The applied forest technology program is no longer accepting new students. We encourage students interested in sustainable management of forests to consider our interdisciplinary forestry degree program.
WHAT IS FOREST TECHNOLOGY
Forestry is an exciting and rewarding career field in which practitioners work to solve today’s pressing natural resource and environmental challenges. Forest Technology students become career-ready in two years while studying forest ecology, silviculture, wildlife ecology, geospatial techniques, timber harvesting, and wood science. Students learn how to inventory natural resources; design, plan, and supervise forest harvesting operations; map and survey forest land; develop a forest management plan; and mitigate forest health issues – all while applying principles of conservation and sustainability.
WHY STUDY FOREST TECHNOLOGY AT UNH?
Students in the forest technology program, which is accredited by the Society of American Foresters, spend a lot of time in UNH’s largest “classroom”: the more than 3,000 acres owned and managed by the university. For every hour students spend indoors, they spend two hours immersed in this living laboratory. Students also interact with numerous professionals representing the wide variety of career opportunities in the field of forestry.
After graduating with an associate degree in forest technology, many students choose to hit the woods and begin a rewarding career. Alternatively, qualified students may choose to transfer into UNH’s accredited four-year forestry program, where they can earn a bachelor’s degree in just two additional years of full-time coursework.
Potential Careers
- Arborist
- Equipment/product sales
- Forest inventory technician
- Forestry consultant
- Forestry technician (fire)
- GIS/GPS technician
- Log scaler
- Lumber grader
- Sawmill technician
- Timber and log buyer
- Urban tree care specialist
-
Returning for the Degree that FitsDave Belanger is a forest technology major from Auburn, New Hampshire. He returned to UNH to pursue his associates degree almost a decade after leaving the university and enlisting in the Marine Corps.Learn More -
Turning a love of the outdoors into a careerNathaniel Cole ’22 is a Forest Technology major from Lebanon, New Hampshire. An avid outdoorsman who loves to fly fish, he is looking forward to a career preserving the health of the state’s forests.Learn More -
Into the WoodsZachary Simino ’19 wants to preserve and protect New Hampshire’s forests, and the forest technology program is giving him the foundational knowledge and hands-on experience he needs for success.Learn More -
Forest Technology alum Billy Kunelius shares his story about choosing the Thompson School, getting to know his faculty, gaining hands on experience and landing a job with a company he interned with while here at Thompson School. After working for four years after graduation from high school, I was ready to further my education. As I pondered my options of schools and degrees,…Learn More
Curriculum & Requirements
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.
Forest Technology Program of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| 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 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 528 or MATH 420 | 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 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| 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 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| 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 |
| Credits | 19 | |
| Total Credits | 66 | |
Degree Requirements
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:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 528 | Applied Biostatistics I | 4 |
| or MATH 420 | Finite Mathematics | |
| ENGL 401 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
| FORT 470 | Applied Silviculture | 4 |
| KIN 501 | First Aid: Responding to Emergencies | 1 |
| FORT/NR 527 | Forest Ecology | 4 |
| FORT #564 | Arboriculture | 3 |
| FORT 572 | Mensuration | 4 |
| FORT 573 | Management Operation & Analysis | 4 |
| FORT 576 | Forest Products and Wood Science | 4 |
| FORT 577 | Forest Harvesting Systems | 4 |
| FORT 578 | Ecology and Management of Forest Stressors | 4 |
| FORT 579 | Wildland Fire Ecology and Management | 4 |
| FORT 581 | Applied Geospatial Techniques | 4 |
| FORT #597 | Work Experience | 0 |
| NR 415 | Natural Resources Field Methods | 2 |
| NR 425 | Field Dendrology | 4 |
| NR 433 | Wildlife Ecology | 4 |
| Social Science Discovery or Humanities Discovery | 4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 66 | |
- 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.
Explore Program Details
Key Learning Objectives:
Graduates of the Thompson School Forest Technology Program will be able to:
- 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
In addition to the Forest Technology-specific FAQs below, check out the general Thompson School FAQ.
As a Forest Technology student, how much time will I spend outside in the forest learning about forestry?
In most of the Forest Technology courses, students spend a large proportion of class time out in the woods learning specific techniques and skills. In general, for every hour of inside lecture, students are outside in the woods for at least two hours.
The Forest Technology program has a Timber Harvesting course, do I need to have previous chainsaw experience for this course?
No, many students do not have previous experience with a chainsaw or harvesting equipment. We provide a safe introduction to timber harvesting, but we are not a logger training and certification program.
I am also interested in the four-year (baccalaureate degree) forestry program, does my coursework in the Forest Technology program count towards a four-year forestry degree?
Yes, we have a 2+2 articulation agreement with the UNH Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree program. This means that after successful completion of the Forest Technology program, students can work towards and complete a four-year forestry degree in as little as two additional years.
As a Forest Technology student, will I be in large classes or small classes?
Students in the Forest Technology program take a mix of program-specific courses and university-wide Discovery courses. As such, students get the experience of being in both large classes with students from many different majors and in small classes that are specific to the Forest Technology program. For the Forest Technology courses (which make up most of the courses Forest Technology students will take) the student to faculty ratio is less than 10:1.
The graduation rate of students working toward a degree over the past ten years averages 78%. Smaller class sizes allow a close watch on the students which helps with their success rates. Most students who do
not make it to graduation leave because they discovered that forestry was not for them. Many of these students transfer into other programs that are more suited to their interests.
The numbers of graduates from the Thompson School who choose to continue on for a baccalaureate degree (either here at UNH or elsewhere) frequently outnumber those entering the job market. This number ranges from 30% to 70%. These students are very successful in this endeavor and usually have a 100% success rate, graduating with their second degree.
Graduation Requirements
The standards for graduation from the Forest Technology program require a minimum of 64 earned credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a scale based on 4.0 as the highest.
The table below shows employment trends for our graduates.
|
EMPLOYMENT TYPE |
PERCENT OF GRADUATES |
EMPLOYMENT TYPE |
PERCENT OF GRADUATES |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Arborist |
18.1% |
Saw Milling/Wood Products |
7.6% |
|
Forestry Consulting/Land Management |
21.9 % |
Government Forester |
10.5% |
|
Wood Procurement |
1.9% |
Fire |
1.0% |
| Timber Harvesting |
13.3% |
Unknown | 25.7% |
Serving the UNH Community as a facility for Research, Education and Sustainable Lumber Production since 1968. All lumber is sustainably harvested from university land by Thompson School of Applied Science students in the Forest Technology program as part of their hands-on curriculum of study.
LOCATION: 248 Mast Road, Durham, NH 03824
CONTACT: andrew.fast@unh.edu
