Institute of Land and Food Resources : Guide to courses

13. Bachelor of Forest Science

Table of Contents

 13. Bachelor of Forest Science

The aim of the BForSc course is to educate students of forest science to the best international standards and to prepare them for careers in professional and industrial work, research and public service.

The course provides a broad-based education that will give students the necessary knowledge and thinking skills to care for and manage forested lands for purposes such as the sustainable production of timber, water and other forest products, recreation and the conservation of flora and fauna.

Such an education requires a comprehensive understanding of the biology of forested ecosystems, as well as an understanding of economics, engineering, wood science and sociology.

The first year of the course provides a foundation for later years, with basic studies in biology, statistics and chemistry and two introductory forestry subjects: Conservation of Australian Forests, and Forestry. These subjects are designed to give students a broader introduction to the relationship between Australia's physical environment, its forest and woodland communities, and their management. Conservation of Australian Forests is an elective in the course and may be replaced by an approved subject from this or another faculty. Subjects taken in second and subsequent years are set out at the end of this introduction.

Students do practical laboratory and fieldwork throughout the course. Excursions are arranged to provide opportunities to supplement, by personal observation, knowledge gained in lectures and practical work. Sometimes they take place during vacations.

Students must also complete a total of 16 weeks forestry work experience with approved organizations during vacations. The subject 211-442 Forestry Work Experience is a hurdle requirement for the degree.

 13.1. Course objectives

The Bachelor of Forest Science course has as its objectives that graduates:

• understand the structures of Australian forest industries and the principal factors that determine location, environmental impact, sustainability, profitability and international cost-competitiveness;

• have the essential factual knowledge and an understanding of principles appropriate to each stage of the educational process;

• have a capacity to apply scientific knowledge to the definition, analysis and solution of forestry, forest industry and related environmental problems;

• have an ability to design and conduct scientific enquiries;

• have essential skills in the acquisition and interpretation of forestry data;

• understand principles of sound practice in relation to health, safety, animal welfare and the environment in forestry and the forest industries;

• have a capacity for the exchange, acquisition and dissemination of scientific and industry information and for technology transfer;

• have a capacity and motivation for continuing independent learning;

• understand the rights, privileges and responsibilities conferred with the degree and with membership of professional associations and learned societies.

 13.2. Careers for forestry graduates

Graduates are well suited to a wide range of occupations, in particular relating to the management of forest resources and the environment. Most forest estates cover several hundred thousand hectares and the management of such large scale enterprises draws continually on training in forest biology (including ecology, genetics and physiology), hydrology, engineering, remote sensing and economics. Many forest science graduates are employed by government authorities, principally with the State forest services but also with land care, national parks, wildlife, water supply and country fire authorities as well as environmental management and planning agencies. There are also opportunities for employment in private forestry, mainly with the pulp and paper companies, and in the larger firms in the wood-based industry, especially in resource planning, timber and harvesting management, reforestation and wood technology.

The combined degrees with Commerce and Science provide graduates with additional skills and expertise which broaden the range of opportunities available.

Graduates of the BForSc course and combined degrees are eligible to become members of the Institute of Foresters of Australia.

 13.3. Undergraduate subjects

Note: Insufficient enrolments may lead to an elective subject being suspended. While no absolute minimum number of enrolments is set for any subject, each case will be considered on its merits, and it can be expected that minimum class size will be around ten.

First year
	211-109 Forestry	12.5
	620-160 Experimental Design & Data Analysis	12.5
	600-141 Biology of Cells and Organisms	12.5
	600-142 Genetics & the Evolution of Life	12.5
	600-111 Biology Of Australian Flora & Fauna	12.5
	211-108 Conservation of Australian Forests 1	12.5
	either
	610-141 Chemistry and	12.5
	610-142 Chemistry	12.5
	or
	610-161 Chemistry and	12.5
	610-162 Chemistry	12.5

Second year (taught at the Creswick campus)
	211-256 Tree Physiology	12.5
	211-215 Forest Ecology	12.5
	211-216 Forest Dendrology	6.25
	211-257 Economics and Financial Management	12.5
	211-212 Forest Surveying & Roading	12.5
	211-255 Forest Mensuration	6.25
	211-254 Field Studies 1	12.5
	211-203 Forest Soils	12.5
	211-258 Wood Science	12.5

Third year (taught at the Creswick campus)
	211-363 Field Studies 2	12.5
	211-359 Fire Management	12.5
	211-352 Forest Inventory and GIS	12.5
	211-333 Native Forest Silviculture	12.5
	211-334 Plantation Silviculture	12.5
	211-354 Timber Management & Harvesting	12.5
	211-316 Forest Products	12.5
	Plus two electives chosen from:
	211-301 Landscape Ecology and Management	6.25
	211-302 Tree Development	6.25
	211-303 Farm Trees-Project Design	6.25
	211-361 Hydrology & Catchment Management	6.25

Fourth year
Compulsory subjects:		Points
	211-448 Environmental Mgt Systems & Policy	12.5
	212-416 Resource Economics & Management	12.5
	211-442 Forestry Work Experience#	0
	plus at least one of:
	211-401 Industrial Forestry	12.5
	211-441 Advanced Agroforestry	12.5
	211-440 Forest Biotechnology & Tree Breeding	12.5
	211-444 Parks and Recreation	12.5
Electives
	any others from the above not already taken, plus
	211-446 Conservation Biology	12.5
	212-412 Social Research Methods	12.5
	212-430 Communicating Agriculture & Environmental Technology	12.5
	606-311 Community & Ecosystem Ecology B(lecture)	12.5
	211-423 Project In Forest Science 1	25
	211-445 Project In Forest Science 2	25
	211-403 Project In Forest Science 3	37.5
	211-404 Project In Forest Science 4	37.5
	Up to 50 points of other subjects from this or other faculties may be approved.

Status:                   Official 1999
Last Modified:            Tuesday October 20 11:50
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Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au