Forestry

The Forestry Degree at LTCC is designed to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and the technical skills needed for major prep and transfer into a variety of forestry-related disciplines. With an interdisciplinary program of study, students will gain an understanding of forestry-related components, processes, and issues. Students are encouraged to meet with a LTCC counselor to ensure that a student’s chosen program of study aligns with the specific transfer requirements for each accepting institution.

The proposed program primarily consists of courses offered in Biology,Ecology, Environmental Science, Forestry, Geography, and Math. The courses proposed for this program are offered annually.Enrollment in these courses ranges from 14 to 30 students. It should be noted that Lake Tahoe Community College is a small rural college (average course enrollments across all disciplines is 15 students) and projected program enrollments and completers are proportional to overall college size and enrollment. Once the suite of Forestry certificates and degrees are approved, it is estimated that there will be approximately 12 students completing the program annually.

The Program Goal is: Career & Technical Education

A program of study in Forestry at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) has been designed to address occupational and educational needs throughout California and the Lake Tahoe Basin. In May2020, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (as part of the California Climate Investments Program) awarded a grant to LTCC to develop educational pathways and training to meet local and regional needs in the field of forestry. In April 2021, the California Tahoe Conservancy provided LTCC with additional funding to provide pathways for forestry training and to better meet local labor market needs. As the Caldor Fire entered the Lake Tahoe Basin in August of 2021, community members and local agencies were again reminded that proper management of forest resources is essential for the sustainability and viability of our community and those like it. As a consequence, there is strong local interest in forestry education and career development in forestry-related fields.

The Forestry Education and Job Placement Program at LTCC provides the theoretical knowledge and technical skills necessary to prepare students for advanced coursework, degree attainment, and entry-level employment in the field of forestry.

An Associate of Science degree in Forestry introduces students to the field of forestry and provides them with the technical skills needed to be competitive when applying for entry–level positions with local employers, such as the USDA Forest Service and the Tahoe Resource Conservation District. The new forestry program and stackable certificates promote the use of scientific methods to identify issues, understand relationships, and solve problems. Students will evaluate forestry issues in local and global contexts. These program objectives are met by placing an emphasis on the integration of academic coursework and technical field skills, which provide students with an educational foundation and practical experience.

LTCC offers a comprehensive curriculum of classroom and laboratory-based courses, field courses, and work experience/internship opportunities that focus on forestry issues,analysis, management, monitoring, and assessment. Through directed learning and hands-on experiences, students will learn to analyze forestry issues using appropriate technologies. The curriculum exposes students to different types of problem-solving strategies and analytical tools. Curriculum is designed to improve one’s chances of employability and job placement and provide additional skills training that may result in wage progression. This program of study will also help guide and prepare students for college-level coursework leading to an advanced degree in forestry.

California Community Colleges play an important role in economic and workforce development, and provide appropriate pathways where individuals can complete preparatory coursework needed for advanced degree attainment or transfer to a four-year university. Given the increasing value of forestry-related careers, there is a need for continued education and advanced training in this field. In this way, the development of an Associate of Science degree in Forestry is consistent with the mission of California Community Colleges and helps students to achieve their academic and professional goals.

The development of a Forestry program also helps to meet changing industry needs and the needs of the local community in which LTCC resides.

The Associate of Science degree in Forestry will be awarded upon completion of 36.25 - 38.25 units selected from a list of courses offered in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Forestry,Geography, and Math. Students will also select the appropriate GE pattern for the student’s intended goal with advice from a counselor. This may include CSU GE-Breadth, IGETC pattern, GE pattern for a four-year institution in an adjacent state, or the local GE pattern. Courses required for the degree are non-sequential and may be taken in any order. The degree can be completed in two academic years (six quarters) or less. The suggested sequence of courses that follows is based on entry into the program at the beginning of the academic year.

Associate of Science Degree: Forestry                                     

Required Core Total:  20.25 units

Elective Units:               18 units

TOTAL UNITS:               38.25 units

Proposed Sequence: 

Year1 (Fall): FOR 110 = 4 units 

Year1 (Fall): FOR 110L = 1.25 units

Year1 (Winter): GEG 134 = 3.5 units 

Year1 (Winter): FOR 111 = 4 units

Year1 (Spring): EVS 110 = 4.5 units

Year2 (Fall): BIO 101 = 5 units 

Year2 (Winter): BIO 102 = 5 units

Year2 (Winter): MAT 201 = 5 units  

Year2 (Spring): FOR 112 = 4 units

Year2 (Spring): FOR 133 = 2 units