Forest ecosystems cover one third of the world’s land area and nearly half of Wisconsin. They provide a range of benefits to society including wood and fiber, wildlife habitat, biological diversity, clean water, carbon storage, recreation, beauty, and cultural values. The Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology trains foresters to sustainably manage forests toward sustainable ecological, social, and economic outcomes. Forest science students also learn how to respond to forest disturbances from insects, diseases, fire, and other changes. Beyond a core of basic science and forestry coursework, students have flexibility to customize their learning experience within one of three tracks: forest conservation, forests and the environment, and forest management. All three tracks meet accreditation standards of the Society of American Foresters, a key credential that employers seek. Students are also well positioned to pursue graduate training in forestry, ecology, remote-sensing, natural resource policy, and related fields.
Students learn through a mix of classroom, laboratory, and field instruction that emphasizes independent thinking and problem-solving. Students make frequent visits to forests to develop and hone their skills, essential for future job opportunities. Students also engage professional and student-led trainings and networking that further build skills. Graduates go on to jobs in private, public, and non-governmental sectors or pursue graduate degrees.
To declare this major, students must be admitted to UW–Madison and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). For information about becoming a CALS first-year or transfer student, see Entering the College.
Students who attend Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have the option to declare this major at SOAR. Students may otherwise declare after they have begun their undergraduate studies. For more information, contact the advisor listed under the Advising and Careers tab.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements
In addition to the University General Education Requirements, all undergraduate students in CALS must satisfy a set of college and major requirements. Courses may not double count within university requirements (General Education and Breadth) or within college requirements (First-Year Seminar, International Studies, Science, and Capstone), but courses counted toward university requirements may also be used to satisfy a college and/or a major requirement; similarly, courses counted toward college requirements may also be used to satisfy a university and/or a major requirement.
College Requirements for all CALS B.S. Degree Programs
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of Work: Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 to remain in good standing and be eligible for graduation. | ||
| Residency: Students must complete 30 degree credits in residence at UW–Madison after earning 86 credits toward their undergraduate degree. | ||
| First Year Seminar | 1 | |
| International Studies | 3 | |
| Physical Science Fundamentals | 4-5 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
or CHEM 108 | Chemistry in Our World | |
or CHEM 109 | Advanced General Chemistry | |
| Biological Science | 5 | |
| Additional Science (Biological, Physical, or Natural) | 3 | |
| Science Breadth (Biological, Physical, Natural, or Social) | 3 | |
| CALS Capstone Learning Experience: included in the requirements for each CALS major (see "Major Requirements") | ||
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following (or may be satisfied by placement exam): | 5-6 | |
| Algebra and Trigonometry | ||
| Algebra and Trigonometry | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Statistical Methods | ||
| Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences (recommended) | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
| Chemistry in Our World | ||
| Advanced General Chemistry | ||
| Biology | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 10 | |
| Option 1 (recommended introduction to biology sequence): | ||
| General Botany and Animal Biology and Animal Biology Laboratory | ||
| Option 2: | ||
| Introductory Biology and Introductory Biology | ||
| Option 3: | ||
| Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics and Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory and Cellular Biology and Cellular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Economics | ||
| A A E 215 | Introduction to Agricultural and Applied Economics 1 | 4 |
| or ECON 101 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
| Conservation | ||
| Select one of the following: 2 | 2-4 | |
| Wetlands Ecology | ||
| Extinction of Species (recommended) 3 | ||
| Principles of Landscape Ecology | ||
| Conservation Biology (recommended) | ||
| Environmental Conservation | ||
| Core | ||
| Grade of C or better required in each core course | ||
| SOIL SCI 301 | General Soil Science | 4 |
| F&W ECOL 300 | Forest Biometry | 4 |
| GEOG/CIV ENGR/ENVIR ST 377 | An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3-4 |
