Forest Engineering Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)
This program is available at the following location:
- Corvallis
The Forest Engineering Undergraduate Program provides an engineering education within a strong forestry context. The program is founded on fundamental principles of forest science and engineering science. Forest Engineering program objectives are to prepare graduates to plan and implement complex forestry and natural resource operations that help meet global demands for wood products while sustaining water, habitat, and other forest resources. It provides "work-ready" graduates for entry into the diverse professional field of forest engineering. Early career accomplishments include harvest unit design, forest road location and design, contract inspection and administration, cost analysis, and forest transportation management. Mid-career accomplishments commonly expand to involve aspects of engineering management, including planning and budgeting, supervision, wood supply procurement, harvest and road design reviews, and scheduling and controlling forest operations.
Program Educational Objectives – Forest Engineering
Specifically, the Forest Engineering Undergraduate Program provides fundamental coverage of the following:
- Fundamental engineering and forestry principles
- Physical and biological aspects of soil and water resources
- Surveying and measurement of land and forest resources
- Analysis and design of the forest transportation system
- Analysis and design of harvesting operations
- Economics and operational planning principles
Integration of these topics enables forest engineering graduates to develop and manage safe, economical, and environmentally sound forest operations. Design experiences that integrate the topics listed above and steadily build on previous course material are distributed throughout the upper-division portion of the program. The Forest Engineering capstone sequence during the senior year provides an opportunity for students to bring together all the topics from the curriculum in a project framework that includes the field and office engineering tasks associated with the planning and design of forest operations. The capstone sequence is integrated with the Forestry capstone sequence to provide realistic interdisciplinary planning and design experience.
Forest engineering graduates are employed by private forestry firms, public forestry agencies, logging and construction companies, engineering consulting firms, and surveying firms. Some graduates establish their own consulting businesses after a few years of field experience. Career progression following graduation can be quite varied. Some graduates gravitate toward technical positions while others move quickly toward management of harvesting and other forest operations, or more broadly defined management of the forest land base.
The Bachelor of Science and Honors Bachelor of Science degrees in Forest Engineering can be earned through completion of the Forest Engineering program or the Forest Engineering-Civil Engineering double degree program. The BS and HBS degrees in Forest Engineering and the BS and HBS Forest Engineering-Civil Engineering dual degrees are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.ABET.org. The BS in Forest Engineering is also accredited by the Society of American Foresters.
Completion of the five-year, double-degree Forest Engineering-Civil Engineering program results in a BS in Forest Engineering and a BS in Civil Engineering, offered by the School of Civil and Construction Engineering. The BS and HBS degrees in Civil Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.ABET.org. A more detailed explanation of the design experience and design course sequences is contained in the "Forest Engineering Advising Guide," which may be viewed on the department's website.
Forest engineering is a licensed profession in the state of Oregon. The BS in Forest Engineering meets the administrative rules established by the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying (OSBEELS) as evidence of adequate preparation for the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination, the first of two examinations required for professional engineering licensing. The BS in Forest Engineering, with the completion of appropriate program electives, also meets the OSBEELS administrative rules for evidence of adequate preparation for the Fundamentals of Land Surveying Examination, the first of two examinations required for professional land surveyor licensing.
Major Code: 380
Pre-Forest Engineering Major Code: 825
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Develop engineered forest operations that achieve silvicultural objectives.
- Develop engineered forest operations that appropriately protect soil and water resources.
- Survey and measure land and forest resources so that the engineering tasks associated with Forest Land Management, specifically, the design of appropriate Forest Operations can be effectively completed.
- Provide designs and manage the forest transportation in a way that meets the needs of forest land management and minimizes environmental impact.
- Plan and manage safe, economic and environmentally sound forest operations.
- Incorporate long term forest land management and operational planning in an environmental and economic context into forest operation plans.
Grade standards for the professional program as listed in the program description apply.
All students pursuing the BS in Forest Engineering must:
- Earn grades of “C” or better in all courses required for the major.
- Maintain a 2.0 GPA in all courses required for the major.
- Accrue a minimum of 192 total credits required for graduation.
