2026-2027 Academic Catalog

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Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Forestry Major with Forest Operations and Business Option

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Degree Core Requirements
FREC 2214	Introduction to Land and Field Measurements	3
FREC 2314	Forest Biology and Dendrology	2
FREC 2324	Dendrology Laboratory	1
FREC 2614	Human-Environment Systems	3
FREC/NR 4004	Professional Skills in Natural Resources	1
FREC/NR 4014	Natural Resources Economics	3
FREC 4114	Information Technologies for Natural Resource Management	3
FREC 4434	Natural Resource Policy	3
Subtotal		19
Major Requirements
ENSC 3134	Soils in the Landscape	3
FIW 2114	Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation	3
FREC 2514	Wildland Fire: Ecology and Management	3
FREC 3214	Forest Biometrics (Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking)	3
FREC 3314	Forest Ecology and Silvics	3
FREC 3724	Forest Boundaries and Roads	3
FREC 4214	Forest Photogrammetry and Spatial Data Processing	3
FREC 4514	Forest and Tree Pest Management	3
Subtotal		24
Forest Operations and Business Option
ACIS 1004	Accounting Foundations	3
or ACIS 2115	Principles of Accounting
FREC 2414	Field Experience in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation	2
FREC 3224	Forest Biometrics Laboratory	1
FREC 3324	Silviculture Principles and Applications	4
FREC 3714	Forest Harvesting	3
FREC 4714	Harvesting Systems Evaluation	3
Subtotal		16
Business Restricted Electives
Select twelve credit hours from the following: (substitutions possible with approval)		12
AAEC 2104	Personal Financial Planning
AAEC 3454	Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship
AAEC 3504	Agricultural Marketing Channels: From Farm to Plate
AAEC 4424	Ag Financial Management
ACIS 2116	Principles of Accounting
ENGL 3764	Technical Writing
or ENGL 3774	Business Writing
FIN 2114	Investments and Financial Literacy
FIN 3054	Legal and Ethical Environment of Business
FIN 3104	Introduction to Finance
FREC 4024	Forest Resources Management and Business
MGT 2064	Foundations of Entrepreneurship
MGT 3304	Management Theory and Leadership Practice
MKTG 3104	Marketing Management
REAL 2004	Principles of Real Estate
REAL 4064	Real Estate Appraisal
REAL 4754	Real Estate Law
or AAEC 3314	Environmental Law
SBIO 2614	Introduction to Forest Products Marketing
Subtotal		12
Free Electives
Estimated free electives for Forest Operations and Business Option to reach the minimum 120 credit hours required for graduation		7
Subtotal		7
Pathways to General Education
Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse
COMM 1015	Communication Skills	3
or ENGL 1105	First-Year Writing
COMM 1016	Communication Skills	3
or ENGL 1106	First-Year Writing
FREC 3734	Forest Fiber Supply (Pathway 1a)	3
Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities
Select six credits in Pathway 2		6
Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences
AAEC 1005	Economics of the Food and Fiber System	3
or ECON 2005	Principles of Economics
AAEC 1006	Economics of the Food and Fiber System	3
or ECON 2006	Principles of Economics
Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences
BIOL 1105	Principles of Biology	3
BIOL 1106	Principles of Biology	3
Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking
FREC 3214	Forest Biometrics (Pathway 5a)
MATH 1025	Elementary Calculus	3-4
or MATH 1225	Calculus of a Single Variable
MATH 1026	Elementary Calculus	3-4
or MATH 1226	Calculus of a Single Variable
Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts
Select three credits in Pathway 6a		3
FREC 4444	Integrated Forest Management Practicum (Pathway 6d)	3
Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States
Pathways Concept 7 is currently suspended effective Fall 2025. Please refer to the Pathways Page for more information.
Select three credit hours in Pathway 7 ^*		3
Subtotal		42-44
Total Credits		120-122


*: A course taken to satisfy another Pathways concept that is listed with Pathways Concept 7 will satisfy Concept 7 requirements simultaneously.

Satisfactory Progress Towards Degree:

Upon having attempted 72 semester hours (including transfer, advanced placement, advanced standing, credit by examination, course withdrawal), students must:

Be enrolled in a degree granting-program, and

Be certified at the close of the academic year by their department as making satisfactory progress toward a degree based upon preestablished minimum criteria, and

Have an in-major GPA of 2.00 or above and maintain an in-major GPA of 2.00 or above until graduation.

