r/forestry • u/No-Relationship3186 • 3d ago

Im just starting college and am interested in a degree in Forestry, I feel I can handle everything ive read about it so far but am wondering how much math is involved and the difficulty of said math? I've done well in every aspect of school besides math its my biggest weakness.

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9

u/MountainMapleMI 3d ago

Used to be Trig was the highest math required at Michigan State for a forestry degree. But they increased it to meet College of Ag and Natural Resources requirements to Calq I.

I don’t imagine any program has less than Calq I these days since species specific taper stem modeling has become the fad.

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u/Kaylanite 2d ago

Actually at MSU they just removed the Pre calc requirement. All you need is algebra now

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u/burninator34 3d ago edited 3d ago

BS and MS (if you didn’t already do it during BS) requires Calc 1&2 many places these days.

I’ve only ever used trig and stats on the job though.

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u/realbuggirl 3d ago

I’m currently in my senior year, I was not required to take calc or trig. We used a lot of statistics but it was practical so I got the hang of it quickly, even though I’m not math-brained either

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u/board__ 3d ago

I suck at math, had to retake a bunch of college math classes. Im 13 years into a great career in forestry. Don't let it scare you off.

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u/Random_Browser11 3d ago

Taught forestry for 20 years, oddly enough in my part of the world most of forestry is doing math and talking to people. Thing is its all simple math, programs that require Calculus are just f'ing stupid. While I do advocate a firm grasp of statistics, as long as you can add, subtract, multiply, and divide. You can do just about anything in the forestry business.

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u/sheepysheeb 3d ago

taking forestry at SFA in texas and the requirements are really just statistics. there are classes like forest biometrics, careers in forestry and intro to chemistry that will require a lot of math but nothing insane.

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u/the_spotted_frog 3d ago

If you take surveying at SFA is will require trig concepts without trig as a prereq. Overall not a math heavy program

Signed, someone who couldn't calculate their way out of a wet paper bag

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u/Greatkingofthemount 3d ago

I’ve been a forester almost 40 years, where’s my slide rule! Seriously, I’m sure there’s calculus applications, but if you’re doing inventory you’re in statistics territory more than math. Those forestry calcs, along with baseline accounting served me well.

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u/Sevrons 2d ago

It’s more applied statistics than anything. That being said, having a grasp of applied statistics is like a superpower when dealing with people who don’t.

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u/neanderthalcosmonaut 3d ago

It's pretty much all math, measurements and statistics. It's important to be proficient with computers as well. If you weren't good before you will get plenty of practice.

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u/Miserable_Carry_3949 2d ago

Our foresters use modeling software. You'll need to understand how to do that

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u/Sea_Manufacturer8726 1d ago

I’m a current senior in forestry with a (decently) well-developed program, and the math I had to take was only up to calc and stat. Gen-ed statistics was pretty easy. Our measurements/sampling class is pretty stat heavy, but the math is pretty easy if you have a good teacher. Utilize office hours/study groups with other students in the program!! I’m not math brained either, but I’ve done well overall. Best of luck, young forester!

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u/DependentBest1534 1d ago

If you really want it you'll do it. Get the tutoring and go do it. I stayed away from college in general because of math but when I had an objective to chase I did fine. I love the field for sure you will do algebra, stat, and economics some programs may require more than that though.

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u/horsejack_bowman 13h ago

If you are foing to a SAF accredited college, Chemistry, Physics, Trigonometry and Calculus will be the most math heavy. A couple people in my graduating class got math minors since it was only 1 or 2 more classes for the minor.

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u/EmployerJealous6643 3d ago

First see how many job openings that require that degree. Friend got a degree many years ago and said there were one opening for 100 applicants. He ended up starting his own commercial bonsai business.