This program is available at the following location:

• Corvallis

Options available:

• Art and Design
• Management and Marketing
• Science and Engineering

The Bachelor of Science degree in Wood Innovation for Sustainability is a multidisciplinary professional program that prepares students to work and design with renewable, plant-based materials such as wood, bamboo, canes, and agricultural fibers. In addition to scientific, mechanical, and design backgrounds, students gain broad perspectives on current issues associated with the sustainable utilization of renewable materials, including global trade, business innovation, energy production, and environmental impacts.

Graduates are highly sought after to work in business, manufacturing operations, and technical support where they use their knowledge and expertise to help develop sustainable products, industrial systems, and economies. Many also chose to start their own businesses in art and design-based fields, utilizing wood as their primary material.

The curriculum includes a broad lower-division core with a choice of one of the required upper-division options in Art and Design (A&D), Management and Marketing (M&M), or Science and Engineering (S&E).

• The A&D option prepares students to engage with renewable materials on both a design and aesthetic level. Artistically oriented students learn how materials function within the human space, gain an understanding of the studio woodturning and studio woodworking movements, and learn skills appropriate for small business ownership or matriculation in wood-design businesses Unique to this program is a core of woodturning-based courses that teach fundamental wood science and design from a studio perspective.
• The M&M option is designed for students interested in business. Completion of the M&M option and meeting additional grade requirements of the College of Business will fulfill the requirements for a transcript-visible minor.
• The S&E option is a flexible program that allows technically oriented students to design a personalized curriculum that opens doors to jobs that solve complex problems or to graduate school. Students select courses (often minors) that complement their interests. 

In addition to the course work, all students must have six months of work experience in an area related to their major. This is usually accomplished by two summers of employment in business or industry, but it may include work during the academic year. The department has an established network of connections to help place students in internships and summer employment.

Major Code: 017

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Describe fundamental properties and performance aspects that must be considered when using wood (rather than steel, concrete, or other synthetic materials) in industrial production, as a building material, or in aesthetics and design.
• Calculate wood moisture content and specific gravity and explain the concepts of equilibrium moisture content and fiber saturation point.
• Analyze and communicate scientific and technical information.
• Describe and diagram major conversion processes from downed log to final product.

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Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)

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Writing Intensive Course (WIC)

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Core Education course. Applies only to students admitted to an OSU undergraduate degree from Summer 2025 onwards

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Required to fulfill Core Requirements. These courses must be taken for grades (not S/U)

Baccalaureate Core

The following Bacc Core categories are not satisfied by the Wood Innovation for Sustainability Major. Students in the Art & Design Option should check the specific Bacc Core requirements for that program as some categories will be met through required and elective courses.

Major Code: 017

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.