State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Cornelius B. Murphy Jr., President
223 Bray Hall, 470-6681
Dudley J. Raynal,
Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies
227 Bray Hall, 470-6599
Susan H. Sanford
Director of Undergraduate Admissions
106 Bray Hall, 470-6600
The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) adjoins the Syracuse University campus and is closely associated with the University. The college is a doctoral center of the State University of New York. ESF enrolls approximately 2,100 students, including 600 at the graduate level.
The college has extensive modern laboratories, classrooms, and equipment and instrumentation. Off-campus facilities include 25,000 acres of forest land at seven locations, used for instruction, demonstration, and research. Two-year programs leading to the associate's degree in forest technology and surveying technology are offered at the Ranger School located at Wanakena, New York.
A variety of master’s and doctoral programs are also available at ESF. Syracuse University juniors and seniors are invited to learn more about these programs and about ways to accelerate admission into graduate programs by inquiring at 227 Bray Hall.
ESF students have the same privileges as SU students with regard to health services and the use of dining halls, residence halls, library facilities, testing services, and athletic and recreational facilities. They also share the wide range of social and cultural resources available at the University. Students at ESF and Syracuse University take courses on both campuses to enrich and complement their major programs.
The college offers undergraduate and graduate study in the following areas:
Degree Programs and Areas of Study
The college is authorized to award the following undergraduate and graduate degrees on its Syracuse campus. Enrollment in programs that are not registered or otherwise approved programs may jeopardize a student’s eligibility for certain financial aid programs. Further descriptions and coursework requirements of the individual academic programs may be found online at www.esf.edu/catalog.
Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Forest Technology (HEGIS Code 5403)
Land Surveying Technology (HEGIS Code 5309)
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.)
Landscape Architecture (HEGIS Code 0204)
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Aquatic and Fisheries Science (HEGIS Code 0115)
Biotechnology (HEGIS Code 0499)
Chemistry (HEGIS Code 1905) with options in biochemistry and organic chemistry of natural products, environmental chemistry, or natural and synthetic polymer chemistry.
Conservation Biology (HEGIS Code 0420)
Construction Management (HEGIS Code 0599) with an elective concentration in sustainable construction and renewable materials.
Dual Option in Forest Ecosystems Science (HEGIS Codes 0499 and 0115)
Environmental Biology (HEGIS Code 0420)
Environmental Science (HEGIS Code 0420) with options in renewable energy, environmental information and mapping, watershed science, health and the environment, earth and atmospheric systems science, environmental analysis, or environmental engineering science.
Environmental Studies (HEGIS Code 0201) with options in biological science applications, environmental policy, or environmental communication and culture.
Forest Engineering (HEGIS Code 0999)
Forest Health (HEGIS Code 0114)
Forest Resources Management (HEGIS Code 0114)
Natural History and Interpretation (HEGIS Code 0499)
Natural Resources Management (HEGIS Code 0115)
Paper Engineering (HEGIS Code 0999) with a minor in management.
Paper Science (HEGIS Code 0999) with a minor in management.
Wildlife Science (HEGIS Code 0107)
Wood Products Engineering (HEGIS Code 0999) with elective concentrations in marketing and production, sustainable construction and renewable materials, or wood science.
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture/Master of Science
B.L.A./M.S. Fast Track (HEGIS Code 0204)
Advanced (Graduate) Certificates
Environmental Decision Making (HEGIS Code 0420) for Syracuse University students only.
Advanced Engineering Tools (HEGIS Code 0999)
Bioprocess Engineering (HEGIS Code 0905)
Master of Forestry (M.F.)
Forest Management and Operations (HEGIS Code 0115)
Master of Landscape Architecture (M.L.A.)
Landscape Architecture (HEGIS Code 0204) with areas of study in community design and planning, cultural landscape studies and conservation, or landscape and urban ecology.
Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.)
Environmental and Forest Biology (HEGIS Code 0499) with areas of study in chemical ecology, conservation biology, ecology, entomology, environmental interpretation, environmental physiology, fish and wildlife biology and management, forest pathology and mycology, or plant science and biotechnology.
Environmental and Forest Chemistry (HEGIS Code 1905) with areas of study in biochemistry, environmental chemistry, organic chemistry of natural products, or polymer chemistry.
Environmental and Resource Engineering (HEGIS Code 0999) with an option in construction management and wood products engineering and areas of study in construction and construction management or wood science and technology.
Environmental and Resource Engineering (HEGIS Code 0999) with an option in forest engineering and areas of study in environmental management, or mapping sciences.
Environmental and Resource Engineering (HEGIS Code 0999) with an option in paper and bioprocess engineering and areas of study in process and environmental systems engineering or pulp and paper technology.
Environmental Science (HEGIS Code 0420) with areas of study in environmental and community land planning, environmental communication and participatory processes, environmental policy and democratic processes, environmental systems and risk management, or water and wetland resource studies.
Environmental Studies (HEGIS Code 0420)
Forest Resources Management (HEGIS Code 0115) with areas of study in environmental and natural resources policy, forest ecosystem science and applications, natural resources management, quantitative methods in forest science and management, recreation and resources management, or watershed management and forest hydrology.
Master of Science (M.S.)
Environmental and Forest Biology (HEGIS Code 0499) with areas of study in chemical ecology, conservation biology, ecology, entomology, environmental interpretation, environmental physiology, fish and wildlife biology and management, forest pathology and mycology, or plant science and biotechnology.
Environmental and Forest Chemistry (HEGIS Code 1905) with areas of study in biochemistry, environmental chemistry, organic chemistry of natural products, or polymer chemistry.
