Forest soils instruction in the USA: A survey of forestry schools

Abstract

A questionnaire was sent to all 51 Society of American Foresters accredited and candidate programs in the U.S. to compile information on undergraduate and graduate forest soils courses. Responses from 94°70 of the schools, as well as catalog information, provided the quantitative data for this compilation. About half of the programs offered an upper level undergraduate forest soils course, and one-third offered a graduate level forest soils course. The highest percentage of programs offering undergraduate courses was in the North Central region (64%), whereas the highest percentage offering graduate programs was in the South (47070). The dominant forest soils textbook used was, Properties and Management of Forest Soils, by W. L. Pritchett, although most graduate courses relied on outside readings and did not have a required textbook. Most undergraduate and graduate courses required a laboratory of 3 to 4 b per week, with both indoor and outdoor exercises emphasized. Most students enrolled in forest soils courses were forestry majors, and most courses were taught within forestry programs. Additionalindex words: Land management, Accredited programs.