| or F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/G L E/GEOG/GEOSCI/LAND ARC 371 | Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing | |
| F&W ECOL/HORT/LAND ARC/PL PATH 309 | Diseases of Trees and Shrubs | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 399 | Coordinative Internship/Cooperative Education | 1-8 |
| BOTANY/F&W ECOL 402 | Dendrology | 2 |
| F&W ECOL 410 & F&W ECOL 411 | Principles of Silviculture and Practices of Silviculture | 4 |
| F&W ECOL 415 | Tree Physiology | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ENTOM 500 | Insects in Forest Ecosystem Function and Management | 2 |
| F&W ECOL 501 | Forest Fire Behavior and Management | 1 |
| ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL 515 | Natural Resources Policy | 3 |
| F&W ECOL 550 & F&W ECOL 551 | Forest Ecology and Forest Ecology Lab | 4 |
| A A E/ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL 652 | Decision Methods for Natural Resource Managers | 4 |
| F&W ECOL 658 | Forest Resources Practicum | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select one of the following tracks: | 12 | |
Forest Management Track | ||
Forest Conservation Track | ||
Forests & Environment Track | ||
| Capstone | ||
| Grade of C or better required in Capstone | ||
| F&W ECOL 590 | Integrated Resource Management | 3 |
| Total Credits | 84-96 | |
| 1 | A A E 215 only carries QR-B credit if taken fall 2011 or later. |
| 2 | These courses may double count as track electives. |
| 3 | F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 360 Extinction of Species may also fulfill CALS International Studies requirement. |
Minimum Grade Requirement
Students who declare the major in fall 2012 or later will be required to receive a grade of C or higher on all of the Forest Science Core courses and the Capstone. Students who receive a grade of D or below will be required to retake the course for graduation.
Tracks
Forest Management Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits from any of the following courses: | 12 | |
| Soils and Landscapes: | ||
| Principles of Landscape Ecology | ||
| Landforms and Landscapes of North America | ||
| Soils and Landscapes | ||
| Environmental Biogeochemistry | ||
| Economics and Business: | ||
| The Environment and the Global Economy | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Agricultural Finance | ||
| Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance for Non-Business Majors | ||
| Fundamentals of Management and Marketing for Non-Business Majors | ||
| International Business | ||
| Marketing Communication for the Sciences | ||
| Managing Organizations | ||
| Human Resource Management | ||
| The Management of Teams | ||
| Operations Management | ||
| Urban and Wildland Forest Management: | ||
| Environmental Law, Toxic Substances, and Conservation | ||
| Special Topics (Tree Stability Analysis) | ||
| Landscape Plants I | ||
| Plant Nutrition Management | ||
| Special Topics (Aboriculture) | ||
| GIS/Remote Sensing: | ||
| Special Topics in the Environment: Biological Aspects of Envir St (Fieldcraft & Field Methods for Environmental Researchers) | ||
| Remote Sensing Digital Image Processing | ||
| Assessment of Environmental Impact | ||
| Applications of Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resources | ||
| Introduction to Cartography | ||
| An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Introduction to Geocomputing | ||
| Wildlife and Fisheries Ecology: | ||
| Terrestrial Vertebrates: Life History and Ecology | ||
| Principles of Wildlife Ecology | ||
| Extinction of Species | ||
| Principles of Wildlife Management | ||
| Wildlife Damage Management | ||
| Animal Population Dynamics | ||
| Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | ||
| Laboratory for Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | ||
| Ecology of Fishes | ||
| Ecology of Fishes Lab | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Birds of Southern Wisconsin | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Forest Conservation Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 3 credits from each of the following areas: | ||
| Plant Ecology and Diversity: | 3 | |
| Fungi | ||
| Vascular Flora of Wisconsin | ||
| Plant Geography | ||
| The Vegetation of Wisconsin | ||
| Forest Stand Dynamics | ||
| Environmental Biogeography | ||
| Animal Ecology and Diversity: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Entomology | ||
| Plant-Insect Interactions | ||
| Terrestrial Vertebrates: Life History and Ecology | ||
| Special Topics (Wildlife-Habitat Relationships) | ||
| Animal Population Dynamics | ||
| Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | ||
| Laboratory for Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | ||
| Ecology of Fishes | ||
| Ecology of Fishes Lab | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Birds of Southern Wisconsin | ||
| Conservation Biology: | 3 | |
| Wetlands Ecology | ||
| Extinction of Species | ||
| Principles of Landscape Ecology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Environmental Conservation | ||
| Evolutionary Biology | ||
| Natural Resources Management and Policy: | 3 | |
