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Urban Forestry

Urban Forestry Concentration

This concentration provides the academic knowledge and real-world skills to address emerging needs for the management of trees in our towns and cities, and the urban/wildland interface. In a career as an urban and community forester, you will manage trees along city streets, in municipal parks, private woodlots, and utility right-of-ways. Employers include federal, state, and municipal governments, private consultants, and industry.

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Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.


Scholarship Information

  • Students may apply for university, college and departmental scholarships through one application. You can find the scholarship application once you logon to myState. Under the banner tab, select Financial Aid and Scholarships. The application is listed as Submit/Revise General Scholarship Application.
  • Freshmen-only scholarships: Priority date for application is December 1.
  • All other students: Scholarship application close date is March 1.
  • New freshmen and transfer students who need information should contact Cory Bailey. All other students should contact Lanna Miller, Office of Student Services at 662.325.9376.

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Accredited Status

The Urban Forestry concentration in the Forestry major leading to the bachelor of science degree is accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). In the United States, programmatic accreditation is a non-governmental, peer-review process that assures the quality of the postsecondary education students receive. Academic programs volunteer to undergo this comprehensive review periodically to determine if certain criteria are being met. Accreditation is not a ranking system. It is simply assurance that a degree program meets quality standards established by the profession.


Internships

Cooperative Education - Through its Cooperative Education program, Mississippi State University encourages students to receive practical on-the-job training along with their academic studies. Typically, students in this program accumulate one year of work experience in their chosen fields before graduation by alternating between studying at Mississippi State for a semester and working with a cooperating organization for a semester.

Students must complete two semesters of study and earn a minimum 2.5 grade-point average before entering the cooperative education program, and they must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA. Generally, students begin work during the summer following their freshman year and work alternate semesters thereafter.



Thrive in Five

With MSU's Thrive in Five accelerated degree program, scholars can earn their bachelor's and master's degrees concurrently in only five years. And by completing the required course load in less than the typical six years, they'll enter the workforce and start earning sooner. Undergraduate students who have completed at least 60 hours of coursework and have at least a 3.25 GPA may begin the process of earning their bachelor's and master's degrees at an accelerated pace today.


Living-Learning/Theme Community

The College of Forest Resources Themed Community for natural resource majors is housed in Cresswell Hall. The community provides students an opportunity to attend the same classes, establish study groups, and network and live with like-minded students. The College of Forest Resources is a small college with career paths that provide students continuous interaction with classmates from the first day of college throughout their careers. Students in this community will find a valuable opportunity to ease the transition to college and to build relationships within the natural resource field. Students must be in the College of Forest Resources to participate in this community.


Potential Careers

Title
Community Assistance Forester
Consulting Forester
Director of Forest Operations
District Forester
District Ranger
Extension Specialist
Forest Ecologist
Forester
Landowner Assistance Forester
Natural Resource Manager
Procurement Forester
Production Forester
Recreation Planner
Research Forester
Urban Community Forestry Coordinator
Urban Forest Specialist
Urban Forester
Urban Forestry Program Coordinator
Vegetation Manager
Youth Camp Coordinator
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