Renewable Materials is a multidisciplinary program that prepares students to work with renewable, plant-based materials to solve challenging world problems. Renewable materials such as wood, bamboo, canes, and agricultural fibers are examined to understand their characteristics and how to make useful products. Students gain broad perspectives on current issues associated with the sustainable utilization of renewable materials, including global trade, business innovation, energy production, and environmental impacts.
The management and marketing option provides students with the skills to manage organizations or devise new marketing strategies to compete in the global wood products industry.
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 90 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 |
| MTH95 | Intermediate Algebra | 4 |
| WR90R | Academic Literacy (or placement in higher writing course) | 4 |
Program Guide
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CHEM221 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| F111 | Introduction to Forestry | 4 |
| WR121 | English Composition | 3 |
| Required Program Course 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| CHEM222 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| CIS125S | Spreadsheet Applications | 3 |
| F250 | Forest Biology | 4 |
| Specific Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SP111 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| WR227 | Report Writing | 3 |
| PE231 | Wellness for Life | 3 |
| Required Program Course 1 | 5 | |
| Specific Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MTH111 | College Algebra | 4 |
| BA250 | Small Business Management Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| CIS125P | Presentation Applications Microsoft Powerpoint | 1 |
| ECON201 | Microeconomics | 4 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Winter | ||
| BA212 | Principles of Accounting II | 4 |
| ECON202 | Macroeconomics | 4 |
| MTH241 or MTH251 |
Calculus for Bus and Soc Science I or Calculus I Differential Calculus |
4 |
| F180 or NR180 |
Internship: Forestry or Internship: Natural Resources |
3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BA213 | Principles of Accounting III Managerial Accounting | 4 |
| BA230 | Business Law | 4 |
| CIS125IL | Computer Applications: Illustrator | 3 |
| F241 | Dendrology | 5 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 90 | |
Footnotes
| 1 | Any Forestry (F) or Natural Resources (NR) course, that are not already required for the degree. |
| 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 | 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:
- Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of wood and similar renewable materials that make them challenging to utilize as industrial and building materials.
- Demonstrate command of renewable material moisture content and specific gravity calculations.
- Demonstrate ability to find, compile, analyze, and communicate technical communication.
- Demonstrate familiarity with the diverse complexity of the Renewable Materials industry, and the challenges it faces with balancing business and environmental goals.
- Demonstrate a combination of technical and business acumen that allows effective management of process and people.
- Demonstrate ability to creatively self-direct learning outcomes within the classroom environment and/or through independent undergraduate research.
- Gain information and knowledge to become a better global citizen.