| The Environment and the Global Economy | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Environmental Law, Toxic Substances, and Conservation | ||
| Government and Natural Resources | ||
| Assessment of Environmental Impact | ||
| Principles of Wildlife Management | ||
| World Forest History | ||
| Wildlife Management Techniques | ||
| Principles of Landscape Ecology | ||
| An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Restoration Ecology | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Forests & Environment Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits from any of the following courses: | 12 | |
| Earth and Atmospheric Science: | ||
| Weather and Climate | ||
| Global Change: Atmospheric Issues and Problems | ||
| Global Warming: Science and Impacts | ||
| Atmospheric Dispersion and Air Pollution | ||
| Landforms and Landscapes of North America | ||
| Geography of Wisconsin | ||
| Biology of Microorganisms | ||
| Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory | ||
| Soils and Environmental Chemistry | ||
| Soil Biology | ||
| Soils and Landscapes | ||
| Environmental Biogeochemistry | ||
| Plant and Animal Ecology: | ||
| Fungi | ||
| Vascular Flora of Wisconsin | ||
| Plant Geography | ||
| The Vegetation of Wisconsin | ||
| General Ecology | ||
| Introduction to Entomology | ||
| Plant-Insect Interactions | ||
| Wetlands Ecology | ||
| Terrestrial Vertebrates: Life History and Ecology | ||
| Principles of Wildlife Ecology | ||
| Extinction of Species | ||
| Special Topics (Wildlife-Habitat Relationships) | ||
| Principles of Landscape Ecology | ||
| Forest Stand Dynamics | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Animal Population Dynamics | ||
| Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | ||
| Laboratory for Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources | ||
| Ecology of Fishes | ||
| Ecology of Fishes Lab | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Birds of Southern Wisconsin | ||
| Natural Resources Management: | ||
| Renewable Energy Systems | ||
| Energy Resources | ||
| Assessment of Environmental Impact | ||
| Energy Economics | ||
| Principles of Wildlife Management | ||
| An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Introduction to Plant Pathology | ||
| Restoration Ecology | ||
| Human Dimensions of Resources: | ||
| The Environment and the Global Economy | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Environment, Natural Resources, and Society | ||
| Literature of the Environment: Speaking for Nature | ||
| History of Ecology | ||
| Environmental Law, Toxic Substances, and Conservation | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| American Environmental History | ||
| World Forest History | ||
| Environmental Conservation | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Honors in the Major
Admission to the Honors Program is not competitive provided students meet the required admission criteria.
Admission Criteria for New Freshmen:
- In the upper 10% of their high school graduating class
- ACT score of 28 or higher
- SAT score of at least 1240
Admission Criteria for Transfer and Continuing UW-Madison Students:
- UW-Madison cumulative GPA of at least 3.25
Highly motivated students can apply for admission to the program in the absence of these requirements by including a letter with their application addressed to the Honors Dean in 116 Agricultural Hall explaining why they should be in the program.
How to Apply
Apply to the program online or request an application in the Office of Academic Affairs, 116 Agricultural Hall. Applications are accepted at any time.
New freshmen with accepted applications will automatically be enrolled in Honors in Research. It is possible to switch to Honors in the Major in the student’s first semester on campus after meeting with the advisor for that major by completing the application form and selecting Honors in the Major. Transfer and continuing students may apply directly to Honors in Research or Honors in the Major (after meeting with the major advisor).
How to Cancel Participation
Students who are no longer interested in pursuing Honors should contact the CALS Honors Program Manager (see the contact box for CALS Honors Program). Students may cancel their participation at any time, and this will not be noted on the student’s transcript.
Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major, students are required to take at least 20 honors credits. In addition, students must take F&W ECOL 681 Senior Honors Thesis and F&W ECOL 682 Senior Honors Thesis when completing their thesis project; please see the Honors in Major Checklist for more information.
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
- (Ecology) Understanding of taxonomy and ability to identify forest and other tree species, their distribution, and associated vegetation and wildlife.
- (Ecology) Understanding of soil properties and processes, hydrology, water quality, and watershed functions.
- (Ecology) Understanding of ecological concepts and principles including the structure and function of ecosystems, plant and animal communities, competition, diversity, population dynamics, succession, disturbance, and nutrient cycling.
