Forestry Graduate Courses

Some courses are not offered every year. For additional details about courses offered, please see our website at www.nau.edu/forestry and click on the link for academics.

FOR  500 ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES      (3)

General systems overview of biophysical, social, and political factors associated with forestry. Emphasizes wildlife, recreation, and other noncommodity resources.

FOR  503 MANAGEMENT SCIENCE MODELING FOR MULTI-RESOURCE MANAGEMENT      (3)

Linear and nonlinear mathematical programming models and their application to forestry in a multi-resource management context. Prerequisite: MAT 467

FOR  504 FOREST WILDLIFE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT      (3)

After brief overview of theory and practice, course involves critically evaluating current literature on a specific management concern, such as migratory birds, predators, or endangered species. Prerequisite: one course in general biology or ecology.

FOR  505 FORESTRY SEMINAR SERIES      (1)

Weekly presentations by leading scientists in biological and social sciences describing current projects in forestry and wildland management, followed by an informal discussion period.  Each student reads scientific papers by two of the speakers (selected by the student).  Students collaborate to identify and invite speakers for the following semester.  Pass/Fail.

FOR  506 SPECIAL STUDIES IN FORESTRY      (1-4)

Individual investigation of a specially assigned topic.

FOR  514 FIELD IDENTIFICATION OF BIRDS      (1)

This course will teach students how to identify common forest birds of northern Arizona by sight and sound and provide an overview of sampling techniques used for monitoring forest-dwelling birds.  Letter grade only.

FOR  515 FORESTRY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES      (3)

Ecology, management, and policy issues of tropical and arid land forests in developing countries.  Co-convenes with FOR 415.  Letter grade only. Prerequisite: One FOR-Forestry or BIO-Biology course

FOR  520 APPLIED FOREST STAND DYNAMICS      (3)

Theory and practice of regulating forest composition, structure, and growth rates to meet multiple land-management objectives.  Letter grade only.

FOR  521 ADVANCED TOPICS IN ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY AND WILDLAND SOILS      (3)

Course utilizes directed readings and discussion of classical and current literature in ecosystem ecology and wildland soils, with an emphasis on land management impacts and global environmental change.  Letter grade only. Prerequisite: FOR 213 OR FOR 479 OR BIO 479

FOR  524 AERIAL PHOTO INTERPRETATION      (3)

Basic photogrammetric principles; uses of aerial photographs to identify and map vegetation, physiography, and cultural features.  Letter grade only.

FOR  525 GIS AND SPATIAL TECHNIQUES IN FORESTRY      (3)

Application of geographic and spatial techniques to research and management in forestry, wildland management, and conservation planning.  Seminar format may include analysis of data provided by instructor or students.  Cross-listed with GGR 525.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required. Prerequisite:  GGR 525

FOR  530 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PRINCIPLES FOR PRACTITIONERS      (1)

This course is designed for land management practitioners who desire current information about applying ecological restoration principles to ponderosa pine ecosystems of the Southwestern U.S.  Instructor's consent required.

FOR  541 WOOD PRODUCTS      (3)

Technical aspects of marketing wood products.

FOR  542 PRINCIPLES OF WOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY      (3)

This course covers physical and mechanical properties of wood and how wood properties affect the use of and performance of these products in service.  Co-convenes with FOR 442.  Letter grade only.

FOR  544 LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY      (3)

Theory and application of landscape ecology.  Course examines scale-related issues and spatial patterns in natural and human-dominated landscapes; and their role in determining the structure and function of ecological systems. Even years.  Cross-listed with ENV 544.  Letter grade only. Prerequisite: FOR 313 and (FOR 314 or BIO 326)

FOR  550 FOREST TREE ECOPHYSIOLOGY      (3)

Effects of environment on physiological processes in forest trees. Prerequisites: college chemistry (including organic) and general or forest ecology.

FOR  551 FIRE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT      (3)

Ecological effects of wildland fires, fire regimes, fire management, prescribed fire, and the application of fire science to restoring and managing ecosystems.  Co-convenes with FOR 451.  Letter grade or pass-fail.

FOR  551L FIRE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT LAB      (1)

Field and computer lab applications in wildland fire: fuel sampling, fire behavior prediction, modeling fire effects, and prescribed burning. 3 hrs. lab. Letter grade or pass-fail. Corequisite: FOR 551

FOR  552 FOREST TREE DISEASES      (3)

Important forest tree diseases: their identification, ecology, and management.  Co-convenes with FOR 452.  Letter grade or pass-fail.

FOR  553 FOREST ENTOMOLOGY      (3)

Important forest insects, their ecology and control.  Co-convenes with FOR 453.  Letter grade only.

FOR  554 INTEGRATED FOREST HEALTH      (3)

Agents and processes of forest decline; methods of managing and monitoring forest health.  Co-convenes with FOR 454.  Letter grade only.