It is recommended to pass at least 24 semester credits that apply to Pathways requirements.
It is recommended to pass the following courses or their equivalents: BIOL 1105 Principles of Biology, BIOL 1106 Principles of Biology, and MATH 1025 Elementary Calculus

Graduation Requirements

Minimum credit hours required for graduation is 120.

Forestry Notes

Policy on Student Exchanges: If studying overseas or at another U.S. university, begin planning at least 9 months prior to your departure to allow time to determine what substitutions, if any, will be allowed and to arrange your schedule to ensure that all requirements for graduation will be met.
In-major GPA Computation: Includes all courses designated as FREC.
An in-major and overall GPA average of 2.0 is required for graduation.
In accordance with university guidelines, courses satisfying degree core requirements may not be double counted to satisfy other areas of a degree (e.g. Pathways to General Education).
See the Timetable of Classes in HokieSpa and CNRE course offerings guide for course availability, which is subject to change.
Prerequisites: Some courses have prerequisites. Consult with your advisor about course sequencing.
See Catalog for program notes and further details.
This curriculum meets forestry academic program accreditation standards of the Society of American Foresters.

Acceptable Substitutions

Acceptable Substitutions: The following requirements have acceptable substitutions.

CSES 3114 Soils is an acceptable substitution for ENSC 3134 Soils in the Landscape

Foreign Language Requirement

Foreign Language Requirement: A sequence of two (2) foreign language courses is required for graduation unless two (2) high school units of the same foreign language or six (6) transfer credit hours of foreign language have been earned. These credits do not count toward graduation.

This guide is for students with a 2026-2027 academic year date of entry. Students do not need to follow this plan exactly. This is an example plan.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall Semester		Credits
COMM 1015 or ENGL 1105	Communication Skills (Pathway 1f) or First-Year Writing	3
BIOL 1105	Principles of Biology (Pathway 4)	3
MATH 1025 or MATH 1226	Elementary Calculus (Pathway 5f) or Calculus of a Single Variable	3-4
AAEC 1005 or ECON 2005	Economics of the Food and Fiber System (Pathway 3) or Principles of Economics	3
Pathway 6a Course		3
Free Electives (Suggested: FREC 1064 Discovering Forest Resources and Environmental Management		1
	Credits	16-17
Spring Semester
COMM 1016 or ENGL 1106	Communication Skills (Pathway 1f) or First-Year Writing	3
BIOL 1106	Principles of Biology (Pathway 4)	3
MATH 1026 or MATH 1226	Elementary Calculus (Pathway 5f) or Calculus of a Single Variable	3
AAEC 1006 or ECON 2006	Economics of the Food and Fiber System (Pathway 3) or Principles of Economics	3
Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities Course		3
	Credits	15
Second Year
Fall Semester
FREC 2214	Introduction to Land and Field Measurements	3
FREC 2314	Forest Biology and Dendrology	2
FREC 2324	Dendrology Laboratory	1
FREC 2514	Wildland Fire: Ecology and Management	3
FIW 2114	Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation	3
Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities Course		3
	Credits	15
Spring Semester
FREC 2414	Field Experience in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation	2
FREC 2614	Human-Environment Systems	3
ENSC 3134	Soils in the Landscape	3
ACIS 1004 or ACIS 2115	Accounting Foundations or Principles of Accounting	3
Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States Course		3
	Credits	14
Third Year
Fall Semester
FREC 3314	Forest Ecology and Silvics	3
FREC 3714	Forest Harvesting	3
FREC/NR 4004	Professional Skills in Natural Resources	1
Business Restricted Elective (see approved list)		3
Business Restricted Elective (see approved list)		3
Free Electives		3
	Credits	16
Spring Semester
FREC 3324	Silviculture Principles and Applications	4
FREC 4714	Harvesting Systems Evaluation	3
FREC 3214	Forest Biometrics (Pathway 5a)	3
FREC 3224	Forest Biometrics Laboratory	1
FREC 3734	Forest Fiber Supply (Pathway 1a) ¹	3
	Credits	14
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
FREC 4114	Information Technologies for Natural Resource Management	3
FREC 4514	Forest and Tree Pest Management	3
FREC/NR 4014	Natural Resources Economics	3
Business Restricted Elective (see approved list)		3
Free Electives		3
	Credits	15
Spring Semester
FREC 4434	Natural Resource Policy	3
FREC 4444	Integrated Forest Management Practicum (Pathway 6d)	3
FREC 4214	Forest Photogrammetry and Spatial Data Processing	3
FREC 3724	Forest Boundaries and Roads	3
Business Restricted Elective (see approved list)		3
	Credits	15
	Total Credits	120-121