Fact Sheets

Pre-Forestry @ MSUM 

It is important that you realize that MSUM does not offer a degree in forestry but only a two-year, pre-forestry preparation. Degrees in forestry are generally awarded at the larger universities, such as the University of Minnesota. Therefore the student who enrolls at MSUM for pre-forestry courses should have decided to which school he/she will eventually transfer so that we can insure that the coursework during your freshman and sophomore years corresponds to that expected by the school of your choice. Generally I encourage a prospective student to write to several schools of forestry so that adequate information is available to wisely plan your first two years of college.

In many of the schools of forestry students specialize in a given area, such as forest management, forest science, product marketing, etc. In most cases these specializations are a result of "tailored" courses that are included in the junior and senior years. Therefore, regardless of the specialization, the courses taken during the first two years are more basic and generally can be taken at almost any college or university. They include physics, geology, speech as well as a year (3 quarters) of mathematics, English, economics, chemistry and biology. The all-college requirements (liberal studies or general studies), which usually include courses in history, humanities, psychology, art and literature, must also be taken. Some schools of forestry, such as the University of Minnesota, require students transferring into their program to attend a summer camp which stresses field courses and techniques, prior to their acceptance for the junior and senior years.

While the disadvantage of taking the first two years at MSUM is that the student will have to transfer after two years, there are many advantages for electing to attend MSUM for pre-forestry training. The smaller lecture and laboratory sections mean more individual attention and greater access to the instructors. The classrooms and equipment are modern and programmed to be used by the student and the quality of education and the caliber of faculty are excellent. We are eager to serve your educational needs.