The online Advanced Silviculture for the Practicing Forester graduate certificate is designed for natural resource management professionals who wish to advance their knowledge, skills, and careers while remaining employed. The program administered through CSU Online will prepare you with the knowledge, tools and theories to apply advanced ecological and silvicultural concepts to diverse forest ecosystems. You will gain new knowledge on how to develop, implement and evaluate silvicultural solutions to help forests and communities adapt to a changing climate.
Certificate Objectives
Apply advanced ecological and silvicultural concepts across diverse forest ecosystems.
Develop and implement a comprehensive silviculture prescription and monitoring plan.
Identify climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies to meet a variety of management objectives and desired future conditions.
Access and utilize current and relevant scientific information for developing silvicultural prescriptions.
Advanced Skills
- Accessing, analyzing, and reporting on landscape conditions via large databases (e.g., FIA, GIS)
- Assess regional timber and non-timber market conditions
Application Requirements
- Bachelor of Science in a natural resources field
- Ecology and statistics experience
- Application materials including a statement of purpose, college transcripts, and an online application form and fee (more details here)
Career Paths
- Senior forest silviculturist, Regional silviculturist, Forest supervisor, Forestry consultant
- Conservation scientists
- Natural resource managers
- Environmental consultants
- Urban forestry coordinator
- Wildland/urban interface manager
Curriculum
The 12-credit Graduate Certificate in Advanced Silviculture for the Practicing Forester is designed to provide forestry professionals with advanced contemporary knowledge that will hone skills for making sound, science-based management decisions within an adaptive management context.
Course Schedule
| YEAR | SEMESTER | COURSE NUMBER | COURSE TITLE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Year | Fall | NR 693 | Natural Resources Stewardship Seminar | 2 |
| Fall | F 571 | Applied Forest Ecology | 2 | |
| Spring | F 572 | Advanced Silviculture Practices | 3 | |
| 2nd Year | Fall | F 574 | Climate Adaptive Forest Management | 1 |
| Fall | F 575 | Monitoring for Advanced Silviculture | 2 | |
| Spring | F 576 | Advanced Silviculture Capstone | 3 | |
| 13 Total Credits |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need natural resource management experience to apply to the certificate?
A Bachelor’s degree in natural resources or professional experience in natural resource management is required for admission to the Advanced Silviculture for the Practicing Forester certificate. This experience may be gained via work as a forester or natural resources manager, significant volunteer experience in a natural resources-related field, or an undergraduate degree in forestry or natural resources that included field experiences.
Do I need forestry field experience to apply to the certificate?
Forestry field experience is highly recommended, but not a requirement to apply. However, the certificate is designed to culminate in a capstone course where you will use data and information from a forest stand of your choice to develop a comprehensive silviculture prescription. It is beneficial to have a forest in mind that you can access and gather data from to successfully complete the capstone course.
Do I need undergraduate coursework in statistics and ecology?
Undergraduate coursework in statistics and ecology is required for several courses within the certificate. You can take these courses prior to or after admission.
If I’m receiving a CSU employee tuition benefit for the Silviculture Certificate, will it be taxed?
Employees taking graduate courses or post-bachelor undergraduate courses are limited to $5,250 of tax-free tuition. Any amounts over that limitation will be included in taxable wages.
What happens if I miss course content because I’m on a fire assignment or working in the field without internet access?
Every instructor will have a policy on missed assignments, so it is very important to initiate good communication and work closely with course instructors.
Can I earn Continuing Forestry Education credits for coursework?
Yes. Please let the Silviculture Certificate Coordinator or faculty member know you are interested, and they can apply for Society of American Foresters continuing education credits.