Forestry (For)

www.forestry.iastate.edu
J. Michael Kelly, Chair of Department
Professors: Hall, Harrington, Hart, Jungst, Kelly, Schultz, Wray
Professors (Collaborators): Isebrands, Riemenschneider
University Professors (Emeritus): McNabb
Professors (Emeritus): Bensend, Countryman, Hopkins, Manwiller, Prestemon
Associate Professors: Colletti, Kuo, Mize, Rule
Assistant Professors: Asbjornsen, Peszlen, Stokke, Thompson
Assistant Professors (Adjunct): Isenhart, Negreros-Castillo

Undergraduate Study

The Department of Forestry offers courses that are concerned with the management of forest ecosystems for multiple benefits including wood and fiber products, biodiversity, recreation, water, wilderness, and wildlife. Conservation and preservation of natural resources are emphasized. The department offers work for the bachelor of science degree with a major in forestry and options in forest ecosystem management, urban and community forestry, natural resource conservation, or wood products. The education options in forest ecosystem management and wood products leading to a professional degree in forestry (Bachelor of Science) have been accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF) since 1935. The SAF is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post Secondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education as the accrediting body for forestry in the United States. The primary goal of the undergraduate curriculum in forestry is to educate foresters to be capable of scientifically managing the nation's forest lands. The purpose of the undergraduate curriculum in forestry is to prepare students for professional employment in management and utilization of natural resources and to equip them to function effectively in a complex society.

Graduates understand and can apply scientific principles associated with forests, forest ecosystem management, and wood and non-wood products. Graduates are able to communicate effectively and work well in teams. They are capable of preparing and delivering effective oral and written communication of scientific and technical decisions to professional and lay audiences. They are proficient in technical skills such as measurements, computers, inventory, economic analysis, data and situation analysis, and ecosystem assessment. They recognize the importance of ethics in forestry and are sensitive to cultural diversity and broad environmental concerns.

Graduates of the forest ecosystem management option are skilled at understanding how forests function and how forests can be managed to produce desired goods (wood, fiber, recreation, wildlife habitat) and services (clean water, carbon sequestration, wilderness) in the long-run. They are skilled at interpretation of interactions and effects of abiotic and biotic factors in forests and quantification of bio-physical, social, and economic outputs from forest ecosystems. They are skilled at complex decision-making involving private and public forest resources where ethical, legal, social, economic, and ecological dimensions are explicitly considered.

Graduates of the urban and community forestry option are able to combine biological, social, legal, and economic expertise to effectively manage trees or forests in an urban setting. They are skilled at decision-making related to site assessment, and long-term management of urban trees and forests to achieve multiple goals.

Graduates of the natural resource conservation option are skilled at assessing the natural functions of the environment and human impacts. They are skilled at interpretation of forest and other natural environments and making decisions relating to their conservation and preservation.

Graduates of the forest wood option understand the anatomical, physical, and chemical properties of wood and know wood processing operations involved in drying, machining, gluing, and chemical treatment of wood. They are skilled at applying their knowledge in the development of products and processes. They are able to provide scientific and technical problem-solving and marketing decisions for customers of wood products.

Elective courses related to the forest ecosystem management option can be selected to emphasize forest ecology; wildlife, wilderness, and recreation management; water quality and erosion protection; quantitative-analytical techniques; business and marketing; and other areas related to natural resource management. Elective courses in the urban and community forestry option can be selected to emphasize plant health, policy and planning, ecology, hydrology, sociology, business administration, or horticulture/design. Elective courses related to the natural resource conservation option can be selected to emphasize, ecology, wildlife, recreation, nature interpretation, landscape design, sociology and ethics of conservation and preservation. Similarly, elective courses in the wood products option can be selected to emphasize wood production, wood fiber, business and marketing, and quality assurance.

Many private firms as well as national, regional, state, and local agencies seek forestry graduates to fill positions in management of natural resources for commodity and non-commodity multiple benefits. Graduates in forestry are prepared to be involved with evolving forestry systems, such as agroforestry and urban forestry. Wood processing industries, such as composite products, plywood, particle board, lumber, and pulp and paper offer professional opportunities in production, product development, quality control, and marketing.

