Deficiencies of undergraduate forestry curricula in their social sciences and humanities requirements

Abstract

Arguments stressing the importance of the social sciences and humanities in forest and natural resources education have appeared in the literature since the inception of the profession of forestry in America. Nevertheless, undergraduate education in forest and natural resources management emphasizes the biophysical sciences. This article examines undergraduate curricula for their requirements in various disciplines. The results of two studies show that social sciences and humanities are not well represented in forestry and natural resources management curricula. Thus, graduates of baccalaureate degree programs in forest and natural resources management may not possess the knowledge and skills necessary to manage resources in an ever-changing, complex social context. Copyright © 2010 by the Society of American Foresters.