CONCENTRATION in theBS or BA ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MAJOR

What You’ll Study

While the topic of ecological forestry has a range of definitions, most are based on a few key themes: understanding what forests are made of and how the many micro-ecosystems interrelate; managing responsible consumption (and cultivation) of important forest products such as wood, raw materials for medicine, and more; and understanding the intrinsic experiential value of these lush landscapes. In addition to taking core courses within Environmantal Studies, Ecological Forestry majors complete a four-course sequence:

  • Forest biology
  • Silviculture
  • Forest management
  • Geographic information systems

Senior Capstone Course

In the forest management capstone course, you’ll work in a small team with fellow students writing forest management plans for private landowners, municipalities, or land conservation organizations. Much of your time is spent outside the classroom in professional settings with landowners or other natural resource and conservation experts. You’ll practice skills like:

  • Remote data gathering
  • Forest inventory and analysis
  • Development of management recommendations
  • Presentation of a management plan

Where You’ll Go from Here

Where does a forestry degree take you? Past graduates have gotten jobs with:

  • Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • Private Consulting Foresters
  • Plum Creek Forest Products
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • U.S. National Park Service
  • Forest Stewards

Students from this program have also gone on to prestigious graduate programs atDuke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, SUNY Environmental Studies and Forestry, and more.

Explore Classes in This Program

GBL 225

Intro to Geographic Information Systems

Learn how geographic data is created and managed for all kinds of business and scientific applications. You’ll cover topics like data visualization and geocoding and apply GIS techniques to answer a question or problem in your own research project.

ENS 233

Forest Biology

森林是具有自己独特结构、组成和物种相互作用的生物生态系统。我们会花很多时间在森林里关注阿巴拉契亚南部的温带森林系统。

ENS 334

Silviculture

Compare the many different practices for managing forests and woodlands in the U.S., examining each system in terms of important species, economics, goals, and environmental protection.

Meet Our Faculty

在当今世界,仅仅知道事情是不够的,我们需要的是会做事情的人。沃伦·威尔逊的学生在完成这两项任务时都很高兴——非常出色。

Dave Ellum, Ph.D.
Dave Ellum
Dave Ellum, Ph.D.
Mark Brenner

As I field biologist, I always say our best laboratories are right out the back door of the science building. Within a 5 minute walk we have 3 ponds, a trout stream and 600 acres of Forest.

Mark Brenner, Ph.D.
Mark Brenner
Mark Brenner, Ph.D.
Amy Knisely

沃伦·威尔逊的教学不适合胆小的人!有时我醒来时感到疲惫。但是,在这片美丽的山谷和更远的地方,那些意志坚强、思想活跃的学生和教育者们一起忙碌着,让我每天充满活力地回家。

Amy L. Knisley, Ph.D.
Amy Knisely
Amy L. Knisley, Ph.D.
Dave Ellum
NSURS Presentation
Capstone Experience

Natural Science Undergraduate Research Sequence

All students in the Ecological Forestry concentration take this three-semester sequence of courses, which gives you graduate-style research experience at the undergraduate level. You’ll work with a faculty advisor to design your own project, collect and analyze data, present your findings, and publish a thesis.