Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences

Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences

For more than 100 years, University of Idaho's Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences has trained the leaders shaping the future of natural resource management. The department offers four nationally accredited bachelor's degree programs in forestry, fire ecology and management, rangeland ecology and management, and forest and sustainable products.  Additionally, the Department offers a new degree in ecology and ecosystem science, as well as three two-year degrees in forest nursery management and technology, forest operations and technology, and wildland fuels and fire technology.

Students learn alongside internationally recognized faculty through hands-on experiences at world-class facilities, including the 8,500-acre University of Idaho Experimental Forest located just minutes from campus, the 10,000-acre Rinker Rock Creek Ranch located in southern Idaho, the Pitkin Forest Nursery which is one of the only operational commercial forest nurseries at a U.S. university, and the IFIRE Lab, one of the few fire combustion laboratories on any university campus in the nation. Faculty hold prestigious endowed chairs, direct nationally acclaimed research centers, and consistently earn university-wide distinguished faculty honors, as well as recognition from professional societies.

With affordable, high-quality programs, numerous scholarship opportunities and unmatched access to Idaho's 32 million acres of public land, the Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences prepares graduates for impactful careers in forestry, wildland fire, rangeland management, sustainable forest products and ecosystem restoration. 

Academic programs

Undergraduate programs

Associate's degrees

• A.S. in forest nursery management and technology
• A.S. in forest operations and technology
• A.S. in wildland fuel and fire technology

Bachelor's degrees

• B.S. in ecology and ecosystem science, aquatic ecology option
• B.S. in ecology and ecosystem science, ecosystem ecology option
• B.S. in ecology and ecosystem science, terrestrial ecology option
• B.S.Fire.Ecol.Mgmt. in fire ecology and management
• B.S. in forest and sustainable products
• B.S.Forestry in forestry, forest operations option
• B.S.Forestry in forestry, forest biology option
• B.S.Forestry in forestry, hydrology and watershed management option
• B.S.Forestry in forestry, general option
• B.S. in rangeland ecology and management

Undergraduate certificates

• Forest and sustainable products (UG Cert.)
• Natural resource management (UG Cert.)
• Rangeland management (UG Cert.)
• Restoration ecology (UG Cert.)

Minors

• Ecology minor
• Fire ecology and management minor
• Forest operations minor
• Forest resources minor
• Rangeland ecology and management minor
• Renewable materials minor

Graduate programs

Graduate certificates

• Fire ecology, management and technology (GR Cert.)

Read our stories

• Student Experience | Timber Harvesting Operations

  Gain a firsthand look at the hands-on experiences that prepare students for careers in forest operations and management. 

• Training | Wildland Fire Doctorates

  Learn how graduate students are developing the knowledge and leadership skills needed to address wildfire challenges. 

• Research | Forest Regeneration

  Explore research aimed at improving forest resilience and understanding seedling establishment. 

• Outreach | Drones Peak Curiosity in Students

  Discover how drone technology is helping connect young learners with forestry and natural resource careers.