What Can I Do With a Major In Forestry?

UGA Specific Information for Forestry

Forestry is the profession of sustainably managing forestlands to meet society's demands for wood, clean water, wildlife habitat, recreation, conservation of forest flora and fauna, and climate amelioration. The nationally accredited Forestry curriculum provides a firm understanding of forest ecosystems, the way people view and utilize the forest, and management tools and concepts applied in forest management. The curriculum stresses "hands-on" field experience, teamwork, and developing critical thinking skills through problem analysis. The Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources is one of 52 programs nation-wide accredited by the Society of American Foresters. It is widely regarded as one of the top five forestry programs in the country. The graduate from this major will be a professional forester responsible for the resolution of competing uses of the forest and forest resources, and for the management of healthy, productive forests in meeting the owner's objectives.

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Class of 2019 Career Outcomes for Forestry*

** Includes Self-Employed

Campus Resources

Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations/Considerations

Licensure: 

Sixteen states sponsor some type of credentialing process for foresters. Alabama, California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire have licensing laws. Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina have laws requiring registration. Michigan, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and West Virginia have laws about voluntary registration.

Both licensing and registration requirements usually require a 4-year degree in forestry and several years of forestry work experience. Candidates who want a license also may be required to pass an exam.

*Taken from the Occupational Outlook Handbook

Supplemental Career Research Dashboard

Additional Career Research Resources

Employment Websites

Professional Associations/Resources

The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2019 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Employer Position Title(s)
Arbor Equity Groundcrew Member
Blue Triangle Lumber Hardwood Log Buyer
Bureau of Land Management Firefighter
Davey Resource Group, Inc. Utility and Consulting Forester
Georgia Forestry Commission Forester
Mercer Timberland Management Service Consulting Forester
Mike Mathis Business Owner
Pradera Project Engineer
U.S. Forest Service Forester
Utility Arborist Environmental Consultants (ECI)
West Fraser Procurement Technician
Weyerhaueser Temporary Worker
* denotes no responses received.
*Source: Areas above marked with an Asterisk (*) have been created utilizing data taken from the UGA Career Outcomes Survey. The "Employers Hiring...," "Job Titles of...," "Career Outcomes for...," and "Graduate/Professional Schools and Programs..." information listed above represent UGA Class of 2019 Graduates. The lists are not exhaustive and therefore do not represent all potential career options. Click here for more detailed Career Outcomes information regarding this major.

GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS ATTENDED BY UGA Forestry - Bachelor's Degree MAJORS FOR THE CLASS OF 2019**

Graduate School Program(s)
University of Georgia Forest Resources, MFR; Forest Resources (Forest Biometrics), MFR; Law, JD
* denotes no responses received.

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