Overview

The Forestry and Fire Sciences program at California Polytechnic State University is accredited by the Society of American Foresters, and you will receive a forester designation by the U.S. Office of Personnel upon graduation.

Concentrations are available in watershed management and hydrology, wildlife biology, or wildland fire and fuels management, or a more general course of study. All concentrations allow you to make extensive use of Swanton Pacific Ranch, an extensive 3,800-acre field laboratory managed by Cal Poly. Paid internships are available at Swanton Pacific Ranch, or you may choose to pursue a seasonal job, volunteer work or a cooperative education program.

Learn By Doing

As a forest and fire sciences student, you will have access to a number of outdoor field sites for projects and research. Facilities include the Forestry Skills Center and the Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute (UFEI) where you can study the full spectrum of forest settings – from inner-city forests to remote semi-developed forests. You will learn from leading experts in wildland fire management and experience the first-hand effects of fires on shrub, woodland and forest environments.

Career

Graduates often take positions as fire and fuels manager, foresters, natural resource managers, urban foresters, park administrators, resource planner, hydrologists and many other related career areas for the federal government or for private landowners. Social advocacy organizations also employ foresters and conservation scientists to work with lawmakers on sustainable land use and other issues.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Forest Ecosystem Management

Wildland Fire Control

Dendrology

Land and Resource Measurements

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Forest Operations

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-18 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-02 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

115

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

180 SCH

180 - 184

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

San Luis Obispo, United States

Disciplines

Emergency & Disaster Management Forestry View 77 other Bachelors in Forestry in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

115

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TOEFL^® IBT

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IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

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AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

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98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Coursework: They look at the college-prep coursework you have taken during high school, including the courses you have in progress or planned during 12th grade

GPA: For the purposes of your application, they'll consider your 9th-11th grade weighted GPA
Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience: Cal Poly takes activities such as work experience, internships, volunteer programs and extracurricular activities into consideration

Make sure you have a copy of your transcripts, current and planned class schedules, household annual income and social security number (if available).

There is a $70 application fee per campus at the time you apply, unless you qualify for an application fee waiver

English proficiency exam results

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

28359 USD / year

≈ 28359 USD / year
Out-of-State

28359 USD / year

≈ 28359 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

15039 USD / year

≈ 15039 USD / year

Living costs

San Luis Obispo

United States

1100 - 1800 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Forestry and Fire Sciences.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Learn By Doing

Career

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

San Luis Obispo

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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