Student Life in the Department of Forestry
The Department of Forestry houses diverse majors and options focused on managing natural resources sustainably in a rapidly changing environment. The department and college offer a special and intimate community within the context of a large state university.
You Will get to Know your Professors—We have a very low student-to-faculty ratio, classes are small, and faculty are dedicated to teaching. Many classes have fewer than 25 students and hands-on learning is the norm.
Outstanding Professional Development—Virginia Tech is a land-grant institution and part of our mission is to share knowledge with the public and industry through teaching and research. Forestry faculty are actively engaged in their professions and students have many opportunities to attend professional meetings, undertake research, provide public education, and take leadership roles in a variety of settings.
Know the Great Outdoors—Virginia Tech’s campus is surrounded by outstanding recreation areas. The Jefferson National Forest can be viewed from Cheatham Hall. Mount Roger’s Recreation Area, the Appalachian Trail, Dragon’s Tooth, Mountain Lake, Kelly’s Knob, and Angel’s Rest are just a few of the scenic spots within a short drive of Blacksburg. Many class lab sessions are held out in the woods at the nearby Fishburn Forest and Pandapas Pond. Your classwork will help you appreciate the outdoor environment more than ever before as you gain understanding of ecology and management, learn to identify tree species, and much more. Most students in the department love the outdoors and student organizations regularly participate in extended trips.
State-of-the-Art Technology and Facilities—Faculty teach you the latest technology in your field. You get all the benefit of Virginia Tech’s world-class facilities in the small community setting of natural resources.
Interdisciplinary Study—At Virginia Tech you receive a well-rounded education. Many of the fields of study in the Department of Forestry are interdisciplinary and coursework from many departments is the norm. For example, urban Forestry students study urban planning and horticulture. Natural Resource Recreation students study social sciences, law, and tourism.