Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Forestry
Nature of the Program
The goal of sustainable forestry is to balance the demand for forest products with the protection of other forest-derived benefits (ecosystem services) like water provisioning and quality, carbon sequestration, soil stability, wildlife habitat, and recreation. The forest resources and conservation curriculum provides scientific background and technical skills needed by professionals who conserve and sustainably manage forests or create innovative wood-based products.
As the third most forested state in the U.S., West Virginia's forests are your outdoor classroom. Ample field experience is provided through outdoor laboratories, a summer field practice, or internships.
In addition to the core curriculum, students are required to select one Area of Emphasis (AoE) to develop competence in a specialized area:
- Environmental Conservation
- Forest Management
- Sustainable Biomaterials
With 5–6 free elective courses as part of the curriculum and, if desired, by adding a minor in Arboriculture, Conservation Ecology, and Sustainable Timber Construction, or a certificate in River Conservation and Management, students can tailor their experience to stand out in the job market.
The Forest Management AoE is accredited by the Society of American Foresters and the Sustainable Biomaterials AoE is accredited by the Society of Wood Science & Technology. This means that there is a nationwide recognition of the quality of the curriculum.
Special Opportunities
Outside the classroom, students can strengthen their expertise and expand their network through participating in student organizations like the Society of American Foresters, Forestry Club, Ecology Club, Forest Products Society, Tree Climbing Club, and Women in Natural Resources.
Students can also build connections through the Forestry and Natural Resources Alumni Association and tap into its exclusive scholarships totaling $46,000 annually. For students interested in urban tree care, an additional $8,000 in arboriculture scholarships are awarded each year.
Career Opportunities
Graduates go on to build successful careers across a diverse range of sectors, including private companies, consulting firms, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The knowledge and skills students gain in our program are highly sought after, opening doors to a variety of career paths, from forest management and conservation to the forest and wood industries, as well as tree care and utility management.
Students who specialize in Forest Management might manage forest resources for sustainable use, conduct ecological assessments, plan timber harvests, monitor wildlife habitats, and implement fire prevention strategies on public or private land.
In an urban setting, foresters increase urban canopy coverage, promote urban ecosystem services, maintain healthy trees, or minimize the impacts of development. Graduates employed by tree care companies climb and prune trees, plant trees, and care for urban tree health by diagnosing and treating pests and disease.
Students who specialize in Environmental Conservation often work on protecting and restoring forest ecosystems, rivers and watersheds, promoting biodiversity, and addressing issues such as deforestation, climate change, and invasive species. Typical activities include conducting field research, developing conservation plans, managing protected areas, engaging in public education, and supporting sustainable land-use practices to maintain healthy and resilient forests.
For students who specialize in Sustainable Biomaterials, jobs span the spectrum from standing timber through manufacture of products to their marketing, distribution, and end use. Graduates may work in sawmills as production managers or as timber procurement foresters, buying timber and planning harvesting operations in accordance with sound forest management and environmental practices. They may also gain employment as quality assurance managers, production supervisors, and process engineers for companies that manufacture furniture, cabinets, state-of-the-art engineered wood products, renewable construction and bioproducts.
Additionally, many graduates choose to further their education by pursuing a master’s degree in forestry, expanding their opportunities for leadership roles in the field or for working at research institutions.
Admissions for 2025-2026
- First-time freshmen are admitted directly into the forest resources and conservation major.
- Students transferring from another major within WVU are directly admitted to the forest resources and conservation major if they are in good academic standing (2.00 overall GPA).
- Students transferring from another institution are directly admitted to the forest resources and conservation major if they are in good academic standing (2.00 overall GPA).
