Small Classes, Big Classrooms

Accredited by the Society of American Foresters, our forestry degree prepares students for careers focused on the sustainable management of forested resources for the benefit of humans.

The profession of forestry is guided by the principles of sustainability and involves more than just trees. Forests provide ecosystem services such as cleaner air and water, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, and aesthetic beauty. A forestry degree program will prepare you to grow, protect, and enhance forests and the wildlife and natural resources they harbor while balancing economic and environmental needs.

Our focus on small classes with hands-on outdoor learning, including a semester-long field immersion, teaches students the science, art, and practice of sustainably managing forests. Students can tailor their professional electives to their skills and interests. Interested in wildlife, GIS, entomology, urban forestry? You can enhance your degree by incorporating minors and certificates as part of the major.

Careers

The forestry degree will prepare you for careers that help grow, manage, and protect forest ecosystems. Graduates work in a variety of sectors, including private industry, academia, government, and nonprofit, such as:

  • Arborist
  • Consulting forester
  • Forester
  • Forest health specialist
  • Park ranger
  • Research scientist
  • Silviculturist
  • Urban forester
  • Wildland firefighter
  • Wildlife forester

Accelerate Your Career Into Graduate School

For highly motivated students, the opportunity exists to integrate up to 12 credit hours of undergraduate and graduate coursework through the Accelerated Master’s Pathways or AMP program. Students will save time and money by receiving dual credit for select courses taken during their senior year of undergraduate studies. Those interested in pursuing this path to a graduate degree should consult with their academic advisor.

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Spring Field Semester

Students participate in a semester-long immersion into the practice and application of forestry during the spring semester of their junior year. In the first half of the Spring Field Semester, students travel throughout Kentucky to learn about different ecosystems, land uses, landownership types, and wood industry facilities. During the second half of the Spring Field Semester, students are immersed in hands-on learning at UK’s Robinson Forest. At nearly 15,000 acres, Robinson Forest is one of the largest research and educational forests in the eastern United States. Imagine that size of classroom at your cabin doorstep!

Spring Field Semester
UK Fire Cats - Student Wildland Firefighter Organization

Get Involved

Opportunities abound for students in the forestry program. Whether you are interested in undergraduate research, gaining hands-on experience with wildland firefighting with the UK Fire Cats, developing skills related to tree climbing with the UK Canopy Cats, or advancing the science, technology, education, and practice of forestry with the Forestry Club, the forestry program is sure to have an opportunity to meet your interests.

Experiential Learning

Hands-on learning is at the heart of what we do. Our program provides students with opportunities for hands-on learning in the classroom and real-world settings. Motivated students can also earn minors like Wildlife Biology and Management or undergraduate certificates like Urban and Community Forestry as part of the major.

FOR 200 Basics of Geospatial Technology

Through field- and laboratory-based exercises, students gain skills with different types of maps, field navigation skills, global positioning systems, and geographic information systems.

FOR 255 Forest Fire

Students learn about basic wildland fire behavior, foundational skills needed for wildland fire fighters, and are introduced to incident command and management systems.

FOR 370 Wildlife Biology and Management

Students explore core ecological and management concepts of wildlife management and learn to identify wildlife species common to the region.

FOR 480 Integrated Forest Resource Management

Students complete a semester-long project, develop a professional management plan, and present the plan at a public forum.

Living Learning Program

The Living Learning Program (LLP) supports student success by placing students with similar interests into smaller communities in particular residence halls.

Academic Enrichment

Our college believes in learning by doing. Our students are required to complete at least one type of experiential or hands-on learning opportunity, such as undergraduate research, an internship or an education abroad experience.

Scholarships

Thanks to generous alumni, donors and community partners, we have one of the largest scholarship programs at UK. Only one application is required for our college’s scholarships, but there are hundreds of potential awards.

Student Services

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Academic Advisor II
Andrew Bond

Academic Coordinator
Laura Robinson, PhD

Director of Undergraduate Studies
John Lhotka, PhD

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