2026-2027 Academic Catalog

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Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Forestry Major with Urban and Community Forestry 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
Urban and Community Forestry Option Requirements
CHEM 1035	General Chemistry	3
FREC 2254	Arboriculture Field Skills	1
FREC 3354	Trees in the Built Environment	3
FREC 3454	Trees in the Built Environment Lab	1
FREC 4254	Urban and Community Forestry Practicum	1
HORT 3325	Woody Landscape Plants	3
or HORT 3326	Woody Landscape Plants
Subtotal		12
Applied Plant and Environmental Sciences Restricted Electives
Select six credit hours from the following:		6
ENSC 4244	Ecological Restoration
ENT 4254	Insect Pest Management
FREC 4354	Forest Soil and Watershed Management
HORT/FREC 2134	Plants and Greenspace in an Urban Community
LAR 1254	Environment and Natural Systems
PPWS 2754	Weeds That Shape Our World
PPWS 4104	Plant Pathology
PPWS 4264	Pesticide Usage
PPWS 4604	Biological Invasions
Subtotal		6
Policy, Planning, and Public Relations Restricted Electives
Select six credit hours from the following:		6
AAEC 3314	Environmental Law
FIW/UAP 2334	Urbanization and Biodiversity Conservation
FREC 3544	Outdoor Recreation Planning and Management
FREC/BSE/HORT/LAR/SPIA 4554	Creating the Ecological City
GEOG 3244	The U.S. City
LAR 4034	Evolution of the American Landscape
PR 2044	Principles of Public Relations
PSCI/UAP 3344	Global Environmental Issues: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
PSCI 3424	State and Local Government
PSCI 3434	Urban Politics
SPIA/GEOG 2244	Sustainable Urbanization
SPIA 2554	Collaborative Policy-Making and Planning
SPIA 4454	Future of Cities
UAP 4344	Law of Critical Environmental Areas
UAP 4374	Sustainable Land Use and Environmental Planning
Subtotal		6
Free Electives		11
Estimated 11 - 14 credit hours free electives for Urban and Community Forestry Option to reach the minimum 120 credit hours required for graduation
Subtotal		11
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 4454	Principles of Urban and Community Forestry (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
FREC 3364	Environmental Silviculture (Pathway 6d)	3
Select three credits in Pathway 6a		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 Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States		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 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 forestry catalog page for program notes and further details.
This curriculum meets urban 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 1225	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	3-4
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
FREC 2254	Arboriculture Field Skills	1
	Credits	16-17
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
CHEM 1035	General Chemistry	3
Free Electives		3
	Credits	15
Spring Semester
FIW 2114	Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation	3
FREC 2614	Human-Environment Systems	3
Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States Course		3
FREC 3364	Environmental Silviculture (Pathway 6d)	3
Policy, Planning, & Public Relations Restricted Elective		3
	Credits	15
Third Year
Fall Semester
FREC 3314	Forest Ecology and Silvics	3
FREC 3354	Trees in the Built Environment	3
FREC 3454	Trees in the Built Environment Lab	1
FREC/NR 4004	Professional Skills in Natural Resources	1
HORT 3325 or HORT 3326	Woody Landscape Plants or Woody Landscape Plants	3
Applied Plant & Environmental Sciences Restricted Elective		3
	Credits	14
Spring Semester
FREC 3214	Forest Biometrics (Pathway 5a)	3
ENSC 3134	Soils in the Landscape	3
FREC 4434	Natural Resource Policy	3
Applied Plant & Environmental Sciences Restricted Elective		3
Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities Course		3
Free Electives		1
	Credits	16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
FREC/NR 4014	Natural Resources Economics	3
FREC 4114	Information Technologies for Natural Resource Management	3
FREC 4514	Forest and Tree Pest Management	3
Policy, Planning, & Public Relations Restricted Elective		3
Free Electives		3
	Credits	15
Spring Semester
FREC 4214	Forest Photogrammetry and Spatial Data Processing	3
FREC 3724	Forest Boundaries and Roads	3
FREC 4454	Principles of Urban and Community Forestry (Pathway 1a)	3
FREC 4254	Urban and Community Forestry Practicum	1
Free Electives		3
	Credits	13
	Total Credits	120-122