Environmental and Resource Engineering (HEGIS Code 0999) with an option in construction management and wood products engineering and areas of study in construction and construction management, engineered wood products and structures (timber structure design), tropical timbers, wood science and technology, wood anatomy and ultrastructure, or wood treatments.
Environmental and Resource Engineering (HEGIS Code 0999) with an option in forest engineering and areas of study in environmental management, forest engineering, geo-spatial information systems, photogrammetry and remote sensing, or water resources engineering.
Environmental and Resource Engineering (HEGIS Code 0999) with an option in paper and bioprocess engineering and areas of study in chemistry of pulping and bleaching, colloid chemistry and fiber flocculation, fiber and paper mechanics, process and environmental systems engineering, pulp and paper technology, or renewable energy and bioprocess engineering
Environmental Science (HEGIS Code 0420) with areas of study in environmental and community land planning, environmental communication and participatory processes, environmental policy and democratic processes, environmental systems and risk management, or water and wetland resource studies.
Environmental Studies (HEGIS Code 0420)
Forest Resources Management (HEGIS Code 0115) with areas of study in environmental and natural resources policy, forest ecosystem science and applications, natural resources management, quantitative methods in forest science and management, recreation and resources management, or watershed management and forest hydrology.
Landscape Architecture (HEGIS Code 0204) with areas of study in community design and planning, cultural landscape studies and conservation, or landscape and urban ecology.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Environmental and Natural Resources Policy (HEGIS Codes 0420 and 0115)
Environmental and Forest Biology (HEGIS Code 0499) with areas of study in chemical ecology, conservation biology, ecology, entomology, environmental interpretation, environmental physiology, fish and wildlife biology and management, forest pathology and mycology, or plant science and biotechnology.
Environmental and Forest Chemistry (HEGIS Code 1905) with areas of study in biochemistry, environmental chemistry, organic chemistry of natural products, or polymer chemistry.
Environmental and Resource Engineering (HEGIS Code 0999) with an option in construction management and wood products engineering and areas of study in construction and construction management, engineered wood products and structures (timber structure design), tropical timbers, wood science and technology, wood anatomy and ultrastructure, or wood treatments.
Environmental and Resource Engineering (HEGIS Code 0999) with an option in forest engineering and areas of study in environmental management, forest engineering, geo-spatial information systems, photogrammetry and remote sensing, or water resources engineering.
Environmental and Resource Engineering (HEGIS Code 0999) with an option in paper bioprocess engineering and areas of study in chemistry of pulping and bleaching, colloid chemistry and fiber flocculation, fiber and paper mechanics, process and environmental systems engineering, pulp and paper technology, or renewable energy and bioprocess engineering.
Environmental Science (HEGIS Code 0420) with areas of study in environmental and community land planning, environmental communication and participatory processes, environmental systems and risk management, or water and wetland resource studies.
Forest Resources Management (HEGIS Code 0115) with areas of study in forest ecosystem science and applications, natural resources management, quantitative methods in forest science and management, recreation and resources management, or watershed management and forest hydrology.
Minor in Construction Management
The ESF minor in construction management prepares students for management careers in the construction industry. The basic objective of the minor is to provide a fundamental understanding of the various methods used to take the design into the field and construct a quality structure in the most efficient and effective manner with minimal environmental impacts. To complete this minor, students must pass the following courses with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Admission to the minor requires junior status, a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and permission of the construction management and wood products engineering undergraduate curriculum coordinator (220 Baker).
Required courses (3 credits each)
WPE 342 Light Construction
WPE 343 Construction Estimating
WPE 453 Construction Planning and Scheduling
WPE 454 Construction Project Management
Two additional courses chosen from the following (3 credits each)
WPE 330 Building Codes and Zoning Practice
WPE 331 Construction Safety
WPE 335 Cost Engineering
WPE 350 Construction Methods and Equipment
WPE 444 Materials Marketing
WPE 455 Construction Contracts and Specifications
Total credits required 18
Minor in Landscape Architecture Studies
The ESF minor in landscape architecture provides an understanding of the natural and human factors that shape our physical environment. To complete this minor, students must pass the following courses and an additional landscape architecture course approved by the landscape architecture undergraduate curriculum director with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
Admission to the minor requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher and permission (ESF petition) of the landscape architecture undergraduate curriculum director (331 Marshall Hall).
Required courses (3 credits each)
LSA 220 Introduction to Landscape Architecture
LSA 311 Natural Processes in Planning and Design
LSA 312 Place/Culture/Design
LSA 405 History of Landscape Architecture
LSA 451 Comprehensive Land Planning
LSA 496 Special Topics in Landscape Architecture
(recent topics include):
• Community Development Process
• Urban Design Seminar
• 20th-Century Landscape
• Rural Community Design Studio
Total credits required 18
Minor in Natural Resources and Environmental Policy
The ESF minor in natural resources and environmental policy has as its objectives to develop an awareness of the interrelationships among parts of the biophysical environment and policy development; to develop a focused special application within the student’s major; and to develop the ability to intelligently interact with natural resources and environmental specialists in planning and policy formation. To complete this minor, students must pass the following courses with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
Admission to the minor requires junior status, a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher, and permission of the forest and natural resources management undergraduate curriculum coordinator (320 Bray). Students should also have completed a basic course in microeconomics, political science, and general biology.
Required courses (3 credits each)
FOR 321 Forest Ecology and Silviculture
FOR 333 Managerial Economics for Environmental Professionals
FOR 360 Principles of Management
FOR 465 Natural Resources and Environmental Policy
FOR 488 Natural Resources Administration Law
ENS 550 Environmental Impact Analysis: Principles and Strategies
Total credits required 18