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
Options

Forestry 1

10-057-132

3Credit

72

90

72 hours in class and estimate 90 hours outside of class. 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); Math for Common Topics (10804117)

Forestry 2

10-057-133

3Credit

72

90

72 hours in class and estimate 90 hours outside of class. 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

72 hours in class and estimate 90 hours outside of class. 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); Math for Common Topics (10804117)

Plant Identification

10-057-140

1Credit

36

18

36 hours in class and estimate 18 hours outside of class. 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

45 hours in class and estimate 77 hours outside of class. 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

36 hours in class and estimate 18 hours outside of class. 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

72 hours in class and estimate 0 hours outside of class. 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

36 hours in class and estimate 18 hours outside of class. Prepares the student for fire season. Topics include writing burn plans, burn site checks, equipment inventory, organization and maintenance.