Paul Smith's College Bachelor in Forestry
Paul Smith's College

Paul Smith's College

Bachelor in Forestry

Paul Smiths, USA

BSc

English

Full time

Sep 2026

On-Campus

Key Summary

    About : The Bachelor in Forestry program focuses on sustainable forest management and conservation practices. It equips students with knowledge in ecology, forest biology, and the socio-economic aspects of forestry. Graduates may expect to engage in hands-on learning through fieldwork and internships. The duration of the program is typically four years, allowing for in-depth exploration of the subject.
    Career Outcomes : Graduates can pursue various careers in forestry, such as forest ranger, conservation officer, or consultant. Other options include roles in environmental policy, research, or in organizations focused on sustainability. The skills acquired during the degree also open opportunities in agriculture, land management, and ecological restoration.

Bachelors Degree in Forestry

Built on a longstanding Adirondack tradition, forestry education at Paul Smith’s College equips students with a foundation of technical, field-based and applied education that combines theory and practice. Bachelor’s degrees are offered in three concentrations:

  • Ecological Forest Management prepares students for positions with government forestry agencies, forestry consulting firms and non-governmental organizations.
  • Forestry Operations is a fit for students interested in working for forest-products companies or running their own forest-products firm.
  • Forest Biology is ideal for students who plan to continue to graduate school and specialize in a field such as forest ecology or forest entomology.

All forestry graduates complete a rigorous curriculum that also includes coursework in communications, liberal arts and sciences to develop an ethic of citizenship and a current mix of marketable professional skills. It’s easy to switch between concentrations during the first year.

ACCREDITED BY THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS

Paul Smith’s Colleges A.A.S. in Forest Technology and B.S. in Forestry degree programs are both accredited by the Society of American Foresters.

Key Facts

  • A.A.S. degree
  • B.S. degree
  • 121 credit hours (minimum) required
  • 40+ credits must be in 300/400 level courses
  • 60+ credits must be in the liberal arts and sciences
    • 121 credit hours (minimum) required
    • 40+ credits must be in 300/400 level courses
    • 60+ credits must be in the liberal arts and sciences
  • 121 credit hours (minimum) required
  • 40+ credits must be in 300/400 level courses
  • 60+ credits must be in the liberal arts and sciences
  • Paul Smith’s Colleges A.A.S. in Forest Technology and B.S. in Forestry degree programs are both accredited by the Society of American Foresters

Career Options

  • Forestry Technician
  • Procurement Forester
  • Log Buyer
  • Wildland Firefighter
  • Logger
  • Forest Products Industry

Required Courses

  • Core Forestry Required Courses: Intro to Forestry; Dendrology; Forest Production Processes; Forest Health; Forest Mensuration I; Forest Mensuration II; Silviculture; Forest Ecology; Forest Soils; Forest Management; Forest Policy; Advanced Silviculture; Intro to Wildlife Management; Geospatial Technologies; Watershed Management; Field Surveying I; Senior Capstone Project
  • Forestry Summer Session: Forest Production Processes; Forest Mensuration I; Field Surveying I
  • Forestry Concentration Requirements
  • Ecological Forest Management Concentration: General Ecology; Timber Harvesting; Natural Resource Economics; Field Surveying II
  • Forest Biology Concentration: Biology II; Plant Biology; General Ecology; Genetics; Chemistry II; Organic Chemistry; Choice of Biological Science Cluster
  • Forest Operations Concentration: Financial Accounting; Wood Properties; Timber Harvesting; Forest Products; Natural Resource Economics; Field Surveying II
    • Ecological Forest Management Concentration: General Ecology; Timber Harvesting; Natural Resource Economics; Field Surveying II
    • Forest Biology Concentration: Biology II; Plant Biology; General Ecology; Genetics; Chemistry II; Organic Chemistry; Choice of Biological Science Cluster
    • Forest Operations Concentration: Financial Accounting; Wood Properties; Timber Harvesting; Forest Products; Natural Resource Economics; Field Surveying II
  • Ecological Forest Management Concentration: General Ecology; Timber Harvesting; Natural Resource Economics; Field Surveying II
  • Forest Biology Concentration: Biology II; Plant Biology; General Ecology; Genetics; Chemistry II; Organic Chemistry; Choice of Biological Science Cluster
  • Forest Operations Concentration: Financial Accounting; Wood Properties; Timber Harvesting; Forest Products; Natural Resource Economics; Field Surveying II