Forestry Technology

Forestry Technology Program Overview

• Associate Degree
• 2 Years
• Main Campus - Ironwood

Overview

The forestry program at Gogebic Community College prepares individuals to assist foresters in the management and production of forest resources. This program will instruct you on woods and field skills, tree identification, timber measurement, logging and timber harvesting, forest propagation and regeneration, forest firefighting, resource management, equipment operation and maintenance, record-keeping, sales and purchasing operations, and personnel supervision.  

This program prepares the student to be able to join the workforce as forestry technicians or transfer to a university to pursue a four-year degree.  

Unique Features

• Employable upon completion
• Transferable

Requirements

• High school course work should include two years of algebra, and a year each of biology and chemistry.  
• Math 104 Intermediate Algebra and English 101 English Composition I assessment testing is also required or ACT scores at acceptable levels may be substituted.  
• Applicants who have not completed the necessary high school or college background should meet with the Department of Forestry Advisor to plan a General Education-Forestry plan to help prepare them for the program  
• Students in this program wishing to transfer should work with the GCC Transfer Coordinator to determine the proper course schedule to ensure maximum transferability. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will:

1. Be able to identify herbaceous and woody vegetation and wildlife species by use of taxonomic key and remote sensing techniques. 
2. Develop an understanding of ecological principles and component processes.              
3. Demonstrate competence in land navigation and Public Land Survey Systems.             
4. Demonstrate proficiency in map and photo use and interpretation.                
5. Develop an understanding of basic silvicultural terms, concepts, and techniques and demonstrate their application toward management goals.       
6. Understand and demonstrate the use of basic terminology, principles, equipment, and skills required for land, wildlife, and timber measurements.         
7. Utilize the basic functions of digital tools for data collection, analysis and presentation (GPS/GIS/PowerPoint/Excel/graph functions).       
8. Demonstrate awareness of historical, political, economic, and social factors in Natural Resource Management. 
9. Develop an awareness of current issues in Natural Resource Management, with a focus on the issues and roles played by agencies, landowners and other stakeholders. 
10. Demonstrate safe and efficient use of hand tools.                
11. Develop the quantitative mathematical skills necessary to measure, monitor, analyze and manage all aspects of natural resources. 
12. Develop an understanding of human behavior as it relates to group dynamics, individual motivations, leadership, teambuilding and the influence on planning and decision making.
13. Demonstrate an ability to communicate through both written and verbal formats.

Program Learning Outcomes