With advanced graduate study, the range of professional job opportunities for a person with a B.S. in forestry is expanded. Opportunities include research and education as well as more specialized managerial and administrative positions with private firms and public agencies.

During fall semester of the second year of study (sophomore year, typically), forestry students are required to enroll in the department's integrated forestry modules consisting of 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, and 206. That semester, consisting entirely of forestry coursework, is designed to give students an early understanding of the many aspects of forestry and how they are interrelated. In addition to work in the classroom, students will spend time in laboratory and field work each week. A 3-week fall camp during the semester will reinforce concepts learned both in the classroom and during laboratory/field sessions. Transfer students should check with the department for counsel on timing their completion of the integrated forestry modules.

The department participates in interdisciplinary programs in environmental studies, pest management, plant health and protection, and international studies (see Index). By proper selection of elective courses, forestry students can obtain a second major in these programs or in other disciplines.

The department offers a minor in forestry which can be earned by completion of a minimum of 15 credits in forestry courses. Students wishing to emphasize management and environmental aspects of forestry must select at least 15 credits from the following courses: 120, 301, 302, 310, 345, 390, 407, 451. Students wishing to emphasize wood products and wood utilization must complete 280 and an additional 12 credits from the following courses: 481, 483, 485, 486, 487.

Visit our departmental website at www.forestry.iastate.edu

Contact us at: e-mail; forestry@iastate.edu.

Graduate Study

The department offers programs leading to the degrees of master of science and doctor of philosophy with a major in forestry and minor work to students taking major work in other departments. Areas of specialization for the M.S. degree are forest administration and management, forest biology, forest biometry, forest economics and marketing, and wood science. Areas of specialization for the Ph.D. are forest biology-wood science, forest biometry, and forest economics.

Graduates are skilled at defining a research problem in forestry, applying scientific principles and appropriate methods, and analyzing the results. They are capable of understanding the many facets of forest and wood science and are very knowledgeable in specific areas in forestry. They are able to deal with complex forestry problems, and where appropriate, they are capable of blending ecological, social, ethical, legal, and economic factors in the research process. They are very skilled at communicating, both in written and oral form, research results to professional and lay audiences. They are sensitive to cultural diversity and work effectively with peers, natural resource professionals, and the public.

The graduate program is open to and suitable for students who have majored in forestry or related natural resource fields. A non-thesis master's option is available. All students are required to teach and conduct research as part of their training for the Ph.D. degree.

The department participates in the Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A.), with specialization in the agriculture program administered by the College of Business, providing an opportunity to obtain an M.B.A. degree while taking advanced courses in forestry and maintaining contact with the profession of forestry. The department also participates in interdepartmental majors in ecology and evolutionary biology, plant physiology, genetics, and water resources (see Index).

Courses open for nonmajor graduate credit: 301, 302, 342, 345, 390, 402, 407, 416, 451, 452, 453, 454, 475, 476, 481, 483, 485, 486, 487.

Courses Primarily for Undergraduate Students

For 104. Practical Work
Cr. R. Practical work experience in forestry. See adviser for departmental requirements.

For 110. Orientation in Forestry
(1-0) Cr. R. F. Orientation to the University and to the Department of Forestry. Discussion of the importance of work experience and developmental of desired resumes. Career opportunities.

For 120. Introduction to Renewable Resources (Same as Agron 120, AST 120, A Ecl 120, Env S 120.)
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Overview of soil, water, plants, and animals as renewable natural resources in an ecosystem context. History and organization of resource management. Concepts of integrated resource management.

For 201. Forest Biology
(2-0) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: Concurrent enrollment in 202, 203, 204, 205, and 206. Discussion of ecological concepts, individual tree structure and growth, variation and diversity in tree populations. Physical environment of trees and forests, ecological processes in forest communities, and introduction to different regional forest communities.

For 202. Wood Utilization
(2-0) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: Concurrent enrollment in 201, 203, 204, 205, and 206. Best management practices (BMPs) for controlling soil erosion associated with harvesting. Environmental aspects of materials usage by society. Processing of wood and wood fiber into products.