- (Ecology) Ability to make ecosystem, forest, and stand assessments.
- (Ecology) Understanding of tree physiology and the effects of climate, fire, pollutants, moisture, nutrients, genetics, insects and diseases on tree and forest health and productivity.
- (Forest Resources Measurement and Management) Ability to identify and measure land areas and conduct spatial analysis.
- (Forest Resources Measurement and Management) Ability to design and implement comprehensive inventories that meet specific objectives using appropriate sampling methods and units of measurement.
- (Forest Resources Measurement and Management) Ability to analyze inventory data and project future forest, stand, and tree conditions.
- (Forest Resources Measurement and Management) Ability to develop and apply silvicultural prescriptions appropriate to management objectives, including methods of establishing and influencing the composition, growth, and quality of forests, and understand the impacts of those prescriptions.
- (Forest Resources Measurement and Management) Ability to analyze the economic, environmental, and social consequences of forest resource management strategies and decisions.
- (Forest Resources Measurement and Management) Ability to develop management plans with specific multiple objectives and constraints.
- (Forest Resources Measurement and Management) Understanding of the valuation procedures, market forces, processing systems, transportation and harvesting activities that translate human demands for timber-based and other consumable forest products into the availability of those products.
- (Forest Resources Measurement and Management) Understanding of the valuation procedures, market, and non-market forces that avail humans the opportunities to enjoy non-consumptive products and services of forests.
- (Forest Resources Measurement and Management) Understanding of the administration, ownership, and organization of forest management enterprises.
- (Forest Resource Policy, Economics, and Administration) Understanding of forest policy and the processes by which it is developed.
- (Forest Resource Policy, Economics, and Administration) Understanding of how federal, state, and local laws and regulations govern the practice of forestry.
- (Forest Resource Policy, Economics, and Administration) Ability to understand the integration of technical, financial, human resources, and legal aspects of public and private enterprises.
Four-year plan
Sample Forest Science Four-Year Plan
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST 100 | 3 | MATH 113 or 114 | 3 |
| Economics Course | 3-4 | CHEM 103, 108, or 109 | 4-5 |
| MATH 112, 113, or 114 | 3 | BOTANY/BIOLOGY 1302 | 5 |
| COMM A Course | 3 | Electives (to reach ~15 credits) | 0-4 |
| INTER-AG 155 (First Year Seminar) | 1 | ||
| Electives (to reach ~15 credits)1 | 0-3 | ||
| 13-17 | 12-17 | ||
| Total Credits 25-34 | |||
| Sophomore | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 & ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 102 | 5 | F&W ECOL 300 | 4 |
| SOIL SCI 301 | 4 | GEOG/CIV ENGR/ENVIR ST 377 | 4 |
| F&W ECOL/BOTANY 402 | 2 | Statistics Courses | 9 |
| F&W ECOL 415 | 3 | ||
| 14 | 17 | ||
| Total Credits 31 | |||
| Sophomore | |
|---|---|
| Spring | Credits |
| F&W ECOL 658 (even #’d summers) | 3 |
| 3 | |
| Total Credits 3 | |
| Junior | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| F&W ECOL 550 | 3 | F&W ECOL 410 | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ENTOM 500 (odd falls only) | 2 | F&W ECOL 501 (odd springs only) | 1 |
| Track Course | 3 | Track Course | 3 |
| Elective Courses | 4 | Elective Courses | 6 |
| 12 | 13 | ||
| Total Credits 25 | |||
| Junior | |
|---|---|
| Summer | Credits |
| F&W ECOL 3994 | 1 |
| 1 | |
| Total Credits 1 | |
| Senior | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| F&W ECOL 590 (Capstone) | 3 | F&W ECOL/A A E/ENVIR ST 652 | 4 |
| F&W ECOL/HORT/LAND ARC/PL PATH 309 | 3 | F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST 515 | 3 |
| Conservation Course (or spring) | 2-4 | Track Course | 3 |
| Track Course | 3 | Electives | 6 |
| Electives (to reach ~15 credits) | 3 | ||
| 14-16 | 16 | ||
| Total Credits 30-32 | |||
| 1 | When choosing electives, students should first consider UW and CALS requirements (ethnic studies, humanities, social science, international studies, etc.) |
| 2 | BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130 + ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 & ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 102 are strongly recommended to satisfy the introductory biology requirement for forest science, but students may use ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 & ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 102. |
| 3 | F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/G L E/GEOG/GEOSCI/LAND ARC 371 is available in fall semesters only. |
| 4 | Summer (following second or third year): F&W ECOL 658 (3 cr., even-numbered summers) and F&W ECOL 399 (1 cr.)—4 cr. total. |
Students may reduce the number of required courses via: testing out of Comm-A; using ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 152 to satisfy Comm-B; testing out of Quantitative Reasoning, Part A; earning AP/IB credits; and/or using F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 360 to satisfy International Studies requirement. |
Undergraduate Advising in Forest Science
All undergraduate students are assigned to an advisor when they declare the major. If you were not assigned an advisor, do not know who your advisor is, would like to talk to someone about switching advisors, or if your advisor is not available, please contact Dr. Adena Rissman (adena.rissman@wisc.edu).
