Online Forest Management and Operations Certificate (UG)
Forest Management and Operations
Program Overview
The profession of forest management and operation covers how our forests are utilized, from commerce to conservation, from regulation to recreation. The Forest Management and Operations Certificate is available to undergraduate students and working professionals interested in enhancing their knowledge and skills in this field in their current practice. Over four semesters, students participate in engaging online lectures and an in-person field study to become better equipped in forest management and operations.
What You’ll Learn
This certificate is practical from start to finish. You’ll graduate with skills you can apply directly to forest management and operations work, including:
- Tree and Shrub Identification — Recognize and classify important North American trees and woody shrubs
- Silviculture — Understand how to treat forest stands to meet specific goals
- Forest Inventory and Analysis — Measure, scale, and map forest resources accurately
- Harvest Planning — Plan and schedule harvests responsibly
- Forest Management Economics — Make management decisions that account for cost, taxes, regulation, and multiple land uses
Career Relevance
A focused credential can open doors. This certificate supports learners seeking practical knowledge they can apply in forestry, conservation, natural resources, and land management. The skills you build here apply directly to work in:
- Forestry operations and resource planning
- Land and natural resource management
- Conservation and stewardship roles
- Forest inventory and harvest planning
- Public and private land management
If you already work in a related field, this certificate can strengthen your credibility, support your case for advancement, and add specialized expertise to your professional toolkit. And because it comes from UT Knoxville’s Herbert College of Agriculture, it carries the weight of a respected, accredited institution.
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Featured Courses
Courses must be taken in the following order: SNR 212, SNR 312, FORS 329, FORS 420.
Identification, classification, and nomenclature of important North American trees and woody shrubs. Forest associations. Silvicultural characteristics of trees and stands as the basis for the practice of silviculture.
Principles for treating forest stands to achieve selected objectives.
Tree, log, and lumber scaling and grading. Land inventory and stand mapping. Volume estimation.
Introduction to forest-level management concepts from an economic perspective. Harvest determination; goal setting under multiple-use concepts; taxes; classical approaches to regulation, linear programming and harvest scheduling; and goal programming.



