Individuals interested in becoming foresters should pursue a bachelor's degree in forestry, forest science or forest technology. Other possible majors include biology, environmental sciences or natural resource management. The Society of American Foresters accredits forester training programs. Bachelor's degree programs often allow students to focus on a specialty area such as forest resources management or forest restoration/operations. Associate degree programs that take two years to complete also are available in this field, and students in these programs can transfer to four-year degree programs. These two-year programs give students an introduction to harvesting and the protection of forests.
Individuals who complete graduate degree programs in this field can land jobs in teaching or research or advance to higher management roles such as those of forest conservationists or head foresters. In master's degree programs, which take about two years to complete, students can specialize in advanced areas such as forest molecular genetics and often must complete a research project. Doctoral students in this field usually must complete a dissertation to research a special area of the industry, such as watershed hydrology. Doctoral programs take about four years to complete.
Classes in a forester training program cover topics such as wildlife habitat assessment, ecology, soil science, tree physiology, land surveying and wood anatomy. In addition, students learn about timber management and how to utilize global positioning systems. Students also study how to read air maps and photos and learn about business administration principles. Graduate degree programs include topics such as political ecology and ecosystem analysis as well. Many forester training program classes occur outside to give students hands-on experience in the field, and many degree programs also allow students to complete internships.
After completing a forester training program, students can seek jobs in a wide range of settings. Most foresters work for government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service or Forest Service, while others seek jobs with consulting firms or nonprofit organizations. Training also prepares foresters in some states to complete mandatory licensing/registration requirements. In addition, forester training programs prepare students to seek voluntary certification in this field through organizations such as the Society of American Foresters, which increases employment opportunities.
Employment of conservation scientists and foresters is projected to climb by 12 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This can be attributed to the increased emphasis government agencies have placed on wildfire prevention and alleviation. Median annual wages of foresters in May 2008 were $53,750, reports the BLS.