Undergraduates in forest science are required to meet with their advisor before they can enroll for the upcoming term. Please remember to bring a DARS report with you to any advising appointment. You can request a DARS through your student center in MyUW. Although drop-ins and emergencies may be accommodated by someone in the department, the student is best served by making an appointment with the assigned advisor.
For more information about the forest science B.S. or the department in general, please contact Dr. Adena Rissman (adena.rissman@wisc.edu).
Careers and Professional Development
For more information on careers available to forest science and wildlife ecology students, please visit our Internship & Job Resources page. For more information on other academic, co-curricular, financial aid, and career opportunities and services available to forest science B.S. students, please visit the CALS Career Services page. Students in the major are welcome to make an individual appointment with their advisor to discuss a number of career-related topics such as career exploration, search strategies, graduate school, and review of application materials (resume, CV, letters, etc.).
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics updated its Career Outlook: Careers in Forestry page in August 2016 and it gives a great overview of the types of jobs related to forestry. This website is an excellent way to learn more about careers in forestry, upcoming trends, and related careers.
Faculty
Bowe, Scott
Burivalova, Zuzana
Drake, David
Hart, Sarah
Karasov, William
Kruger, Eric (chair)
Lutz, R. Scott
Ozdogan, Mutlu
Pauli, Jonathan
Peery, M. Zach
Pidgeon, Anna
Preston, Daniel
Radeloff, Volker
Ribic, Christine
Rickenbach, Mark
Rissman, Adena
Stanosz, Glen
Townsend, Philip
Van Deelen, Timothy
Zuckerberg, Benjamin
Affiliated Faculty
Balster, Nick (Soil Science)
Lindroth, Richard (Entomology)
Marin-Spiotta, Erika (Geography)
Faculty Associate
Berkelman, James
Forestry Field Camp at the Kemp Natural Resources Station
F&W ECOL 658 Forest Resources Practicum is an intensive, three-week field course conducted in even-numbered years at the Kemp Natural Resources Station in Woodruff, Wisconsin. Affectionately known as Forestry Camp, F&W ECOL 658 Forest Resources Practicum introduces students to the complexities of forest ecosystems. Through a series of integrated exercises, students learn firsthand about forest ecosystem structure, function, processes, and services. Along the way students develop the knowledge necessary to conduct a comprehensive forest resource assessment. Subject areas include: basic field skills, plant identification, GPS & GIS, timber cruising, forest soils, wildlife identification and survey methods, forest ecology, and forest habitat classification. Forestry Camp also provides students with opportunities to work closely with faculty and “real world” natural resource professionals in a beautiful north woods setting.
Internships
All forest science students are required to complete either an internship or professional work experience for their degree. Students are encouraged to talk to their advisor about internship possibilities and departmental internship policies. In order to receive credit for an internship for the forest science major, students must find an internship, get it approved by their advisor, and enroll in F&W ECOL 675 Professional Development in Forest & Wildlife Ecology in the following fall semester. Students who have questions about the internship can also talk to Todd Courtenay, the student services coordinator.
Forestry Club
Forest science undergraduates have an active student organization called the Forestry Club. For more information on the club and their activities, please see their Facebook Page.