Forest Technology (A.A.S.)

https://colsa.unh.edu/natural-resources-environment/program/aas/forest-technology

Beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year, the Forest Technology A.A.S. is pausing admissions to the program. Current students will continue to have access to the same high-quality education and resources until they graduate.

Forestry is an exciting and rewarding career field, in which practitioners work to solve today’s pressing natural resource and environmental challenges. Graduates of the Forest Technology program can become career-ready in two years and learn fundamental forestry skills, techniques, and science. Students are introduced to forest ecology, silviculture, wildlife ecology, forest mapping techniques, wood science, and timber harvesting practices. They learn how to inventory natural resources; design, plan, and supervise forest harvesting operations; harvest timber and mill lumber; map and survey forestland; develop a forest management plan; and identify and mitigate forest health issues –all while applying principles of conservation and sustainability. Students interact with a wide variety of professionals as part of their coursework and often go on to work in wood products-related industries, public forestland management agencies, private forestry consulting firms, urban tree care companies, and a range of conservation organizations.
After obtaining an associate degree in forest technology, qualified students may then transfer to the university’s accredited four-year forestry program and obtain a bachelor’s degree in two additional years with a full-time course of study or move right into an exciting career.

Career Opportunities

Forestry consultant, forest fire control and use technician, mapping technician, geographic information systems/global positioning systems (GIS/GPS) technician, timber and log buyer, log scaler, lumber grader, sawmill technician, arborist, urban tree care specialist, timber cruiser/forest inventory technician, or forestry equipment/products sales representative.

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 64 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 16 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery Program

Major, Option, and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Forest Technology Requirements

Candidates for a degree must take 20 credits of Discovery courses in addition to satisfying the requirements of the Forest Technology program. Forest Technology students are required to take:

BIOL 528Applied Biostatistics I4
or MATH 420 Finite Mathematics
ENGL 401First-Year Writing4
FORT 470Applied Silviculture4
KIN 501First Aid: Responding to Emergencies1
FORT/NR 527Forest Ecology4
FORT #564Arboriculture3
FORT 572Mensuration4
FORT 573Management Operation & Analysis4
FORT 576Forest Products and Wood Science4
FORT 577Forest Harvesting Systems4
FORT 578Ecology and Management of Forest Stressors4
FORT 579Wildland Fire Ecology and Management4
FORT 581Applied Geospatial Techniques4
FORT #597Work Experience0
NR 415Natural Resources Field Methods2
NR 425Field Dendrology4
NR 433Wildlife Ecology4
Social Science Discovery or Humanities Discovery4
Discovery Course4
Total Credits66

Forest Technology Program of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing (WS Discovery) 4
NR 425 Field Dendrology 4
FORT 527 Forest Ecology 4
NR 415 Natural Resources Field Methods 2
 Credits14
Spring
BIOL 528
Applied Biostatistics I (or other)
or Finite Mathematics
4
FORT 470 Applied Silviculture 4
FORT 581 Applied Geospatial Techniques 4
Social Science or Humanities Discovery [RMP 511 Recommended] 4
KIN 501 First Aid: Responding to Emergencies 1
 Credits17
Second Year
Fall
NR 433 Wildlife Ecology (BS Discovery) 4
FORT 572 Mensuration 4
FORT 577 Forest Harvesting Systems 4
FORT #597 Work Experience 0
Discovery Elective: FPA, HP, ETS, WC, PS 4
 Credits16
Spring
FORT #564 Arboriculture 3
FORT 573 Management Operation & Analysis 4
FORT 576 Forest Products and Wood Science 4
FORT 578 Ecology and Management of Forest Stressors 4
FORT 579 Wildland Fire Ecology and Management 4
 Credits19
 Total Credits66
  • Identify the flora and fauna of regional forests and understand their role in ecological communities.
  • Apply the concepts of forest and wildlife ecology to sustainable natural resource management for the benefit of society.
  • Measure, collect, and analyze field data using appropriate technologies to make sound forest management decisions.
  • Understand harvesting and processing of forest products.
  • Navigate in forested settings, and locate and map property boundaries and natural resource features.
  • Identify land cover types and incorporate spatial data to facilitate forest management.
  • Identify and evaluate appropriate management strategies in the context of forest insects and pathogens.
  • Lead field crews to safely and productively accomplish forest management goals.
  • Communicate effectively and professionally in written and oral formats with clients, related agencies, and the general public.