Forestry Technology
Career Outlook and Opportunities
The Forest Technology program is designed to prepare students to enter the forestry profession at the technician level, occupying a position of responsibility between that of the professional forester (bachelor's degree or higher) and the general labor force.Forestry is a competitive field. However, the placement rate of forest technology graduates continues to be very good. To be successful in obtaining employment and advancing in responsibility on the job, the student must maintain a respectable academic record, be willing to work hard under sometimes rigorous outdoor conditions, and develop the ability to speak and write effectively.
Representative Employers
Sources of employment for forest technicians include timber companies, forestry consulting firms, Georgia Forestry Commission, U.S. Forest Service, and various other state and federal agencies. Jobs may involve land management, wood procurement, forest protection, or supervision of personnel at wood yards, forest tree nurseries and other forestry-related installations.Educational Program
The Forest Technology curriculum consists of four semesters of coursework, and one summer term. Intensive, hands-on training is accomplished through numerous indoor and outdoor laboratory exercises. Graduates receive the Associate of Applied Science in Forestry degree. Abraham Baldwin's forest technician program is one of only four in the southeastern United States (and the only one in Georgia) that is recognized by the Society of American Foresters.
A detailed listing of the courses required for these majors can be found in the ABAC catalog.