Major Code: 1709
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 39 | |
| Davis College Requirements | 38 | |
| Major Requirements | 43 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding GEF Requirements (1, 4, 5, 6, and 7) | 18 | |
| ANRD 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Electives | 20 | |
| Total Hours | 39 | |
Davis College Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 101 & 101L | General Biology 1 and General Biology 1 Laboratory (GEF 2) | 4 |
| or BIOL 115 & 115L | Principles of Biology and Principles of Biology Laboratory | |
| CHEM 111 & 111L | Survey of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry 1 and Survey of Chemistry 1 Laboratory (GEF 8) | 4 |
| or CHEM 115 & 115L | Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 Laboratory | |
| MATH 124 | Algebra with Applications (GEF 3) | 3 |
| STAT 211 | Elementary Statistical Inference (GEF 8) | 3 |
| FNRS 140 | West Virginia's Natural Resources (GEF 8; Minimum grade of C-) | 3 |
| FNRS 210 | Sustainable Utilization of Biomaterials (Minimum grade of C-) | 3 |
| FNRS 205 & 205L | Dendrology and Dendrology Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | 3 |
| FNRS 206L | Winter Dendrology Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | 1 |
| FNRS 212 & 212L | Forest Ecology and Forest Ecology Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| FNRS 222 & 222L | Forest Mensuration and Forest Mensuration Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| FNRS 223 & 223L | Anatomy of Renewable Biomaterials and Wood Anatomy and Structure Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | 3 |
| FNRS 240 & 240L | Introduction to Computing in Natural Resources and Introduction to Computing in Natural Resources Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | 3 |
| or PHYS 105 & 105L | Conceptual Physics and Conceptual Physics Laboratory | |
| Total Hours | 38 | |
Forest Resources and Conservation Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FNRS 301L | Forest Resources & Conservation Summer Practicum (Minimum grade of C-) | 3 |
| or FNRS 491 | Professional Field Experience | |
| FNRS 311 & 311L | Silvicultural Systems and Silvicultural Systems Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| FNRS 326 | Remote Sensing of Environment (Minimum grade of C-) | 3 |
| FNRS 330 & 330L | Principles of Forestry Economics and Principles of Forestry Economics Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| FNRS 344 | River Conservation & Management (Minimum grade of C-) | 3 |
| FNRS 421 | Renewable Resources Policy and Governance (Minimum grade of C-) | 3 |
| FNRS 438 | Human Dimensions Natural Resource Management (Minimum grade of C-) | 3 |
| FNRS 488 | Forest Strategic Planning (Minimum grade of C-) | 3 |
| Required Area of Emphasis | 17-21 | |
Environmental Conservation (17 Hours) | ||
Forest Management (17 Hours) | ||
Sustainable Biomaterials (21 Hours) | ||
| Total Hours | 43 | |
Areas of Emphasis
Environmental Conservation Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum grade of C- is required in AOE coursework. | ||
| ESWS 202 & 202L | Principles of Soil Science and Principles of Soil Science Laboratory | 4 |
| ENTO 470 | Forest Pest Management | 4 |
| or PPTH 470 & 470L | Forest Pest Management and Forest Pest Management Laboratory | |
| FNRS 430 | Forest Environmental Conservation | 3 |
| Environmental Conservation Electives | 6 | |
| Reclamation of Disturbed Soils | ||
| Principles of Water Resources | ||
| Fire Ecology | ||
| Vegetation of West Virginia | ||
| Professional Field Experience | ||
| Tree Ecophysiology | ||
| Total Hours | 17 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| FNRS 140 (GEF 8) | 3 | FNRS 210 | 3 | ||
| ANRD 191 | 1 | FNRS 212 & 212L | 4 | ||
| Select one of the following (GEF 2): | 4 | ARE 150 or ECON 201 (Suggested GEF 4) | 3 | ||
| GEF 6 | 3 | ||||
| General Elective | 3 | ||||
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ||||
| MATH 124 (GEF 3) | 3 | ||||
| 14 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| FNRS 205 & 205L | 3 | FNRS 222 & 222L | 4 | FNRS 301L | 3 |
| Select one of the following (GEF 8): | 4 | ESWS 202 & 202L | 4 | ||
| FNRS 240 & 240L | 3 | ||||
| General Elective | 3 | ||||
| STAT 211 (GEF 8) | 3 | ||||
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | ||||
| 13 | 14 | 3 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| FNRS 311 & 311L | 4 | FNRS 330 & 330L | 4 | ||
| FNRS 344 | 3 | FNRS 326 | 3 | ||
| FNRS 223 & 223L | 3 | WMAN 150 (Suggested GEF 7) | 3 | ||
| COMM 104 (Suggested General Elective) | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 | ||
| AOE Elective | 3 | General Electives | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| FNRS 421 | 3 | FNRS 488 | 3 | ||
| FNRS 438 | 3 | FNRS 206L | 1 | ||
| FNRS 430 | 3 | ENTO 470 or PPTH 470 and PPTH 470L | 4 | ||
| AOE Elective | 3 | General Electives | 5 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 13 | ||||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||||