For 203. Resource Measurements/Evaluation
(2-0) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: Concurrent enrollment in 201, 202, 204, 205, and 206; Math 140. Survey techniques involved in quantification, valuation, and evaluation of tree and stand growth and other variables in the forest environment (e.g., recreational use, water quantity and quality, wildlife habitat value, biomass, and solid wood).

For 204. Forest Ecosystem Decision-Making
(2-0) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: Concurrent enrollment in 201, 202, 203, 205, and 206. Methods of decision-making related to forest ecosystems including communications, teams and conflict resolution. Current issues relating to public, private, and urban forests; quantification of processes, services, and goods produced by the forest and expected by the public such as wildlife, water, range, recreation, wilderness, biodiversity, as well as wood and fiber products.

For 205. Integrated Forestry Laboratory
(0-8) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Concurrent enrollment in 201, 202, 203, 204, and 206. Field and laboratory exercises integrating the evaluation and management of forest goods, services, and the processing of wood products.

For 206. Fall Forestry Camp
Cr. 4. F. Prereq: Concurrent enrollment in 201, 202, 203, 204, and 205. Three-week field camp to address topics and issues covered in 201, 202, 203, 204, and 205.

For 280. Wood Anatomy and Properties
(3-3) Cr. 4. S. Consideration of the anatomy and properties of wood and how they relate to its successful use. Comparative anatomical characteristics and identification of commercially important North American woods.

For 283. Pesticide Application Certification (Same as Ent 283.)
See Entomology.

For 290. Special Problems
Cr. 1 to 3. Prereq: Freshman or Sophomore classification, permission of instructor. A maximum of 4 credits of 290 may be used toward the total credits required for graduation.

A. Leadership in Forestry Teams (LIFT) Learning Community

B. Forest Ecosystem Management

C. Natural Resource Conservation

D. Urban and Community Forestry

E. Wood Science and Technology

For 301. Forest Ecology and Soils (Same as EnSci 301, Pl HP 301.)
(3-3) Cr. 4. F. Prereq: Biol 201, 201L; For 201 or a second course in biology. Effects of environmental factors on ecosystem structure and function. Special emphasis is given to soil forming factors and the role of soil in nutrient and water cycling and ecosystem dynamics. Additional emphasis is given on human influences on natural ecosystems. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 302. Silviculture
(2-3) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 201. Manipulation of forest vegetation based on ecological principles for the production of goods and services. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 310. Management of Small Forest Properties
(3-0) Cr. 2. S. Techniques of forest management with emphasis on small private holdings. Non-forestry majors only. Course terminates at the end of 11 weeks.

For 342. Dynamics of Forest Stands
(2-3) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 203, Stat 101. Examination of factors affecting individual tree and forest growth. Estimation of growth and yield of even-aged and all-aged stands. Examination of ways to assess site quality and competition. Review of simple random sampling and introduction to stratified random sampling and other sampling techniques. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 345. Natural Resource Photogrammetry and Photo-Interpretation
(2-3) Cr. 2 to 3. F. Prereq: Junior classification. Nonmajors should enroll for 2 credits, majors should enroll for 3 credits. Use of aerial photos and remotely sensed imagery in resource management. Training in techniques of photo measurement, interpretation, and use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Principles of remote sensing. 2-credit course terminates at end of 11 weeks. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 356. Dendrology (Same as Bot 356.)
See Botany.

