Forest Management Specialist

Learn the technical skills required to be successful in a career as a forestry technician in both public and private sector employment. With this certificate, you’ll acquire knowledge related to forest and land management, along with wildland fire – both suppression and prescribed burning applications. Intended for Natural Resources Technician students who have completed their first-year program courses.

COURSE LIST

Course list for reference only. Current students please refer to your individualized program plan or see your advisor.
**Outside effort hours are an estimate based on state standards, and may vary from person to person.

Course Title
Course Number
Credits
Instructional Hours
Outside Effort Hours**
Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
• Forestry 1

  10-057-132

  3Credit

  72

  90

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 72
  • Outside Effort Hours: 90
  • Course Number: 10057132
  • Credits: 3.00

  Covers tree and shrub identification (dendrology), forest mapping, stand inventory, basic forest ecology, silvicultural practices and timber types. This course prepares students to perform more specific job-related tasks in Forestry 2.

  Prereq: Exploring Natural Resources 10057104 or 10057183, Ecology 10057109, NR Common Topics 10057143, Written Communication 10801195, College Mathematics 10804107
• Forestry 2

  10-057-133

  3Credit

  72

  90

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 72
  • Outside Effort Hours: 90
  • Course Number: 10057133
  • Credits: 3.00

  A continuation of Forestry 1 with studies of aerial photography applications, logging operations, lumber scaling and grading, fire weather and fire suppression, tree planting and seeding operations, forest diseases and insects of the lake states. It culminates with field trips to natural resource agencies to view the practices and principles learned during class.

  Prereq: Forestry 1 (10057132)
• Soil and Water Conservation

  10-057-134

  3Credit

  72

  90

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 72
  • Outside Effort Hours: 90
  • Course Number: 10057134
  • Credits: 3.00

  Examines the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil in relation to water and wind erosion. The identification, planning and use of soil and water conservation practices are examined, and students study the relationship of soil fertility to conservation and management.

  Prereq: Exploring Natural Resources 10057104 or 10057183, Ecology 10057109, NR Common Topics 10057143, Written Communication 10801195, College Mathematics 10804107
• Plant Identification

  10-057-140

  1Credit

  36

  18

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 36
  • Outside Effort Hours: 18
  • Course Number: 10057140
  • Credits: 1.00

  Provides a basic study of the trees, grasses, herbs and aquatics of Wisconsin. The class focuses on the principal species of seven major plant communities: forest, bog, agriculture, prairie, marsh, shrub and beach.

• Wildfire Intro S130/S190/L180

  10-058-160

  2Credit

  45

  77

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 45
  • Outside Effort Hours: 77
  • Course Number: 10058160
  • Credits: 2.00

  Prepares new firefighters in basic firefighting skills and behavior factors that will aid them in the safe and effective control of wildland fires.

• S212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws

  10-058-162

  1Credit

  36

  18

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 36
  • Outside Effort Hours: 18
  • Course Number: 10058162
  • Credits: 1.00

  Provides introduction to the function, maintenance and use of internal combustion engine-powered chainsaws and their tactical wildland fire application.

  Prereq: Wildfire Intro S130/S190/L180 (10057160 or 10057160) and Emergency Medical Responder (10531104) or First Responder (10531105) or current certification in basic First Aid and CPR or not pursuing a degree
• Prescribed Fire

  10-058-181

  1Credit

  72

  0

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 72
  • Outside Effort Hours: 0
  • Course Number: 10058181
  • Credits: 1.00

  Consists of student participation in prescribed fire application for management and fuel reduction objectives. Emphasis will be on safety, ignition patterns and holding crews.

  Prereq: Wildfire Intro S130/S190/L180 (10058160) OR not pursuing a degree
• Fire Prep

  10-058-182

  1Credit

  36

  18

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 36
  • Outside Effort Hours: 18
  • Course Number: 10058182
  • Credits: 1.00

  Prepares the student for fire season. Topics include writing burn plans, burn site checks, equipment inventory, organization and maintenance.