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.
Class of 2020 Career Outcomes for Forestry*
** Includes Self-Employed
Campus Resources
- Warnell School Student Organizations
- American Water Resources Association SAF Forestry Club
- Society of Conservation Biology
- Soil and Water Conservation Society
- Xi Sigma Pi (National Forestry Honor Society
- UGA Mentor Program
- To find additional clubs and organizations, go to the Center for Student Organizations
- Connect with your Career Consultant
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
- O*NET (click on Find Occupations)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook (type in general term for career of interest)
- Georgia Career Information Center (accessible only on campus computers)
- Career Insider: Vault Guides (Under the “Resources” tab and select “Online Resources”)
- Candid Career (View professionals speaking about their careers under the “Resources” tab and select “Online Resources”)
Employment Websites
- Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources Job Site
- Get Forestry Jobs
- Forestry USA Jobs
- Society of American Foresters Job Board
- International Society of Arboriculture Careers
- Georgia Forestry Commission Employment
- U.S. Forest Service Jobs
- National Association of State Foresters Job Board
- International Society of Arboriculture Jobs
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Careers
- Society for Range Management Job Board
- Forest Products Society Career Center
- Alliance for Community Trees Job Center
- Tree Care Industry Association Job Board
- The Environmental Careers Organization
- Environmental Career Opportunities
- USA Jobs
Professional Associations/Resources
- Society of American Foresters
- Georgia Forestry Commission
- Georgia Forestry Association
- United States Forest Service International Programs
- Society of Arboriculture
- National Park Service
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Bureau of Land Management
- Society for Range Management
- ForestryUSA
- National Association of State Foresters
- Center for International Forestry Research
- Forest Products Society
- American Forest and Products Association
- Alliance for Community Trees
- Tree Care Industry Association
- Society of Wood Science and Technology
- Tree Foundation of Kern
Tip: Join LinkedIn groups that are related to your career interest. Need help finding groups? Check out the Groups You May Like link under the Interests/Groups tab. Review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined and consider joining them as we
Employers/Position Title Reported by Class of 2020 Forestry majors
The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2020 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) |
---|---|
AKA Tree Care | Sale Arborist | Beasley Forest Products | Procurement Forester, Timber Buyer | ECI | Utility Arborist, Utility Forester | Forest Resource Consultants | Forester | Georgia Forestry Commission | Field Forester | International Paper | Fiber Supply Associate | Rayonier | Technical Forester |
Graduate/Professional Schools attended by Class of 2020 Forestry majors
The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2020 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.
Graduate School | Program(s) |
---|---|
University of Georgia | Forest Resources, Master's; Forest Resources and Forest Business Management, Master's; Forest Resources in Forest Business, Master's; Forestry Resources, Master's; Natural Resources, Bachelor's |