In addition to completing the general education requirements that place our graduates among the best-educated in the world, Forest Technology students commit their time to courses specific to the skills they need to develop to enter the job market as professionals.

Much of the learning done in the Penn State Mont Alto Forest Technology program happens in hands-on experiences outside, in the campus arboretum or in one of the many forested areas in proximity to the campus, which directly adjoins Pennsylvania State Forest, District One (Michaux State Forest).  Some of the classes have been introduced as the world and technology have evolved. Some of the classes are as traditional as forestry at Mont Alto.

Program Courses

For the Forest Technology degree, a minimum of 64 credits is required.  Using the following semester recommendations will allow you to complete the entire Associate degree program in two academic years.

First semester (Fall): 17 credits

  • Introduction to Forestry
  • Forest Measurements
  • Dendrology
  • Mapping Our Changing World
  • Applied Geographic Information Systems
  • Rhetoric & Composition
  • College Algebra

Second semester (Spring): 19 credits

  • Forest Inventories
  • Forest Surveying
  • Silvicultural Practices
  • Forest Harvesting & Operations
  • Forest Products Industry Tour
  • Plant Biology
  • General Education Course

Summer session: 1 credit

  • Forest Technology Internship

Third semester (Fall): 13, 16, or 19 credits

  • Wood Identification & Properties
  • Arboriculture
  • Forest Ecosystem Protection
  • Introduction to Remote Sensing
  • Survey of Management
  • Outdoor Recreation
  • General Education Course

Fourth semester (Spring): 9, 12 or 15 credits

  • Forest Soils & Hydrology
  • Forest Management Practices
  • Introduction to Wildlife Management
  • GIS for Natural Resource Managers
  • Effective Speech

Scheduling Your Classes

The process for scheduling courses looks different for different students.  Check the list below to see how you can plan your upcoming semester at Penn State Mont Alto.

New prospective students

Are you exploring Penn State Mont Alto for the first time?  Once you check out the campus website, our Admissions team would love to share information with you to help you decide how to move forward with the process of becoming a Penn Stater.

Accepted students ready to plan the first semester of college

If you have applied to and been accepted to Penn State Mont Alto as a new student, your scheduling experience will be highly personalized.  We schedule New Student Orientation (NSO) days with our first-time attendees to ensure that your introduction to the campus satisfies all your new student needs. Check out the NSO section of the website for instructions and step-by-step advice!

Transfer students

You already have some college completed and now want to know exactly how your courses from somewhere else will apply to a program you want to complete at Penn State Mont Alto.  We have created a page with information just for you.

Current students

Are you already enrolled at Penn State Mont Alto? Whether you are enrolled in a program or are still exploring your options, we are here to help you plan your successful next semester!