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Forestry
It’s human nature to explore.
In the School of Forestry and Horticulture, we believe the most valuable learning happens outdoors. Our location at the southern tip of Illinois includes ecosystems where both southern and northern tree species thrive, where you can find cypress swamps and limestone bluffs only a few miles apart.
Many learning hours are spent in the thousands of acres of forest on and adjacent to campus – including the Shawnee National Forest, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, and Trail of Tears State Forest. Our students graduate with the educational background and practical field skills needed to build a successful natural resources career – in a forest, recreation area, or even a big city.
Bachelor's Degree
Our top-ranked bachelor’s degree in forestry focuses on sustainable management of natural resources while working outdoors in nature with interesting people from all walks of life. By immersing yourself in the program, you will learn about forest ecosystems and gain expertise in managing public or private forests, all the while employing natural resource sciences for the protection, management, and sustainable use of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Master's Degree
Our graduate program in forestry offers students the opportunity to tailor their program to address their interests and career aspirations. Students can partake in research through assistantships, or gain hands-on experience teaching in a classroom or laboratory setting. Our distinguished faculty serve as your mentors, advisors, and guides as you refine your academic pursuits and goals.
Career Outlook
We are the only university in Illinois with a national forest in our backyard. Our graduates find careers as park rangers and educators, lumber industry consultants, recreation area managers, foresters, wildlife researchers, urban forestry planners, conservationists, water resource experts, wildfire fighters, and more.