Introduction to common forest health challenges in the central Appalachians. Identify symptoms associated with common biotic agents (e.g., hemlock woolly adelgid, emerald ash borer, chestnut blight, etc.) and abiotic stressors that affect the health of forested ecosystems. Understand and assess the effects these problems have on ecosystem processes and different methods for conserving forest resources while addressing the impacts. Course incorporates components of forest entomology, forest pathology, abiotic stressors, and invasive species.

Plants have played a major role in human affairs. Course will relate plant life processes and chemistry to human uses: food crops, spices, medicinals, and materials. Major units are the origins agriculture and early domesticates, ethnobotany, and a selection of plants and plant products with major historical impacts - potato, nutmeg, pepper, chocolate, sugar cane, cotton, quinine, rubber, tobacco. Contemporary themes include herbal medicine and plant-based pharmaceuticals.

Principles and operations of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applied to forestry and natural resources. Students will learn to collect necessary field data to create GIS maps and digital spatial data sets, perform basic spatial analysis, and integrate social and economic data to solve spatially related natural resource problems.

Students will learn to assess the physical environment of forested ecosystems by examining soil-plant-water relationships across a variety of landscape settings.

This is a practical course designed to provide students with knowledge and skills related to the collection of forest inventory data and the preparation of a forest inventory report required to manage forests and natural resources. Students will become familiar with statistical concepts used in forest measurements; use mapping and navigation procedures to locate sampling areas; conduct forest inventories; and develop inventory reports.

A study of the silvicultural practices for altering the forest canopy and regenerating the forest. Students will learn to apply these practices to meet multiple use objectives such as forest products, wildlife, health and protection, watershed, and recreation and develop silvicultural prescriptions.

Plan and design timber harvests, mark a stand for harvest, and describe the effects of harvesting. Use herbicides and pesticides to eradicate invasive species, perform tree planting, conduct thinnings, and participate in prescribed burns. Learn timber utilization technology and determine value added in converting trees to lumber.

An experiential learning opportunity designed to introduce students to basic concepts of forest wildlife management. Become familiar with common techniques to determine wildlife presence and relative abundance. Learn how forest management practices can directly and indirectly impact many wildlife species and their habitats in Kentucky. Understand how forestry and wildlife professionals manipulate forests to meet wildlife management and biodiversity conservation objectives at various spatial scales. Learn the direct and indirect impacts of some wildlife species on forest management.

The use of field experience as an educational complement to classroom work. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 credits which are to be used as electives.

The use of field experience as an educational complement to classroom work. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 credits which are to be used as electives.