Institute of Land and Food Resources : Guide to courses

25. Bachelor of Forest Science

Table of Contents

 25. Bachelor of Forest Science

There is no first year entry into this course from 2001 onwards. Please refer to the details for the new course Bachelor of Forestry. The information below only applies to continuing students.

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 forest 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 forest ecosystems, as well as an understanding of economics, engineering, wood science and sociology.

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.

 25.1. 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.

 25.2. 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.

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

 25.3. Undergraduate subjects

Second year (taught at the Creswick campus)
	211-203 Forest Soils	12.5
	211-212 Forest Mensuration and Surveying	12.5
	211-215 Forest Ecology	12.5
	211-252 Forest Inventory and GIS	12.5
	211-254 Field Studies & Dendrology	12.5
	211-256 Tree Physiology	12.5
	211-257 Economics and Financial Management	12.5
	211-258 Wood Science	12.5
	Sub total	100.0

Third year (taught at the Creswick campus)
	211-316 Forest Products	12.5
	211-333 Native Forest Silviculture	12.5
	211-334 Plantation Silviculture	12.5
	211-354 Timber Management & Harvesting	12.5
	211-358 Forest Entomology and Pathology	12.5
	211-359 Fire Ecology & Management	12.5
	211-363 Field Studies 2	12.5
	211-364 Forestry Elective	12.5
	Sub total	100.0

Fourth year
	211-442 Forestry Work Experience#	0
	211-448 Environmental Mgt Systems & Policy	12.5
	212-416 Resource Economics & Management	12.5
	plus at least two of:
	211-401 Industrial Forestry	12.5
	211-441 Advanced Agroforestry	12.5
	211-444 Parks and Recreation	12.5
	Sub total	100.0

Electives*
	any others from the above not already taken, plus
	211-411 Processes in Forest Ecosystems	12.5
	211-412 Advanced Topics in Genetics & Breeding	12.5
	211-423 Project In Forest Science 1	25
	211-445 Project In Forest Science 2	25
	212-412 Social Research Methods	12.5
	212-430 Communicating Ag.& Environ Technology	12.5
	654-308 Conservation Biology	12.5
	Up to 50 points of other subjects from this or other faculties may be approved.

*Insufficient enrolments may lead to an elective subject being suspended.

Status:                   Official 2001
Last Modified:            Wednesday May 23 22:25
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Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au