have practical
experience in the field? Does the institution have career counseling and/or job placement resources?
Online students should have identical support resources at their fingertips that are offered to
on-campus students.
