The University of the South
Sewanee, TN

The Forestry and Geology Department is dedicated to providing intergrated coursework and independent research in forested ecosystems, geology and other related disciplines. We emphasize an interdisciplinary approach because of the significant degree to which forest ecosystems and geological environments affect one another. To accomplish our goals, we stress work both within and outside the classroom, and train students to integrate their field observations with theoretical concepts and analytical data.

Department History and Majors:

Two majors are offered within the department: Forestry and Geology. Students may select either B.S. or B.A. degrees from either of these. The Natural Resources major is currently supervised by the Forestry and Geology Department, but is one of the three new majors offered in the Environmental Studies Program. These programs are a natural outgrowth of Sewanee's academic history along with its physical setting on the Cumberland Plateau. Forestry has been taught here for more than seventy years (since 1923). Geology, which was initially offered here in the 1870's, was restored to the curriculum in 1977 when the department changed from the Department of Forestry to the more interdisciplinary Department of Forestry and Geology.

Urban Forestry, Spring 2003

Integration of Field Work and Class Work:

All the majors supervised by the Forestry and Geology Department integrate field work, laboratory work, and classroom theory in the analysis of "real world" problems involving forested and geological systems. Field work is stressed in most of our courses, and we use the 10,000 acre University Domain for much of this work because of its extensive forest cover and excellent rock and soil exposures. This local and unique geologic and forested Domain provides many sites for demonstrating major concepts in geology or forestry, including hydrologic phenomena, forest stand dynamics, and changing geologic environments through time. We also travel to the nearby Appalachian Mountains and to other locations in the southeast. In addition, a geology field trip that follows a regular semester course visits the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau every other year. A number of our majors also participate in the five week Island Ecology Program on St. Catherine's Island, Georgia each summer.

Economic Geology field trip, 2002

Communication Skills and Research Projects:

Students in all our majors are trained to develop proficiency in both oral and written communication of their class and research observations and interpretations. On a regular basis, students must demonstrate such proficiency through written quizzes or tests, oral presentation in class or in the field, the completion of optional independent study projects, and the undertaking of term papers which include extensive summaries and analysis of published literature in the field. In addition, prior to graduation seniors within the department must complete a senior research project, which they present to their peers and professors, and they must complete oral comprehensive exams which test all the coursework they have completed within the department.

Field and Professional Skills:

Students graduating from the department will be competent in many field and professional skills pertinent to careers or further study in forestry, geology, or natural resources. These include (1) identification and understanding of the basic components of natural landscapes, including rocks, minerals, fossils, geologic structures, geomorphic structures, hydrologic features, forest species, forest pathogens, forest soils, and/or tree physiology, (2) map skills (both using and generating maps to show spatial relationships among forest or geologic variables in the field); and (3) use of computer hardware and software pertinent to forestry and/or geology, including data base software (such as Filemaker Pro), spreadsheet software (such as Excel), word processing software (such as Microsoft Word) and/or GIS software (such as ARCINFO or ARCVIEW). Graduating seniors must demonstrate proficiency with basic field or lab tools common in the study of forested and geologic systems, including hand lenses, compasses, soil augers, microscopes, drafting equipment, increment borers, clinometers, basal area prisms and microscopes. Graduating seniors are further expected to demonstrate a proficient knowledge of local, regional, and/or global issues and policies influencing all natural resources.