For 390. Forest Fire Protection and Management
(3-0) Cr. 3. F. Characteristics and role of fire in forest ecosystems. Major topics covered include fuels, fire weather, fire behavior, fire danger rating systems, fire control, and prescribed burning. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 402. Watershed Hydrology and Surficial Processes (Same as Agron 402, EnSci 402, Geol 402.)
(3-3) Cr. 4. F. Prereq: Credit or enrollment in EnSci 330, or Geol 100 or 201, Phys 111, 3 credits in biology and 6 credits in chemistry. Burras, Simpkins. Examination of watersheds as systems wherein biological and physical factors control hydrology, soil formation, and nutrient transport. Laboratory emphasizes field investigation of watershed-scale processes. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 407. Watershed Management (Same as Env S 407.)
(3-3) Cr. 4. S. Prereq: A course in general biology. Managing human impacts on the hydrologic cycle. Field and watershed landscape best management practices for modifying the impacts on water quality, quantity and timing are discussed. Field project includes developing a management plan using landscape buffers. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 416. Forest Pest Management (Same as Pl P 416.)
See Plant Pathology. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 451. Forest Resource Economics and Quantitative Methods
(3-3) Cr. 4. S. Prereq: 203, Econ 101, Math 150. Application of economic principles to forest resource management. Methods of identifying and specifying problems in the management and use of forest resources. Application of mathematical and statistical models to the solution of managerial problems. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 452. Forest Ecosystem Management
(2-3) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 451. Principles of planning, regulating, and decision-making associated with public and private forests. Optimization of multiple-goal forestry with resource and policy constraints. Integrated forest resources management and evaluation of ecosystem management models. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 453. Forest Resource Policy and Administration
(3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 451. Forest resource policy - processes, participants, programs, and conflict resolution. Contemporary forest resource policies and issues. Forest resources for administration. Functions of administration, personnel management, and use of PERT/CPM in project administration. Ethics in forestry. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 454. Forestry Practicum
(1-4) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 20 credits in student's major at 300 level or above. Integrated decision-making related to the conservation, management, and preservation of private and public forests, wildlands, urban/community forests, and/or the production and utilization of wood products. Student teams work with a client and develop management plans that incorporate ecological, social, economic, ethical, and institutional/political factors. Effective teamwork, written/oral/visual communication, and problem-solving stressed. Multiple trips to project site and client. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 460. Agroforestry Systems (Dual-listed with 560; same as Agron 460.)
(2-3) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2002. Prereq: 6 credits in biological science at 300 level or above. Concepts of sustainable land use, agroecological dynamics, and component interactions of agroforestry systems. Agroforestry systems in temperate and tropical regions. Design and evaluation techniques for agroforestry systems. Ecological, socioeconomic and political aspects of agroforestry.

For 475. Community Tree Management (Same as Hort 475, Pl HP 475.)
(2-3) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Junior or senior classification, 3 credits in biology. Discussion of establishment and management of woody perennials in community-owned urban greenspaces, consideration of urban site and soil characteristics, plant physiology, plant culture, urban forest valuation, inventory methods, species selection, urban forest maintenance (health care and pest management), urban forest administration, legal and political issues, and landscape ecology (including wildlife) of the urban forest. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 476. Urban Forest Resource Planning and Policy
(2-0) Cr. 2. S. Prereq: Senior classification, For 475. Analysis of natural resource administration, policy, and planning in an urban context. Legal and political issues and policies influencing natural resource use decisions in densely populated areas. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 481. Chemical Conversion of Wood
(2-3) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2002. Prereq: 280. Chemical properties of wood. Pulp and paper technology. Other fiber products. Cellulose derivatives. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 483. Wood Deterioration and Preservation (Same as Ent 483, Pl P 483.)
(2-3) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2001. Prereq: 280. Deterioration by biological and physical agents of wood in use. Wood preservation and fire retardant treatments. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 485. Adhesive Bonded Wood Products
(2-3) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2002. Prereq: 280. Production of laminated wood, plywood, wafer boards, particleboard, and medium density fiberboard; includes wood variables, adhesives, processes, use of wood residues, and combining wood with other materials. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 486. Wood-Moisture Relations
(2-3) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2002. Prereq: 280. Movement of liquids and gases in wood. Seasoning techniques; shrinkage and swelling of wood. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 487. Mechanical Properties of Wood
(3-3) Cr. 4. Alt. S., offered 2002. Prereq: 280. Mechanical, thermal, electrical, and acoustical properties of wood; lumber grading and stress rating. Nonmajor graduate credit.

For 490. Independent Study
Cr. 1 to 4 each time elected. Prereq: Junior classification, permission of instructor. A maximum of 6 credits of 490 may be used toward the total of 128 credits required for graduation.

                A. Forest Biology

                B. Forest Biometry

                C. Forest and Recreation Economics

                D. Forest Management

                E. Wood Science

                G. Forest Photogrammetry

                H. Honors Program

                I. Forest Recreation Resource Management

For 498. Cooperative Education
Cr. R. Prereq: Permission of departmental chair. Required of all cooperative education students. Students must register prior to commencing each work period.