First Year | Credits | |
---|---|---|
Pre-Forest Engineering | ||
CH 201 | CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERING MAJORS 1 | 3 |
COMM 114 or COMM 111Z | *ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE 1 or +*PUBLIC SPEAKING | 3 |
ECON 201 | +*INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS 1 | 4 |
FE 101 | INTRODUCTION TO FOREST ENGINEERING 1 | 2 |
FE 102 | FOREST ENGINEERING PROBLEM SOLVING AND TECHNOLOGY 1 | 3 |
FOR 111 | INTRODUCTION TO FORESTRY 1 | 3 |
FES 240 | *FOREST BIOLOGY 1 | 4 |
HHS 231 | *LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH | 2 |
HHS 241 | *LIFETIME FITNESS (or any PAC course) | 1 |
MTH 251 | *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS 1 | 4 |
MTH 252 | INTEGRAL CALCULUS 1 | 4 |
MTH 254 | VECTOR CALCULUS I 1 | 4 |
PH 211 | *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS 1 | 4 |
WR 121Z | *COMPOSITION I 1 | 4 |
Electives | 2 | |
Credits | 47 | |
Second Year | ||
CCE 201 | CIVIL AND CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING GRAPHICS AND DESIGN 1 | 3 |
ENGR 211 | STATICS 1 | 3 |
ENGR 212 | DYNAMICS 1 | 3 |
ENGR 213 | STRENGTH OF MATERIALS 1 | 3 |
FE 208 | FOREST SURVEYING 1 | 4 |
FE 257 | GIS AND FOREST ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS 1 | 3 |
FES 241 | DENDROLOGY 1 | 3 |
MTH 256 | APPLIED DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS 1 | 4 |
PH 212 | *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS 1 | 4 |
SOIL 205 & FOR 206 | SOIL SCIENCE 1 or *SOIL SCIENCE or SOIL SCIENCE and *SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205 | 4 |
ST 243Z | ELEMENTARY STATISTICS I 1 | 4 |
WR 227Z | *TECHNICAL WRITING 1 | 4 |
*Bacc Core Courses | 6 | |
Credits | 48 | |
Third Year | ||
Professional Forest Engineering | ||
FE 310 | FOREST ROUTE SURVEYING | 4 |
FE 312/FOR 312 | FORESTRY FIELD SCHOOL | 2 |
FE 315 | SOIL ENGINEERING | 4 |
FE 316 | SOIL MECHANICS | 4 |
FE 330 or BEE 311 | FOREST ENGINEERING FLUID MECHANICS AND HYDRAULICS or ECOLOGICAL FLUID MECHANICS | 3 |
FE 371 | HARVESTING PROCESS ENGINEERING | 4 |
FE 434 | FOREST WATERSHED MANAGEMENT | 4 |
FE 440 | FOREST OPERATIONS ANALYSIS | 4 |
FE 470 | LOGGING MECHANICS | 4 |
FE 471 | HARVESTING MANAGEMENT | 3 |
FOR 321 | FOREST MENSURATION | 5 |
FOR 329 | FOREST RESOURCE ECONOMICS I | 4 |
FOR 332 | FOREST RESOURCE ECONOMICS II | 2 |
*Bacc Core Course | 3 | |
Credits | 50 | |
Fourth Year | ||
FE 415 | FOREST ROAD ENGINEERING | 3 |
FE 416 | FOREST ROAD SYSTEM MANAGEMENT | 4 |
FOR 441 | SILVICULTURE PRINCIPLES | 4 |
FE 444 | FOREST REMOTE SENSING AND PHOTOGRAMMETRY | 4 |
FE 457/FOR 457 | TECHNIQUES FOR FOREST RESOURCE ANALYSIS | 4 |
FE 459/FOR 459 | FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND DESIGN I | 4 |
FOR 463/FE 463 | ^FOREST POLICY AND REGULATION or ^FOREST OPERATIONS REGULATIONS AND POLICY ISSUES or ^FOREST POLICY | 3 |
FE 469/FOR 469 | FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND DESIGN II | 4 |
FE 480 | FOREST ENGINEERING PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONALISM | 1 |
GEOG 300 or FW 350 | *SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE COMMON GOOD 1 or *ENDANGERED SPECIES, SOCIETY AND SUSTAINABILITY | 3 |
*Bacc Core Courses | 6 | |
Electives | 7 | |
Credits | 47 | |
Total Credits | 192 |
- *
Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)
- ^
Writing Intensive Course (WIC)
- +
Core Education course. Applies only to students admitted to an OSU undergraduate degree from Summer 2025 onwards
- 1
Required for entry into the professional program
Major Code: 380
Pre-Forest Engineering Major Code: 825
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
