Department of Urban Forestry, Environment and Natural Resources
The mission of the Department of Urban Forestry, Environment, and Natural Resources is to provide high quality education, research, and public service in urban forestry, environment, and natural resources to diverse students both at undergraduate and graduate levels, and to the general public. The vision is to provide new knowledge, access, and opportunity to students and general public relative to urban forestry, environment, and natural resources through education, research, and service. The core values are:
1. Student First - Students are the central focus of the Department. Student recruitment, advisement, career guidance, retention, completion, placement, and overall professional development are the top priorities.
2. Academic Excellence - Provide high quality education, research and services to students and to general public.
3. Research and Scholarship - Makes every effort in research that generates new knowledge utilized in teaching and services.
4. Partnership and Collaboration - Emphases on partnerships with governmental agencies both at federal and state levels, universities, private industries, and not for profit organizations.
5. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Promotes diversity, equality, and inclusion, and provides education, research, services, and professional development opportunities for diverse student body, faculty, and clienteles.
The Department of Urban Forestry, Environment, and Natural Resources offers a comprehensive array of academic programs, research initiatives, and community engagement activities focused on promoting environmental sustainability and responsible stewardship of natural resources. The Department is committed to educating future leaders in environmental stewardship, sustainable urban planning, and natural resource management. Our mission is to conduct research, provide outreach, and offer academic programs that address the complexities of urban ecosystems, environmental challenges, and the sustainable use of natural resources. The undergraduate program provides students with a foundation in forestry, ecology, and urban planning, preparing them for careers in managing and conserving urban forests and green spaces. Students in this program gain interdisciplinary knowledge in urban forestry studies, natural resource conservation, ecosystem management, sustainable development, ecology, and policy, equipping them to address complex environmental challenges in urban and natural settings. Students completing this program will be prepared for leadership roles in governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. Please see concentrations below:
Environmental Studies Concentration
The Urban Forestry Environmental Studies Concentration offers a comprehensive exploration of the intersection between urban environments, forestry, and environmental sustainability.
Students in this concentration delve into the multifaceted relationship between urban landscapes and the environment, with a specific focus on the role of trees and green spaces in mitigating environmental challenges and promoting ecological health.
Upon completion of the Urban Forestry Environmental Studies concentration, graduates are well-equipped for careers in environmental advocacy, conservation management, and sustainability consulting. They possess the interdisciplinary knowledge, critical thinking skills, and practical experience needed to address the complex environmental challenges facing urban areas and to promote the creation of healthy, resilient, and sustainable cities for future generations.
Geospatial Technologies Concentration
The Geospatial Technologies Concentration merges the fields of urban forestry and geospatial technologies to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage and sustain urban forests using cutting-edge mapping and analysis techniques.
Upon completion of the concentration, graduates are prepared for careers as urban foresters, GIS analysts, environmental consultants, and sustainability planners. They are equipped to make data-driven decisions to promote the health and resilience of urban forests, creating greener, healthier, and more sustainable cities for future generations.
Natural Resources Sustainability Concentration
The Natural Resource Sustainability Concentration is an interdisciplinary program that integrates the principles of urban forestry with a focus on promoting the sustainable management of natural resources in urban environments.
Upon graduation, students are well-prepared for careers in urban forestry, natural resource management, environmental consulting, and sustainability planning. They possess the knowledge, skills, and perspective needed to address the complex challenges of urbanization while promoting the long-term health and sustainability of urban ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Urban Forestry Master of Science Graduate Program
The Urban Forestry Master of Science Graduate Program was established in the fall of 1998. The mission of the graduate program is to provide graduate students with a curriculum that offers sound academic training and experiential learning activities for professional career positions in governmental agencies, research organizations, and private firms. The program utilizes an interdisciplinary, total quality management approach to train students so that they can ultimately address critical issues and concerns in the science and management of urban forestry and natural resources. Each student will follow a prescribed program of course work and conduct a thesis research or capstone project tailored toward emerging issues or problems in urban forestry.
Urban Forestry PhD Graduate Program
The Urban Forestry PhD Graduate Program was established in the fall of 2004. The available areas of concentration include Urban Forest Science (Eco- physiology, Tree Physiology/Anatomy, Urban Forest Health and Risk Assessment, Urban Forest Ecology, Urban Forest Soil, Urban Forest & Climate Change, Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Urban Forest Sustainability and Bioenergy, and Urban Forest Management (Arboriculture, Urban Forest Management, Water Resource Management/GlS). The nature of the program is essentially defined by an advanced training in the theory and practice of urban forestry and the conduct of research in issues and concerns in urban forestry and urban natural resources. The objectives of the proposed degree program are: a) to offer the targeted students opportunities to acquire a broad-based knowledge of several areas in urban forestry and natural resources that impact the State of Louisiana and the nation, and b) to enable the graduates of the program to be highly marketable and competitive in the field. The overall goal of the program is to produce high caliber scientists in urban forestry and natural resources. The program will uniquely address the increasing concerns on (a) the decline of the quality and quantity of our urban and community forests and natural resources, (b) the preservation, restoration and enhancement of environmental quality, and (c) the long-term effects on the urban infrastructure. In addition, the program will train future professionals in urban forestry to effect planning, management, and policy of urban societies and to provide a healthier urban environment to live in.
The uniqueness of the program will address urban forestry problems and emerging issues in urban forestry and natural resources. The Ph.D. training program will effectively prepare students for a variety of job opportunities in State and Federal agencies, industries, and academia.
Learn More!
To see the undergraduate and graduate catalogs for the Department of Urban Forestry, Environment and Natural Resources, click below:
