Forestry **Major Not Offered At UNA**
What can I do with this major?
Fieldwork
Area
- Inventory
- Harvest Planning
- Reforestation
- Firefighting
- Forest Health
- Wildlife Management
- Recreational Design/Planning
Employer
- State and federal government agencies:
- USDA Forest Service
- Local, state, and national parks
- Reserves
- State extension services
- State divisions of forestry
- Peace Corps
- Universities
- Private tree care/landscaping companies
- Utility companies
- Consulting firms
- Pulp and paper manufacturers
- Timber companies
- International:
- World Bank
- United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization
- Non-governmental organizations, e.g. The Nature Conservancy
Information / Strategies
- Maintain knowledge of current environmental issues including policy, conservation, and industry trends.
- Be prepared to work with minimal supervision, outdoors, in all types of weather conditions.
- Develop physical stamina, be able to tolerate extensive walking, and be willing to relocate to find employment.
- Maintain up-to-date computer skills including desktop publishing and specialized tools used in fieldwork.
- Develop strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Learn a foreign language to increase marketability for international employment.
- Participate in related clubs and organizations like The Society of American Foresters or The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council to build contacts and cultivate academic related interests.
- Gain knowledge of the social and cultural factors that affect forest management in areas of interest.
- Take courses in communications, horticulture, landscape architecture, entomology, pathology, urban affairs and planning to increase marketability in urban forestry.
- Seek volunteer or paid experiences in forestry or conservation.
- Obtain Certified Forester credential through the Society of American Foresters.
- Seek forester certification/registration at the state level if applicable.
- Become familiar with the federal job application process for government employment.
- Seek management experience to advance e.g. junior forester to forest manager.
Forest Products Industry
Area
- Forest Engineering
- Production
- Wood Science/Utilization
- Research
- Sales
- Marketing
- Management
- Public Relations
Employer
- State and federal government agencies:
- Corps of Engineers
- Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
- National and state parks
- State extension services
- Resource agencies
- Universities
- Pulp and paper manufacturers
- Timber companies
- Research groups
- Consulting firms
Information / Strategies
- Maintain knowledge of current environmental issues including policy, conservation, and industry trends.
- Participate in related clubs and organizations to build contacts and cultivate academic related interests.
- Develop strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Acquire strong background in physical sciences such as physics or chemistry and wood science.
- Obtain dual degrees in civil engineering and forestry to enter as a forest engineer.
- Seek experience in sales, marketing, management, or administration to increase marketability in operations.
- Earn a graduate degree for advanced opportunities in research or management.
- Plan to earn Ph.D. for employment as a professor.
- Obtain paid or volunteer experiences in the wood products industry.
- Become familiar with the federal job application process for government employment.
Education and Communication
Area
- Teaching
- Research
- Public Relations
- Environmental Policy/Law
Employer
- Local, state, and federal government agencies:
- City, state, and national parks
- State extension services
- Public schools
- Nature centers
- Wildlife refuges
- Youth camps
- Environmental education centers
- Universities
- Vocational schools
- Private schools
- Timber companies
- Pulp and paper manufacturers
Information / Strategies
- Maintain knowledge of current environmental issues including policy and conservation.
- Develop strong communication skills, particularly public speaking and group presentation skills.
- Join relevant campus organizations and seek leadership positions.
- Understand the resources and populace of an area of interest.
- Earn a minor in journalism, broadcasting, media relations, and/or education to increase marketability.
- Seek paid or volunteer experiences in a local park, nature camp, or educational center.
- Obtain teacher certification to secure positions in public education.
- Obtain advanced degree to teach at the post-secondary level.
- Become familiar with the federal job application process for government employment.
- Plan to earn law degree to advance in policy or environmental law.
Management
Area
- Resource Recreation
- Range/Wildland Management
- Forest Management
Employer
- State and federal government agencies:
- National and state parks
- USDA Forest Service
- Corps of Engineers
- Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
- Bureau of Land Management
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Soil Conservation Service
- Department of Defense
- State extension services
- Fish and Wildlife Service
- Botanical/zoological gardens
- Historical sites
- Land management companies
- Land appraisers
- Livestock ranches
- Private consulting services
- Conservation agencies
- Universities
Information / Strategies
- Maintain knowledge of current environmental issues including policy, conservation, and industry trends.
- Develop strong communication skills including public speaking, group presentation, and mediation.
- Maintain up-to-date computer skills including desktop publishing and specialized tools used in fieldwork.
- Take courses in outdoor recreation, park administration, or outdoor interpretation.
- Gain knowledge of the sports/leisure, logging/mining activities and wildlife of regions of interest.
- Acquire strong knowledge of ecology, fiscal procedures, program design, government and social trends.
- Join student organizations such as Society of American Foresters and Wildlife and Fisheries Student Chapter to network and cultivate academic interests.
- Be prepared to work with minimal supervision, outdoors, in all types of weather conditions.
- Develop physical stamina and be able to tolerate extensive walking, and be willing to relocate to find employment.
- Obtain professional certification from The Society for Range Management.
- Obtain paid or volunteer experiences in a recreational setting such as a national park or forest.
- Earn PhD. to obtain employment as a professor.
General Information and Strategies
- For entry-level positions, a bachelor’s degree is sufficient. Some federal and private agency work, consulting positions, and especially research positions require a graduate degree.
- Obtain volunteer, part-time, summer, internship, or co-op experiences in field of interest.
- Develop strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Maintain up-to-date computer skills and knowledge of specialized tools used in fieldwork.
- Join a student club, a student professional association, or a local/state/national forestry association to network and cultivate related academic interests.
- Plan informational interviews or job shadowing opportunities to make contacts in government and industry and to learn more about specific fields.
- Stay current on news in forestry including policy issues, industry trends, and the job market by reading periodicals such as the Journal of Forestry or Forestry Industries.
- Plan to relocate to national parks, forests, and cities with demand for foresters.
- Be prepared to work under minimal supervision. Many foresters advance from fieldwork to administrative positions.
- Teacher certification is required for public education and varies by state.
- Contact the Society of American Foresters for updates to the national Certified Forester credential and other similar certifications.
- Additional forester certification can be obtained at the state level and varies by state.