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Wood Science and TechnologyMajor

The wood products industry employs 1.6 million people nationwide, yet only 21 American universities offer programs specifically designed to educate professionals to manage and provide technical expertise to the industry. WVU is one of them.

By the numbers90

Since 2008, over 90% of our graduates found employment in the wood products industry.

Overview

What is Wood Science and Technology at WVU like?

Description

Accredited by the Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST), our curriculum will prepare you in key skill sets using hands-on cutting-edge technology, innovation in new product development, marketing and manufacturing to work in an ever-growing U.S. forest products industry (including the lumber industry, engineered wood composites, biorefining, renewable materials and sustainable construction).

We are one of only 21 American universities that provide programs specifically designed to educate professionals to manage and provide technical expertise in the industry. The unique nature of the program and the large base of potential employers result in an excellent job market for our graduates.

Wood Science and Technology program highlights:

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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:

  • Forest Utilization
    Hybrid curriculum that includes a foundation in wood science and a minor in Forest Resources Management. Students in this area are prepared for careers in timber management and sale administration, forest engineering, primary processing of wood products and timber procurement.
  • Renewable Materials Marketing
    Prepares students for a career in marketing of wood and other renewable materials and products. Specific careers may include retail or wholesale marketing, sales, purchasing or distribution of products.
  • Sustainable Low-Rise Residential Construction
    Prepares students for careers in management, supervision and specifying of materials for single family and multi-family, low-rise residential (i.e., town houses and 2-3 story apartment buildings) construction.
  • Wood Processing
    Provides flexibility within the context of a fundamental wood science curriculum by requiring that students complete a minor. Potential careers include, but are not limited to production of wood products, including primary products, architectural woodwork, furniture and cabinets, and composite materials; marketing wood products; design of wood-based building components, and research.

Fast Facts

What makes Wood Science and Technology at WVU unique?

Research and Academic Opportunities

  • Summer internships and jobs with industries
  • Research work in faculty-led research projects
  • Forest Products Society Chapter-led projects
  • Opportunity to work at the University Forest

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?

Career opportunities are quite diverse. Jobs span the spectrum, from standing timber through manufacture of products, to their marketing, distribution and end use.

Our program experiences very high placement rates and students are heavily recruited by industry.

Possible Careers

Wondering what you can do with a degree from WVU's Wood Science and Technology 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 Wood Science and Technology at WVU?

Plan of Study

Check out a program overview, learning goals, course descriptions and suggested plan of study for WVU's Wood Science and Technology major.

View the Plan of Study
 

Popular Courses

FOR 205:
Dendrology

Classification and silvical characteristics of North American forest trees.

WDSC 100:
Forest Resources in United States History

Examines human use of forest resources in America from pre-Colombian times to present. Exploration of factors that impact the use of wood products.

WDSC 223:
Wood Anatomy and Structure

Anatomy and structure of commercial wood species of the U.S. Survey of basic properties of wood.

WDSC 232:
Wood Grading and Procurement

Conversion and grading of raw materials in log form to primary wood products. Introduction to timber procurement systems.

WDSC 422:
Harvesting Forest Products

Analysis of ground-based and cable harvesting systems, including time and motion studies, productivity and cost analysis, occupational safety and health, environmental issues, equipment evaluation and selection, and trucking of forest products. (2 hr. lec., 1 hr. lab.)

WDSC 465:
Wood-based Composite Materials

Fundamentals of manufacturing wood-based composite materials, including processing, products, evaluation, and applications in the marketplace. (2 hr. lec., 1 hr. lab.)

WDSC 481:
Senior Projects 2

Senior project requires students to use knowledge from other courses to conduct research proposed in WDSC 480 and analyze results and prepare a technical report.

WDSC 491:
Professional Field Experience

(May be repeated up to a maximum of 18 hours.) Prearranged experiential learning program, to be planned, supervised, and evaluated for credit by faculty and field supervisors. Involves temporary placement with public or private enterprise for professional competence development.

Capstone Projects

Before graduating, all undergraduates in this major complete an academic project (or "capstone") to demonstrate their research, communication and critical thinking skills.

Senior projects in recent years have included:

Cost and Aid

How much does Wood Science and Technology 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.

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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 Wood Science and Technology 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 Wood Science and Technology at WVU?

To be admitted to WVU's Wood Science and Technology 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

Your first step to becoming a Mountaineer is applying for admission. Our online application makes the process as convenient as possible.

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Request Information

Want to know more about Wood Science and Technology at WVU? Fill out the Request Information form to receive more information about the program and life at WVU.

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