Courses Primarily for Graduate Students, Open to Qualified Undergraduate Students

For 501. Genecology
(3-0) Cr. 3 . Alt. F., offered 2001. Prereq: Gen 320 or Biol 301. Genecology principles as they apply to natural and improved populations of plants and animals. Genetic systems as they interact with long-term natural selection to produce clinical or ecotypic variation. The impact of current environments and genetic modifications of domesticated organisms on short-term selection pressures. Special coverage of species of interest to students enrolled in the course.

For 504. Advanced Forest Ecology and Silviculture
(3-3) Cr. 4. Alt. F., offered 2002. Prereq: 301. Detailed analysis of factors and processes underlying forest and stand growth and development. Applications of this knowledge to forest culture to support a diversity of use and protection objectives. Discussions of regional silviculture, tropical forests, and experimentation in forest biology.

For 510. Methods for Presenting Scientific Results
(2-0) Cr. 2. S. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Techniques of proper platform presentation. Discussion of effective audio/visual techniques for presentation of research findings. Practice in development of overheads and slides. Use of computer generated and projected visuals. Practice in oral presentation with critical review.

For 550. Advanced Quantitative Methods in Forestry
(2-3) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2002. Prereq: Stat 401 and one course in quantitative analysis or systems analysis or forest biometry. Applied problems in forest biometry and mathematical programming and other modeling techniques as applied to modern forestry problems.

For 560. Agroforestry Systems (Dual-listed with 460; same as Agron 560.)
(2-3) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2002. Prereq: 6 credits in biological science at 300 level or above. Concepts of sustainable land use, agroecological dynamics, and component interactions of agroforestry systems. Agroforestry systems in temperate and tropical regions. Design and evaluation techniques for agroforestry systems. Ecological, socioeconomic and political aspects of agroforestry.

For 570. Resource Allocation in Forestry
(2-2) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2003. Prereq: 451 or two courses in economics. Analytical approach to economic aspects of forest resource management problems. Theory and application of economic decision-making criteria to traditional and modern forest resource management issues. Current problems in the allocation of forest resources.

For 580. Sustainable Agriculture Seminar (Same as An S 580.)
See Animal Science.

For 587. Advanced Topics in Wood Science
(2-0) Cr. 2. Alt. F., offered 2001. Prereq: 280. Recent contributions of research and technology to product development. Areas of emphasis in basic and applied research.

For 590. Special Topics
Cr. 1 to 4 each time elected. Prereq: Permission of instructor.

                A. Forest Biology

                B. Forest Biometry

                C. Forest and Recreation Economics

                D. Forest Management

                E. Wood Science

                G. Forest Photogrammetry

                I. Forest Recreation Resource Management

                J. Wood Anatomy and Microtechniques

                K. Wood Chemistry

                L. Wood Physics

                M. Wood in Structures

For 599. Creative Component
Cr. 1 to 8.

                A. Forest Biology

                B. Forest Biometry

                C. Forest and Recreation Economics

                D. Forest Management and Administration

                E. Wood Science

Courses for Graduate Students

For 603. Tree Growth and Development
(4-0) Cr. 4. Alt. S., offered 2002. Prereq: 301 or a course in plant physiology. Structure and function of individual trees and shrubs. Emphasis is on factors that make woody plants different from herbaceous plants. Response of individuals to such environmental factors as radiation, temperature, water stress, flooding, and compaction, air pollution, fire and wind.

For 654. Advanced Topics in Forest Economics
(1-0) Cr. 1. May be taken twice for credit. Alt. S., offered 2003. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Discussion and presentation of advanced forest economic problems with particular attention to recent theories and applications. Emphasis on applications of micro and macroeconomic principles to forest resource allocation and long range planning.

For 696. Seminar in Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology (Same as Bot 696.)
See Botany.

For 699. Research
Cr. 1 to 8.

                A. Forest Biology-Wood Science

                B. Forest Biometry

                C. Forest Economics

                D. Forest Management and Administration

                E. Wood Science

                F. Plant Physiology

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