New Associate Degrees to Enhance Natural Resource Industries
June 15, 2022
MOSCOW, Idaho 鈥斅� Three new shortened degree programs offered this fall at 果冻传媒麻豆社 seek to address growing workforce needs.
The College of Natural Resources programs prepare students for jobs in fire mitigation, forestry operations and nursery management after two years of education, rather than four. The offerings, approved by the State Board of Education in April, are the first associate degrees at 果冻传媒麻豆社.
Students develop essential skills through flexible coursework and hands-on training while forming partnerships with real-world stakeholders in the forestry and forest products industries.
鈥淭hese new associate of science degrees are critical to meeting our land-grant mission,鈥� said Charles Goebel, department head of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences at U of I. 鈥淪tudents in these programs utilize our unique resources and expertise to help meet the workforce demands of the growing forestry and wildland fire industries.鈥�
In the , students work among one of the nation鈥檚 top forestry programs for quality and value, using commercial harvesting equipment and technology to help manage U of I鈥檚 more than 10,000-acre Experimental Forest near Moscow.
Students in the engage in an experiential commercial forest nursery program with an emphasis on practices, technology and operations unique to the North American forest nursery industry. Forest Nursery students focus on propagation and production of trees, shrubs and native plants at environmentally controlled greenhouses located at U of I鈥檚 Pitkin Forest Nursery in Moscow.
Based on the college鈥檚 nationally ranked B.S. in Fire Ecology and Management, the is a flexible online program, ideal for future, permanent and seasonal employees employed as wildland firefighters and fire suppression technicians. Students collaborate with faculty experts and an extensive network of stakeholders at federal and state levels.
Additional opportunities for A.S. students include networking opportunities with partnering industries and completing the nationally acclaimed Idaho鈥檚 Logger Education and Advance Professionalism (LEAP) program and the Office of Personnel Management Federal Series certification. Students seeking associate degrees through these programs may continue into a Bachelor of Science.
For more information, contact the Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences at frfs@uidaho.edu.
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Media Contact:
Steven Shook
Professor of Forest and Sustainable Products
果冻传媒麻豆社
208-885-6802
Shook@uidaho.edu
Charles Goebel
Professor of Forest Ecosystem Restoration and Ecology
果冻传媒麻豆社
208-885-7311
Cgoebel@uidaho.edu
About the 果冻传媒麻豆社
The 果冻传媒麻豆社, home of the Vandals, is Idaho鈥檚 land-grant, national research university. From its residential campus in Moscow, U of I serves the state of Idaho through educational centers in Boise, Coeur d鈥橝lene and Idaho Falls, nine research and Extension centers, plus Extension offices in 42 counties. Home to more than 12,000 students statewide, U of I is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities, and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. U of I competes in the Big Sky and Western Athletic conferences. Learn more at uidaho.edu.