For more than four decades, Northern Arizona University has been developing and refining a distinctive forest management major designed to instill in you an awareness of the complexities inherent in contemporary wildland management and to help you develop as an involved citizen as well as a professional land manager. Our program helps you become well qualified to address the impacts that management decisions and practices have on all resources, including timber, wildlife, range, water, recreation, and scenic beauty.
This program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF)
Are you happiest when you're outdoors? Would you like to protect the environment for future generations? Learn how at Northern Arizona University. Through work in the School of Forestry, you will learn to become a competent professional forester and land steward. Learn all aspects of forest ecosystems and their management. Graduate prepared for a career in the private sector or with a public land management agency.
Here, you will experience innovative and holistic approaches to understanding forestry. Our professional core (four semesters of integrated study) will allow you to build a lasting career and personal relationships. The School of Forestry is a national and international leader in natural resource education and forest research, with a deep commitment to understanding and protecting the environment.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Major GPA | C |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 125 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan | Optional |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
| Licensure | This program may lead to licensure. |
Purpose Statement
Forestry is the “profession embracing the science, art and practice of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources for human benefit and in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs and values” (Dictionary of Forestry, Helms 1998). Through work in the School of Forestry, you will learn to become a professional forester and land steward. Learn all aspects of forest ecosystems and their management. Graduate prepared for a career in the private sector, with non-governmental organizations, or with a public land management agency.
Here, you will experience innovative and holistic approaches to understanding forestry. Our professional core will allow you to build a lasting career and personal relationships. The School of Forestry is a national and international leader in natural resource education and forest research, with a deep commitment to understanding and protecting the environment.
Student Learning Outcomes
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
You do not need to apply for admission to the School of Forestry to take courses in the preprofessional program; your admission to Northern Arizona University is sufficient.
However, application and admission to our professional program is required. You must complete all of the listed lower-division preprofessional courses before you can be admitted to and enrolled in the professional program, which starts with course numbers FOR 313, FOR 315, FOR 320, FOR 321.
You can apply for admission to the professional program after you have completed at least 36 of the 46 units of preprofessional courses. To be accepted into the professional program, you must:
This major requires 106-118 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 106 - 118 units with a Grade of "C" or better:
Preprofessional Requirements (50 units)
Please note that in preparation for these preprofessional courses, you should have at least three units of high school mathematics, including trigonometry, and one unit each of biology, chemistry, and physics when you enter our preprofessional program. If you lack of any of these units, you may have to take remedial course work.
Certificate or Individualized Focus Requirements
Complete an approved certificate plan or the Individualized Focus Area for the remaining 12-24 units. Certificates require a minimum of 9 units in 300- and 400-level courses. You must also earn a grade of "C" or better in each certificate or concentration area course (or "Pass" in Pass/Fail courses).
You will find more information about approved certificates and the individualized concentration area under academics and research at the School of Forestry.
Individualized Focus
You must develop a one-page written statement describing the purpose and scope of the proposed concentration area and have the statement approved by a faculty mentor and the Executive Director. You must also complete 12 units of FOR courses, including a minimum of 6 units of upper-division courses (300- or 400-level) that support the purpose and scope of the proposed concentration area topic as outlined in the written statement.
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.
This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.