CH 201 | CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERING MAJORS | 3 |
FE 101 | INTRODUCTION TO FOREST ENGINEERING | 2 |
FOR 111 | INTRODUCTION TO FORESTRY | 3 |
MTH 251 | *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS | 4 |
WR 121Z | *COMPOSITION I | 4 |
Credits | 16 | |
Winter | ||
ECON 201 | +*INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS | 4 |
FE 102 | FOREST ENGINEERING PROBLEM SOLVING AND TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
HHS 231 | *LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH | 2 |
HHS 241 | *LIFETIME FITNESS (or any PAC course) | 1 |
MTH 252 | INTEGRAL CALCULUS | 4 |
Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 17 | |
Spring | ||
COMM 114 or COMM 111Z | *ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE or +*PUBLIC SPEAKING | 3 |
FES 240 | *FOREST BIOLOGY | 4 |
MTH 254 | VECTOR CALCULUS I | 4 |
PH 211 | *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS | 4 |
Credits | 15 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
ENGR 211 | STATICS | 3 |
FE 208 | FOREST SURVEYING | 4 |
MTH 256 | APPLIED DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | 4 |
PH 212 | *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS | 4 |
Credits | 15 | |
Winter | ||
CCE 201 | CIVIL AND CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING GRAPHICS AND DESIGN | 3 |
ENGR 213 | STRENGTH OF MATERIALS | 3 |
FE 257 | GIS AND FOREST ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS | 3 |
ST 243Z | ELEMENTARY STATISTICS I | 4 |
Bacc Core | 3 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
ENGR 212 | DYNAMICS | 3 |
FES 241 | DENDROLOGY | 3 |
SOIL 205 & FOR 206 | SOIL SCIENCE or *SOIL SCIENCE or SOIL SCIENCE and *SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205 | 4 |
WR 227Z | *TECHNICAL WRITING | 4 |
Bacc Core | 3 | |
Credits | 17 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
FE 312/FOR 312 | FORESTRY FIELD SCHOOL | 2 |
FE 330 or BEE 311 | FOREST ENGINEERING FLUID MECHANICS AND HYDRAULICS or ECOLOGICAL FLUID MECHANICS | 3 |
FE 371 | HARVESTING PROCESS ENGINEERING | 4 |
FE 434 | FOREST WATERSHED MANAGEMENT | 4 |
FOR 321 | FOREST MENSURATION | 5 |
Credits | 18 | |
Winter | ||
FE 315 | SOIL ENGINEERING | 4 |
FE 440 | FOREST OPERATIONS ANALYSIS | 4 |
FE 470 | LOGGING MECHANICS | 4 |
FOR 329 | FOREST RESOURCE ECONOMICS I | 4 |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
FE 310 | FOREST ROUTE SURVEYING | 4 |
FE 316 | SOIL MECHANICS | 4 |
FOR 332 | FOREST RESOURCE ECONOMICS II | 2 |
FE 471 | HARVESTING MANAGEMENT | 3 |
*Bacc Core Course | 3 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall | ||
FOR 441 | SILVICULTURE PRINCIPLES | 4 |
FE 444 | FOREST REMOTE SENSING AND PHOTOGRAMMETRY | 4 |
FE 457/FOR 457 | TECHNIQUES FOR FOREST RESOURCE ANALYSIS | 4 |
FOR 463/FE 463 | ^FOREST POLICY AND REGULATION or ^FOREST OPERATIONS REGULATIONS AND POLICY ISSUES or ^FOREST POLICY | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Winter | ||
FE 415 | FOREST ROAD ENGINEERING | 3 |
FE 459/FOR 459 | FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND DESIGN I | 4 |
FE 480 | FOREST ENGINEERING PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONALISM | 1 |
GEOG 300 or FW 350 | *SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE COMMON GOOD or *ENDANGERED SPECIES, SOCIETY AND SUSTAINABILITY | 3 |
Elective | 4 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
FE 416 | FOREST ROAD SYSTEM MANAGEMENT | 4 |
FE 469/FOR 469 | FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND DESIGN II | 4 |
Bacc Core | 3 | |
Bacc Core | 3 | |
Elective | 2 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Total Credits | 192 |