BS in Natural Resource Science and Management with Emphasis in Forest Resources

Degree Program Description

The Natural Resource Science and Management degree with an emphasis in Forest Resources expands the knowledge base in fire ecology, silviculture, and forest stand dynamics in order for graduates to better address the challenges of managing forest resources in the 21st Century. Students with a degree in Natural Resource Science and Management with an emphasis in Forest Resources will be accredited by the Society of American Foresters and may find employment as community foresters, consulting foresters, ecologists, and resource foresters.

Major Program Requirements

In addition to completing major program requirements, students must complete the following additional emphasis area requirements:

Degree Program Requirements-Emphasis Area
FOREST 2541Forest Utilization1
FOREST 2542Forest Measurement and Inventory Field Studies1
FOREST 2544Introduction to Silviculture and Management1
FOREST 2340Tree Physiology3
FOREST 3207Forest Fire Control and Use3
FOREST 3212Forest Health and Protection3
FOREST 4330Practice of Silviculture4
FOREST 4350Forest Economics3
FOREST 4360Forest Measurements3
FOREST 4380Forest Resource Management3
FOREST 4390Watershed Management and Water Quality3
NAT_R 4365GIS Applications3
ENV_SC 4560Observing the Earth from Space3
Professional Electives (Choose 2 Courses)
Exceptions may be made for related minors, certificates, study abroad, and service learning experiences
FOREST 3290Urban Forestry2
FOREST 4341Forest Harvesting and the Environment3
FOREST 4385Agroforestry I: Theory, Practice and Adoption3
ENV_SC 2600Sustainability Foundations: An Introduction to Sustainability 3
ENV_SC 4600WSustainability Science Problem Solving - Writing Intensive3
SOIL 3290Soils and the Environment3
SOIL 3500Soil Morphology2
SOIL 4305Environmental Soil Physics3
SOIL 4308Soil Conservation3
SOIL 4312Environmental Soil Microbiology3
SOIL 4313Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition3
SOIL 4318Environmental Soil Chemistry3
SOIL 4320Genesis of Soil Landscapes4

Semester Plan

Below is a sample semester plan for the Forest Resources Area. A student’s actual plan may vary due to course choices, course availability, transfer courses, and minors/certificates pursued. Please consult with your advisor prior to registering for courses.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIO_SC 1200 or PLNT_SCI 15005ENGLSH 10003 
MATH 11003Humanities & Fine Arts3 
NAT_R 10703CHEM 14003 
ATM_SC 10503CHEM 14011 
SSC 11502NAT_R 23253 
 FOREST 32073 
 16 16  
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
FOREST 21514SOIL 21003FOREST 25411
FOREST 43205SOIL 21062FOREST 25421
MATH 14003STAT 25003FOREST 25441
Missouri State Law Requirement 3FOREST 32123NAT_R 4950 or 49403
 FOREST 43603 
 15 14 6
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ABM 20703FOREST 23403 
FOREST 43304PRST 32313 
NAT_R 41104NAT_R 43653 
Behavioral or Social Science3FOREST 43803 
 Humanities & Fine Arts WI3 
 14 15  
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
FOREST 43903NAT_R 43533 
F_W 4600W3F_W 46504 
Humanities & Fine Arts3FOREST 43503 
Professional Elective3Professional Elective3 
 Humanities & Fine Arts3 
 12 16  
Total Credits: 124

Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • Change your Major. If you are considering changing your undergraduate major or are choosing between several majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573) 884-9700 or through the Discovery Center service in your MU Connect success network.
  • Decided on a Major. If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring that major.
  • Identify your Interests and Strengths. If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values, and talents, visit the staff at the MU Career Center. No appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
  • Explore MU Majors. If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit Majors at Mizzou or the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.