The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Forest Education => Topic started by: SBilodeaux on October 17, 2017, 09:01:42 PM

Title: Career in Forestry/ Degree Requirements
Post by: SBilodeaux on October 17, 2017, 09:01:42 PM
Hey you all!

I am new to this forum, so forgive me if this is not in the right place or something about my post is not right. I am also very new to the forestry scene as well.
For a while now I have been thinking about going into forestry. I am a recent high school graduate and I am currently deciding on getting a bachelor's in Environmental Sciences or Natural Resources at Oregon State University.

My question is then, what would either of those degrees do for me as far as a career in forestry?
What are some career possibilities in general and what are they like?

Thanks for your time and responses
Shaughn B
Title: Re: Career in Forestry/ Degree Requirements
Post by: WanderWonder on October 19, 2017, 05:52:53 PM
Hi Shaughn B,

My name is Jacob Bolton and I attend Southern Illinois University in Carbondale going for a B.S. in Forestry with a focus in hydrology.  Oregon State University is one of the top schools in the nation for Foresters. 

You will find out by going down this path that there are many different jobs that a degree in forestry can find you.  In the summer of my freshman year (this most recent summer) I got a seasonal job as a Survey Aid (GS-02) in the USDA Forest Service out of Colville, WA. 

A good way to get your foot into the door in the federal government is to apply for seasonal wildland firefighting jobs over summer between semesters on usajobs.gov

There are different focuses in forestry, all working together in the long run.  It's a very diverse field.
Conservation, Preservation, Research, Ecology, Hydrology, Wildlife Habitat & Management, Botany, Soils, Mycology, Meteorology, etc.

You could expect jobs in:
The public sector with (but not limited to): USDA Forest Service, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, USDI National Park Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, etc.  State Forest Service agencies, State Department of Natural Resources, etc.

The private sector: Contracted Foresters, non-for-profits, local agencies, etc.

Cool job duties as a forester:
Prescribed burn management, Timber Stand Improvement, Timber Cruising (inventory), Best Management Practices, managing an area for an endangered species, being a sawyer (felling trees), planting trees, firefighting, digging fire line, working in the middle of the forest in the mountains, travel, networking, etc.

Wish you the best,
any other questions, just ask!
Title: Re: Career in Forestry/ Degree Requirements
Post by: RPF2509 on October 25, 2017, 07:45:33 PM
SB- I am an OSU graduate with a degree in Forest Management as well as a Registered Professional Forester in California where I've worked most of my career.  Not being biased but OSU is one of the if not the top Forestry school in the nation. Don't know where you are from but Corvallis is a small university town off the beaten path but close enough to civilization (1 1/2 hour to Portland, 1 hour to Eugene or Salem)  You can bike anywhere in town and campus is small enough to walk or skateboard.  Many new buildings since I was there and the venerable Peavy Hall - home to the School of Forestry has been torn down to make way for a newer, larger building.  MacDonald forest (run by the College of Forestry) is 15 minutes away and many class labs will be held there.  Though most of the profs who taught me are retired, the new crop  just as good and more up to date on the latest info.  There are many scholarships available as well as job and work / study opportunities on the school forest.  The college is small so you can get personalized attention in forestry classes - other required classes maybe not so much.  There are several degree options available - not all forest centered but some intensively so.  It sounds like you're not sure yet what you want to do yet but that's OK as you don't have to declare a specific major until  after your sophomore year.  There are dorms  on campus but I never stayed there so don't know that scene.  Get on the web site and check them out.
Title: Re: Career in Forestry/ Degree Requirements
Post by: wesdor on October 25, 2017, 10:10:54 PM
Can't answer your specific question, but you have a major world expert on OSU faculty. Dr Seri Robinson is one of the leading experts regarding spalting. You should check out her courses if only to acquaint yourself with her groundbreaking work. 

Good luck, we need young people with work ethics in forestry.
Title: Re: Career in Forestry/ Degree Requirements
Post by: chevytaHOE5674 on October 26, 2017, 01:21:42 AM
Quote from: wesdor on October 25, 2017, 10:10:54 PM
Can't answer your specific question, but you have a major world expert on OSU faculty. Dr Seri Robinson is one of the leading experts regarding spalting. You should check out her courses if only to acquaint yourself with her groundbreaking work. 

Good luck, we need young people with work ethics in forestry.

She taught a class of mine back when she was a masters student at Michigan tech. She was an odd duck then but really knew her stuff. Neat too see where she ended up.
Title: Re: Career in Forestry/ Degree Requirements
Post by: Texas Ranger on October 26, 2017, 09:14:30 AM
60 years ago foresters were the odd ducks at old MU
Title: Re: Career in Forestry/ Degree Requirements
Post by: WDH on October 27, 2017, 08:04:02 AM
You are still an odd duck  :D.