Forest engineering prepares graduates to plan and implement complex forestry and natural resource operations that help meet global demands for wood products while sustaining water, habitat, and other forest resources.
Check out the Forestry/Natural Resources program website!
The forestry field is projected to have many career opportunities coming up in the next decade as many forestry and natural resources professionals retire in the next few years. Students who enjoy working outdoors and want to have a career that focuses on managing our valuable forest lands to conserve and protect resources as well as produce valuable products for society should consider this degree.
Graduation Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 96 credit hours with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. All courses must be completed with a grade of 'C' or better. Twenty-four (24) credits must be completed at Southwestern before the AS degree is awarded.
Courses that are developmental in nature, (designed to prepare students for college transfer courses), are not applicable to this degree.
Complete the graduation application process one term prior to the term of completion (e.g., spring term graduates must apply during winter term).
Pre-Program Courses
Students are required to take the following courses prior to the program courses, depending on students' college placement information. See advisor for details.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIS90 | Computer Basics | 2 |
| WR90R | Academic Literacy (or placement in higher writing course) | 4 |
| MTH95 | Intermediate Algebra | 4 |
Program Guide
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENV235 | Introduction to Soil Science | 4 |
| F111 | Introduction to Forestry | 4 |
| MTH251 | Calculus I Differential Calculus | 4 |
| PH211 | General Physics w/Calculus I | 5 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Winter | ||
| F222A | Elementary Forest Surveying | 4 |
| F250 | Forest Biology | 4 |
| MTH252 | Calculus II Integral Calculus | 4 |
| PH212 | General Physics w/Calculus II | 5 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| F241 | Dendrology | 5 |
| MTH243 | Intro to Probability and Statistics Statistics | 4 |
| PE231 | Wellness for Life | 3 |
| Specific Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM221 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| GEOG265 | Intro to Geographical Info Systems | 3 |
| ENGR211 | Statics | 3 |
| MTH254 | Vector Calculus I | 4 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| ENGR212 | Dynamics | 3 |
| MTH256 | Differential Equations | 4 |
| SP111 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| WR121 | English Composition | 3 |
| Specific Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECON201 | Microeconomics | 4 |
| ENGR213 | Strength of Materials | 3 |
| WR227 | Report Writing | 3 |
| Specific Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Specific Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 96 | |
Footnotes
| 1 | Western Culture - Specific Elective options: SOC206 Social Problems and Issues, HST201 History of the United States, HST202 History of the United States OR HST203 History of the United States. |
| 2 | Literature and the Arts - Specific Elective options: ENG104 Introduction to Literature Fiction, ENG105 Introduction to Literature Drama, ENG106 Introduction to Literature Poetry, ENG107 World Literature, ENG107H World Literature w/Honors, ENG108 World Literature, ENG201 Shakespeare, ENG204 Survey of English Literature, ENG205 Survey of English Literature, ENG206 Survey of English Literature, MUS201 Intro to Music and its Literature, ART101 Art Appreciation, ART204 History of Western Art: Introduction to Art History, ART205 History of Western Art: Introduction to Art History, or ART206 History of Western Art: Introduction to Art History. |
| 3 | Cultural Diversity - Specific Elective options: ANTH230 Native North Americans: Oregon, ANTH231 Native North Americans: PNW, ANTH232 Native North Americans, or HST104 History of the Middle East. |
| 4 | Western Culture - Specific Elective options: PHL102 Ethics, MUS201 Intro to Music and its Literature, ENG201 Shakespeare, ENG204 Survey of English Literature, ENG205 Survey of English Literature, ENG206 Survey of English Literature, ART204 History of Western Art: Introduction to Art History, ART205 History of Western Art: Introduction to Art History, or ART206 History of Western Art: Introduction to Art History. |
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- Use techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
- Develop engineered forest operations that achieve silvicultural objectives
- Develop engineered forest operations that appropriately protect soil and water resources.
- Survey and measure land and forest resources so that the engineering tasks associated with forest operations can be effectively completed.
- Provide designs and manage the forest transportation in a way that meets the needs of forest land management with societally acceptable environmental impact.
- Plan and manage safe, economic and environmentally sound forest operations.
- Incorporate long term forest land management and operational planning in an environmental and economic context into forest operation plans.