The School of Forest Resources and Conservation at University of Florida is the largest educational resource in the state for studying forestry conservation and maintenance. Facilities include the 2000-acre Austin Cary Memorial Forest and the Swisher- Ordway Preserve near Melrose, Florida. The school, located in Gainsville, offers majors in forest resources and conservation and natural resource conservation. There are several scholarships available for students who qualify on a need-based application process.
The Forest Resources and Conservation program establishes an understanding of forest resources as a basis for the development of expertise in forest resource management. Students select four specializations according to their own interest from options including forest resource management, urban forestry, international and agro-forestry, and forest science. The Natural Resource Conservation program helps students develop a personalized program in consultation with an adviser. Programs of study range from the specific to broad, but all paths of study seek to establish a thorough understanding of forest ecology. The completion of either degree results in a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources and Conservation.
The Natural Resource Conservation program at Pensacola State is designed specifically to help students transfer to a professional school. The program offers the first two years of a baccalaureate degree program in forestry. Developed in consultation with leading universities in forest studies including the University of Florida, the Conservation program at Pensacola State allows students to create a course of study with the help of an adviser that meshes with each students' personal educational and career goals.
Students must maintain an average GPA of 2.0 or higher to stay in the program. General education and core courses include English composition, literature, mathematics and various courses in humanities. Students also enroll in courses that compliment the Natural Resource Conservation Program, including biological sciences, physical sciences and natural sciences labs. If planning to enroll at the University of Florida after their second year, students must elect to take core courses that qualify for credit transfers.