Forestry Courses | 2026-2027 Graduate Catalog | SIU

Research philosophy, approaches to research; theory, hypotheses inference, and predicting; problem identification, project development and organization; methods of data collection, analysis and presentation; drawing conclusions and organizing results.

Credit Hours: 2

Presentation and critiques of current research project of faculty, graduate student and selected resource persons.

Credit Hours: 1

A study of current issues relating to hydrology and the management of water resources in forested and mixed land-use watersheds. Readings, discussions and projects will focus on research and management topics in water quality and quantity at regional, national and international levels. Prerequisite: FOR 402A or FOR 430A or equivalent or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Fundamentals of hydrology as related to forest and wildland water resources will be emphasized. Considerations will include the hydrologic cycle with emphasis on soil and groundwater regimes, evapotranspiration, surface and subsurface runoff, and the quantity and timing of water yield.

Credit Hours: 3

A study of physiological concepts and attributes of trees that underlies growth, ontogeny, and reproduction in the context of applied forest management. Physiological concepts will be presented and discussed in a framework that relates their influence on forest stand management activities such as establishing natural regeneration, tree planting, and other silvicultural processes in native, plantation and urban forests as well as forest tree and stand responses to disturbance, and the development and maintenance of old growth. Students who have achieved a passing grade in FOR 404 are not eligible to take this course. Prerequisite: PLB 200, or FOR 201, or FOR 331 or a plant physiology course.

Credit Hours: 3

Review and evaluation of current research and concepts in landscape ecology management. Principles of landscape ecology in the context of forested systems will be presented and discussed. Emphasis on how spatial heterogeneity and human activities influence landscape patterns. Students who have taken FOR 406 are ineligible to enroll. Prerequisite: G.I.S. course or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Introduction to the basic concepts and foundations of historical ecology, a discipline which joins traditional ecology with an investigation of human landscape transformation. Emphasis is placed on the interdisciplinary approach to historical ecology with readings in pollen analysis, dendrochronology, land-use history, archival and historical sources, and traditional vegetation surveys and reconstructions. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: 300 level plant ecology course or equivalent or consent of instructor. Field trip cost approximately $35.

Credit Hours: 2

Current and emerging issues in silviculture and landscape-scale natural resource and agricultural sustainability are addressed at the individual manager/farmer or small community level. Case studies consider underlying physical and biological principles underlying successful rehabilitation practices across a wide range of social contexts and physical landscapes. Experimental methodologies and their application to management problems are critiqued. Water, grazing, food crop, wildlife/biodiversity conservation, and biofuels are emphasized with accommodations for students with related interests. This course is intended for students with undergraduate training or practical backgrounds in natural resource management or agriculture and who are seeking to integrate these disciplines toward developing actionable solutions. Special approved needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 2

Application of microeconomic, macroeconomic and capital theory to forest resource problems; introductory econometric methods; long range supply and demand projections; international forest economics and policy problems decision theory in forest resource management. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: FOR 411 or equivalent or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 2

Quantitative methods of describing variation patterns of trees, testing genetic and environmental effects and interactions and evaluations of tree improvement program. Prerequisite: FOR 412 or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 2

An examination of concepts and processes associated with urban environments. Physical, chemical, and biological stresses associated with land use change and urban sprawl will be discussed and presented with a focus on water resources. Class discussion, readings, and projects will concentrate on current research in the urban environment. Restricted to graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Provides a practical overview of planning, mapping, and execution of prescribed burns for ecological restoration efforts in woodland and prairie habitats or other wildland areas. Emphasis will be placed on writing burn prescriptions, laying out burn units, planning and executing burns, and long term monitoring efforts. This will be accomplished with weekly on-line reading assignments followed by Friday morning field trips to visit burn units, prepare control lines, record weather observations, and conduct fuel model assessments. Course fee: $45.

Credit Hours: 2

Case studies in forest land management, management planning, utilizing computer programming, CFI and TSI role in long range management planning.

Credit Hours: 2

Study of nature and functions of the recreation environmental planning process in theoretical and policy terms. Types of plans at local, regional and state levels. Evaluation of different types of planning approaches and their utility in particular situations. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: FOR 421A or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 2

Review of sociological and psychological theories relevant to outdoor recreation planning; management alternatives. Review of current behavior research in outdoor recreation. Application of behavioral concepts to recreation planning and administration. Offered alternate years.

Credit Hours: 2

Principles and methods for land-use planning of park and recreation environments with emphasis on human dimensions of natural resource research. Focus on planning process and types of information to gather and organize. Application in group field projects. Prerequisite: FOR 220, FOR 420, or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Survey of theories and methods relating to resource interpretation planning and practice resulting from research in communication, education and marketing. Examines case studies and existing issues current to the profession of interpretation. Stresses relationship between theory and application. Prerequisite: FOR 423 or consent of instructor. Offered alternate years.