FOR  560 WETLAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT      (3)

This course covers the major environmental factors responsible for wetland structure and function, as well as current issues related to wetland management and policy.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required.  Prerequisite: Undergraduate ecology course or permission of instructor.

FOR  563 WATERSHED HYDROLOGY      (3)

Hydrologic principles and practices related to the land-water system; emphasis on the effects of climate, soils, vegetation, and land-use factors on the quantity and quality of runoff.

FOR  565 WATERSHED RESTORATION      (3)

Students will explore the effects of natural and anthropogenic activities on watershed conditions, and learn various approaches of restoring or handling any adverse effects of such disturbances on watershed ecosystems.  Co-convenes with FOR 465.  Letter grade only.  Instructor's consent required.

FOR  573 HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT      (3)

Social science concepts and theory related to how humans value and use natural resources with a focus on recreation and current natural resource management issues.  Letter grade only.

FOR  580 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PRINCIPLES      (3)

Concepts and theories of ecological science related to restoring natural structures and processes of ecosystems.  Letter grade or pass-fail.

FOR  582 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION APPLICATIONS      (3)

Examples and applications of ecological science related to restoring natural structures and processes of ecosystems.  Co-convenes with FOR 382.  Letter grade or pass-fail.

FOR  590 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES IN FOREST RECREATION DEVELOPMENT      (3)

Economic and social issues in promoting rural economic development and a quality rural environment through forest recreation development in the West.

FOR  593 NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS      (3)

Application of advanced methods in analyzing multi-resource forest economics problems.  Co-convenes with FOR 493.  Letter grade only. Prerequisite:  ECO 284 or ECO 284H

FOR  599 CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENTS      (3)

Examines recent trends and investigations in a selected area of a particular field of study.  May be offered no more than three times before being submitted for a permanent course number.  May be repeated for credit.  Letter grade only.

FOR  603 FOREST BIOMETRICS      (3)

Quantitative approach to the study and construction of forest growth and yield models. recommended: calculus. Prerequisite: STA 570

FOR  604 WILDLIFE HABITAT RELATIONSHIPS      (3)

Systems approach to comprehending the associations with and uses of habitat by wildlife.  Letter grade only.

FOR  605 NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY ANALYSIS      (3)

Students will investigate how to analyze the natural resource policy process including; substance, actors, institutions, interest groups, and the role of social values in policy content.  The course will include a review of current multi-resource philosophy, law and regulations.  Letter grade only.

FOR  625 APPLIED CONSERVATION BIOLOGY      (3)

Class focuses on practice, rather than theory, of conservation biology, and on conservation in managed, rather than strictly protected, landscapes.  Topics include collaborative conservation efforts, adaptive management, assessment tools, and integrated conservation and development projects in developing countries.  Letter grade or pass/fail.

FOR  633 ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS      (3)

Theory of ecological economics, which is the union of ecology and economics, and its application to natural resource management. Addresses both micro and macro aspects of ecological economics.

FOR  685 GRADUATE RESEARCH      (1-6)

Graduate research that is not part of a thesis, dissertation, or professional paper. Letter grade or pass-fail.  Department consent required.

FOR  689 PROFESSIONAL PAPER      (1-4)

Preparation of a professional paper if you are in the nonthesis master's program.  Department consent required.

FOR  690 RESEARCH METHODS      (3)

Scientific method; investigative procedures; formulation of hypotheses; problem selection and analysis; preparation of a research working plan.

FOR  692 PROSEMINAR I      (2)

Design, preparation, and presentation of professional seminars.  Department consent required.

FOR  693 TEACHING PRACTICUM      (2)

Examination and discussion of effective teaching methods. Teaching experience. Prerequisite: FOR 692

FOR  694 SUPERVISED TEACHING IN FORESTRY      (1-4)

Practical application of learner-centered, active teaching and assessment methods in undergraduate Forestry courses.  Forestry faculty will mentor graduate students in the implementation of effective teaching. Prerequisite:  FOR 693

FOR  695 ADVANCED STUDIES IN FORESTRY      (3)

Directed study in a forestry subject, with area to be specified at registration.

FOR  697 INDEPENDENT STUDY      (3)

Individualized directed study on selected topics. Pass-fail or letter grade, depending on departmental policy. (See the section titled Independent Study in the Degree Requirements chapter of this catalog for more information.)  Department consent required.

FOR  698 GRADUATE SEMINAR      (3)

Reading and discussion on selected advanced topics.  Pass-fail or letter grade, depending on departmental policy.

FOR  699 THESIS      (1-9)

Individualized directed research, writing, and oral defense of selected thesis topic.  May be repeated as needed.  Prerequisite:  Admission to master's program.  Department consent required.

FOR  799 DISSERTATION      (1-9)

Individualized directed research, writing, and oral defense of selected dissertation topic.  Department consent required.