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B.S. Degree Requirements

Students must complete University Baccalaureate Core requirements, College of Forestry requirements, and Departmental requirements.

Oregon State University Baccalaureate Core Requirements

For a listing of courses, see the General Catalog: http://catalog.oregonstate.edu/bcc.aspx

Skills Courses (lower division except WIC) (15)

No single course may be used by a student to satisfy more than one area of the core even though some courses are approved for more than one area.

Fitness (3)
Mathematics: MTH 105, *Intro to Contemporary Mathematics, or higher level mathematics(3)
Writing I (3)
Writing II (3)
Writting III/Speech(3)

Perspective Courses (lower and upper division) (24)

No more than two courses from any one department may be used to satisfy the Perspectives area of the core.

Biological Science (including lab) (4)
Physical Science (including lab) (4)
Plus choice of additional physical or biological science (including lab) (4)

Take a minimum of one course in each of the following areas:

Cultural Diversity (3)
Literature and the Arts (3)
Social Processes and Institutions (3)
Western Culture (3)

Difference, Power, and Discrimination Courses (3)

Synthesis Courses (upper division) (6)

Both synthesis courses may not be taken in the same department.
Contemporary Global Issues (3)
Science, Technology, and Society (3)

WIC (Writing Intensive Course, upper division, included in credits for major) (3)

Total (48) + WIC (3) = 51


College of Forestry Requirements

Courses used to complete major requirements in Forest Management or Recreation Resource Management cannot be taken with S/U grading. Free electives and courses not listed by number but included in required areas may be taken on an S/U basis up to a total of 36 credit hours. Natural Resources majors can take up to two S/U graded courses in their core, breadth, or option. This policy is consistent with the present Academic Regulation 18a(1)(c), which states: “A student must obtain the approval of his or her academic advisor in order to elect to be graded on an S/U basis in any course required in his or her major field. (Definition of courses which constitute the major field is the prerogative and responsibility of the department in which the student is majoring”.)

Your advisor will make suggestions and provide advice regarding your degree program, but the final decision is made by you. Ultimately you, not the advisor, are responsible for preparing quarterly schedules of classes that lead to timely graduation.

The Forest Management, Recreation Resource Management, and Natural Resources curricula are designed to be completed in four years (twelve quarters, 180 credits). To accomplish this, a student must average 15 credits per term and be diligent about scheduling prerequisite courses and course sequences. Students who average fewer credits per term can expect to spend more than twelve quarters in residence. Currently the average time it takes an undergraduate to complete their program is five years.

Forest Management Six-Month Work Requirement
The College requires every FM student to document six months of satisfactory work experience. A job announcement service, coordinated by the College with potential employers, helps students find seasonal and permanent positions. The work experience requirement is fulfilled by filing evaluations for summer forestry jobs. Jobs that are related to Forest Management are preferred; however, departmental discretion is used to accept any work experience that conceivably would help prepare you for a professional career in this area. The key word is “satisfactory.” Your file must contain evaluations using the College form that shows satisfactory performance on the job.

The objectives of this experience are to improve the student's work habits, teach the student valuable skills, and enhance their employability; to broaden the student's horizons and reinforce course work; and to aid academic advisors in counseling students by providing another viewpoint on the student's strengths and weaknesses. In addition, the initial salary for graduates is usually higher if the student has previous work experience. Students have also found that temporary employment may lead to a permanent position with the same employer.

Recreation Resource Management Six-Month Work Requirement
The College requires all RRM students to document and satisfactorily complete six-months of work experience. This usually involves working for a public agency or private recreation provider over the course of two summers. Fortunately, we usually have more summer job opportunities than students to fill them. The work experience requirement is fulfilled by filing evaluations for summer recreation management jobs. Jobs that are related to Recreation Resource Management are preferred; however, departmental discretion is used to accept any work experience that conceivably would help prepare you for a professional career in this area. Your file must contain evaluations using the College form that show satisfactory performance on the job. The objectives of this experience are to improve your work habits, teach you valuable skills, and enhance your employability; to broaden your horizons and reinforce course work; and to aid your academic advisors when counseling you by providing another viewpoint on your strengths and weaknesses.

These kinds of experiences can make a real difference when you graduate. RRM students have worked for all of the major federal land managing agencies (e.g., U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management); for state, county and local parks; with outdoor recreation outfitters such as river rafting and sea kayaking companies; and for non-profit organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and youth-oriented camping organizations such as the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. Some students have chosen to go abroad where they worked with international organizations (e.g., Conservation International, private ecotourism businesses). All have had an enormous range of experiences from which to choose. It’s important to note that initial salaries for graduates are usually higher if you have previous work experience. Students have also found that temporary employment may lead to a permanent position with the same employer.

Departmental Requirements

The Departmental requirements are detailed in the degree specific sections of this advising guide. A student will be qualified to graduate when all Departmental, College, and University requirements have been met.

1. Complete a minimum total of 180 credit hours of which 60 credit hours must be courses numbered 300/400.

2. Maintain a minimum grade-point average of 2.00 in each of the following:

  • all college work
  • all work taken in residence at OSU

3. “C” Grade Minimum:
Beginning Fall 2000, students pursuing a B.S. degree in Forest Management or Recreation Resource Management are required to earn a grade of “C” or better in required courses taught in the College of Forestry (courses with the prefix FE, WSE, FOR, and FS). A “C” grade includes a “C-”. Students who receive a “D+” or less will be required to repeat the course. As of Fall 2004, the above policy also applies to courses approved as substitutes for required College of Forestry courses. Natural Resources students must earn a “C” grade or better in upper-division courses in all NR core and breadth courses.

These requirements have been imposed to ensure adequate mastery of core forestry subjects prior to graduation. Seminars and other courses graded on a Pass/Fail basis are excluded from this requirement. University regulations state that when a course is repeated, only the second grade will count in the cumulative GPA calculation.

4. Complete residency requirement by earning a minimum of the last 45 credits at Oregon State University, or 45 of the last 75 term credits with approval of the Academic Requirements Committee.

5. Become a candidate for a degree by: Achieving senior standing and making formal application for the degree with the Registrars Office two terms preceding the term in which the student expects to complete the degree requirements

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Dept. of Forest Resources, Oregon State University,
280 Peavy Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331.
phone: 541-737-4951 | fax: 541-737-3049
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