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Forest Resources ManagementMajor

Learn about the balancing act of managing land for timber production and wood products while considering wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and water quality.

Overview

What is Forest Resources Management at WVU like?

Description

The Forest Resources Management (FRM) curriculum is a blend of scientific, technical and managerial knowledge professionals need to have in order to manage public or private forest resources. Our students have ample opportunity to gain first-hand field experience through the five-week summer field practice, along with field laboratories associated with many of the courses in the curriculum.

FRM majors learn to:

  • Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational and conservation purposes.
  • Inventory amount and location of standing timber, appraise the timber's worth, negotiate the purchase and draw up contracts for procurement.
  • Conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations.
  • Devise plans for planting and growing new trees, monitor trees for healthy growth and determine optimal harvesting schedules.
  • Manage trees in the urban forest.

Forest Resources Management program highlights:

At a Glance

Next Steps

Interested in this major? Here are some suggested next steps:

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Areas of Emphasis

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

  • Arboriculture and Urban Forestry
  • Forest Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
  • Forest Management

Fast Facts

What makes Forest Resources Management at WVU unique?

Research and Academic Opportunities

  • Learn how to manage trees around homes, businesses and cities by completing an emphasis in arboriculture and urban forestry.
  • Summer internships and jobs with industries.
  • Summer positions in graduate research projects in forestry, wood science, wildlife and fisheries.
  • Opportunities to work at the University Forest, as teaching assistants or as research workers in faculty-led research projects.
  • Ability to use work-study program to work for faculty mentors during research projects.

Living-Learning Communities (LLCs)

Live, study and pursue outside-the-classroom learning in a residence hall community that shares your interests:

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU. Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Student Organizations

Connect with other students who share your academic interests as a member of:

View all of the student organizations you can join.

Professional Organizations

Network with professionals in your field as a student member of:

Careers

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Our program has a very high job placement into industry and research programs. Upon graduation, students take professional positions as procurement foresters, timber buyers in the forest products industry, forest managers for private forestry consulting companies and landowners, as well as with state and federal land management agencies. Managerial work includes planning timber crop rotations; evaluating the economics of alternative forest management plans; and planning for integration of forest land for recreation, timber, watershed, wildlife and environmental protection. With experience and proven performance in these activities, professional foresters often advance to executive management positions in public forestry agencies or forest products industries.

In recent years a good number of our graduates have gone to work in the arboriculture profession, working with local and national tree care companies. While many graduates move on to work within the region, faculty utilize their alumni and industry contacts to assist students to locate job opportunities throughout the country.

Students who elect to continue for graduate studies often conduct research dealing with hydrology, silviculture, arboriculture, forest measurement and forest ecology both at WVU and with our colleagues at universities throughout the U.S.

Possible Careers

Wondering what you can do with a degree from WVU's Forest Resources Management major? Check out these ideas from WVU Career Services and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is the midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

Employers

Graduates from this major have gone to work at:

Courses

What are the courses like in Forest Resources Management at WVU?

Plan of Study

Check out a program overview, learning goals, course descriptions and suggested plan of study for WVU's Forest Resources Management major.

View the Plan of Study
 

Popular Courses

ENTO 412:
Pest Management

An in-depth look at current problems and solutions in controlling insect pests in an environmentally compatible manner. Management techniques include cultural, mechanical, physical, biological, regulatory, and chemical practices. (Also listed as ENVP 412.)

FMAN 320:
Arboriculture and Urban Trees

This course will discuss the biology and management (selection, installation, maintenance and preservation) of landscape trees. Students will learn how to prune, install, evaluate risk and preserve individual trees in the landscape.

FOR 205:
Dendrology

Classification and silvical characteristics of North American forest trees.

FOR 206:
Winter Dendrology

Field identification and classification of North American forest trees during leaf-off condition.

FOR 326:
Remote Sensing of Environment

Measurement and interpretation of natural resources and environment from photography and radar, infrared, and microwave imagery.

Cost and Aid

How much does Forest Resources Management at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates are available on our tuition website. Anyone who is not a current West Virginia resident, including international students, will be charged non-resident rates.

View Tuition and Fees

Scholarships

Estimate your eligibility for merit scholarships at WVU Morgantown.

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Net Price Calculator

Estimate your cost of attendance and eligibility for financial aid and scholarships at any WVU System campus.

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Ways to Save

Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending WVU in addition to university scholarships.

Extra Merit-based Scholarships

Incoming freshmen to the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design may qualify for Innovators scholarships based on GPA. No additional application is necessary. These scholarships are in addition to University scholarships.

See if You Qualify

Ohio Tuition Reciprocity

As the result of a special agreement, students from Ohio who are fully admitted to Forest Resources Management can enroll at WVU and pay in-state tuition rates. Students must be admitted to both the University and this major.

Learn More

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.

Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Forest Resources Management at WVU?

To be admitted to WVU's Forest Resources Management major, you must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements for the 2024-25 academic year. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

Related Majors and Minors

What other options does WVU have?

What minors could I consider?

Related Pathways

What majors share similar career interests with this major at WVU?

Next Steps

I like this major. What are the next steps?

Apply Now

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Request Information

Want to know more about Forest Resources Management at WVU? Fill out the Request Information form to receive more information about the program and life at WVU.

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Visit WVU

It's the next-best thing to being here – you can virtually tour residence halls and the WVU Morgantown Campus.

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