Forest Management Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum grade of C- is required in AOE coursework. | ||
| ESWS 202 & 202L | Principles of Soil Science and Principles of Soil Science Laboratory | 4 |
| ENTO 470 | Forest Pest Management | 4 |
| or PPTH 470 & 470L | Forest Pest Management and Forest Pest Management Laboratory | |
| FNRS 422 & 422L | Forest Operations and Harvesting Forest Products Laboratory | 3 |
| FNRS 433 | Forest Management | 3 |
| Forest Management Electives | 3 | |
| Wood Grading and Procurement and Wood Grading and Procurement Laboratory | ||
| Forest Fire Protection | ||
| Fire Ecology | ||
| Natural Resource Entrepreneurship | ||
| Arboriculture-Urban Tree Care | ||
| Sugarbush Management and Maple Syrup Production and Sugarbush Management and Maple Syrup Production Laboratory | ||
| Sustainable Urban Forests | ||
| Global Forest Resources | ||
| Professional Field Experience | ||
| Tree Ecophysiology | ||
| Total Hours | 17 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| FNRS 140 (GEF 8) | 3 | FNRS 210 | 3 | ||
| FNRS 191 | 1 | FNRS 212 & 212L | 4 | ||
| Select one of the following (GEF 2): | 4 | ARE 150 or ECON 201 (Suggested GEF 4) | 3 | ||
| GEF 6 | 3 | ||||
| General Elective | 3 | ||||
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ||||
| MATH 124 (GEF 3) | 3 | ||||
| 14 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| FNRS 205 & 205L | 3 | FNRS 222 & 222L | 4 | FNRS 301L | 3 |
| Select one of the following (GEF 8): | 4 | ESWS 202 & 202L | 4 | ||
| FNRS 240 & 240L | 3 | ||||
| General Elective | 3 | ||||
| STAT 211 (GEF 8) | 3 | ||||
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | ||||
| 13 | 14 | 3 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| FNRS 311 & 311L | 4 | FNRS 330 & 330L | 4 | ||
| FNRS 344 | 3 | FNRS 326 | 3 | ||
| FNRS 223 & 223L | 3 | WMAN 150 (Suggested GEF 7) | 3 | ||
| COMM 104 (Suggetsed General Elective) | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 | ||
| AOE Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| FNRS 421 | 3 | FNRS 488 | 3 | ||
| FNRS 438 | 3 | FNRS 206L | 1 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | General Electives | 5 | ||
| FNRS 433 | 3 | ENTO 470 | 4 | ||
| FNRS 422 & 422L | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 13 | ||||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||||
Sustainable Biomaterials Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum grade of C- is required in AOE coursework. | ||
| FNRS 333 | Wood Machining | 3 |
| FNRS 340 | Physical Properties of Wood | 3 |
| FNRS 341 | Wood Mechanics | 3 |
| FNRS 465 | Wood-Based Composite Materials | 3 |
| FNRS 362 & 362L | Decision Making and Quality Management and Forest Product Decision-Making Laboratory | 3 |
| Sustainable Biomaterials Electives | 6 | |
| Wood Grading and Procurement and Wood Grading and Procurement Laboratory | ||
| Residential Building Materials | ||
| Sustainable Construction | ||
| Wood Adhesion and Finishing and Wood Adhesion and Finishing Laboratory | ||
| Forest Products Protection and Forest Products Protection Laboratory | ||
| Wood Chemistry and Wood Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Bio-based Energy Systems | ||
| Total Hours | 21 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| FNRS 140 | 3 | FNRS 210 | 3 | ||
| ANRD 191 | 1 | FNRS 212 & 212L | 4 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | ARE 150 or ECON 201 | 3 | ||
| GEF 6 | 3 | ||||
| General Elective | 3 | ||||
| ENGL 101 | 3 | ||||
| MATH 124 | 3 | ||||
| 14 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| FNRS 205 & 205L | 3 | FNRS 222 & 222L | 4 | FNRS 491 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | PHYS 105 & 105L | 4 | ||
| FNRS 100 | 3 | ||||
| General Elective | 3 | ||||
| STAT 211 | 3 | ||||
| ENGL 102 | 3 | ||||
| 13 | 14 | 3 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| FNRS 311 & 311L | 4 | FNRS 330 & 330L | 4 | ||
| FNRS 344 | 3 | FNRS 326 | 3 | ||
| FNRS 223 | 3 | Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||||
AOE Elective | AOE Elective | 3 | |||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| FNRS 421 | 3 | FNRS 488 | 3 | ||
| FNRS 438 | 3 | FNRS 206L | 1 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | General Electives | 6 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
AOE Elective | |||||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 13 | ||||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||||
Major Learning Outcomes
Forest Resources and Conservation
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Quantify forest resources and ecosystem services.
- Grow and restore Appalachian hardwood forest to supply quality wood while protecting ecosystem integrity.
- Create strategic forest or wood utilization plans that are based on environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
- Critically reflect on knowledge and skills from across the curriculum and effectively communicate it to the public and stakeholders in forestry.