Credit Hours: 2

Establishment and maintenance of trees as beneficial components of urban environments. Tree functionality is addressed from biological, social, and economic opportunities and constraints commonly associated with cities and towns. Management of trees and wooded areas within ecological urban landscapes is addressed from the perspective of multiple constituencies. This course is primarily intended to be taken as part of the ecological urban landscapes graduate program and is offered Online Only. May be taken as a substitute for FOR 428. Students who have achieved a passing grade in FOR 428 are not eligible to take this course.

Credit Hours: 3

A discussion of the factors affecting site quality and their use in present site evaluation methods. Lectures will draw upon recently published scientific literature as well as forest research data collected and analyzed for southern Illinois forests. Laboratories will include sampling of forest sites and stands with subsequent analysis of data using graphic and statistical techniques and a computer to develop site evaluation models. Prerequisite: BIOL 307 or consent of instructor. Cost: $20.

Credit Hours: 2

Emphasis is placed on the principles, technical problems, procedures, alternatives, and consequences encountered in managing wildland watersheds for the production of quality water in harmony with other uses.

Credit Hours: 3

Provide a historical overview and current perspective on major topics in forest ecology including natural disturbance, gap and patch dynamics, and relevant restoration ecology techniques. This is accomplished through a critical examination of the literature through reading, group discussions, and field trips. Two to three field trips will be organized during the semester to observe the effects of natural disturbance with an approximate total cost of $25 per student. Offered alternate years.

Credit Hours: 2

This course examines prevailing management practices within each of the major forested regions of the United States. The course is primarily intended for students interested in wildlife habitat, wood production, or restoration. Emphasis is placed on understanding how underlying soils, silvics, climate, biotic agents, social forces, and past uses drive forestry differentially across the country. Prerequisite/Co-Requisite: FOR 310, or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Based explicitly in R, this course demonstrates an applied approach to Bayesian inference of hierarchical models. Side-by-side comparison of Classical and Bayesian analyses will be illustrated. Course content will focus on problems in wildlife ecology but will likely translate to other disciplines. Graduate-level statistics and R experience is beneficial but not required.

Credit Hours: 2

Theory and practice of analyses pertaining to the study of wildlife-habitat relationships. Understanding of common data collection techniques in wildlife and forestry science. Use of computers, statistical programs, and other forms of data analysis. Ability to work on practical and applied problems in wildlife conservation. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Current and emerging topics in spatial ecology that serve to confront conservation and management issues in natural resources. This course will introduce students to the study of how space directly and indirectly affects ecological processes that drive biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Readings cover topics from quantifying spatial patterns to evaluating ecological responses to space. Offered spring semester of even years. Restricted to graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 2

Multidisciplinary study of influences and constraints on human-renewable natural resource interactions. Readings, discussion and problem solving to enhance appreciation of human dimensions as an integral component of natural resource management. Emphasis on diverse perspectives on forest, fisheries, and wildlife; conceptual frameworks and research methodologies. Offered alternate (odd) years.

Credit Hours: 3

University residential graduate program abroad. Prior approval by the program is required both for the nature of program and the number of hours of credit.

Credit Hours: 1-6

Intensive consideration is given to current practices and problems in forestry. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Intensive study of disciplines fundamental to forestry. Study of the identification of native and exotic trees. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Intensive study of disciplines fundamental to forestry. Study of the physiology of individual tree species in relation to their environment. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Intensive study of disciplines fundamental to forestry. Study analysis and integration of tree growth, forest structure and classification in relation to climate/edaphic factors as an ecological basis for forest management. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Intensive study of disciplines fundamental to forestry. Study of measurement, statistical and data processing concepts; volume, growth, yield of forest products and methods of sampling forest resources. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Intensive study of disciplines fundamental to forestry. Study of principles and methods for land-use planning of park and recreation environments. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Intensive study of disciplines fundamental to forestry. Study of concepts and techniques utilized in the silvicultural treatment of forests. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Intensive study of disciplines fundamental to forestry. Study of all aspects of fire as a phenomenon in wildland management. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Intensive study of disciplines fundamental to forestry. An introduction to the characterization and fundamental concepts of forest soils and their relationships to forest communities and forest management practices. Emphasis is on the chemical, biological, and physical properties of forest soils as related to forests and forest management.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Integrate the use of mapping, orthophotographs, and field information to evaluate resources in the development of land management plans. Topics covered range from orthophoto interpretation, to GIS database management, and vegetation mapping. Course includes classroom presentation, field trips, and laboratory exercises. $50 Field trip fee.

Credit Hours: 3

Directed research in selected fields of forestry.

Credit Hours: 1-4

A minimum of three and a maximum of eight hours to be counted toward a Master's degree.

Credit Hours: 1-8

For those graduate students who have not finished their degree programs and who are in the process of working on their dissertation, thesis, or research paper. The student must have completed a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation research, or the minimum thesis, or research hours before being eligible to register for this course. Concurrent enrollment in any other course is not permitted. Graded S/U or DEF only.

Credit Hours: 1