Minor in Wood Science and Technology
Requirements to complete an Academic Minor In Wood Science and Technology
Students must complete 18 credit hours in Wood Science courses, including:
WDSC 223, Wood Anatomy and Structure
WDSC 340, Physical Properties of Wood, and
WDSC 341, Mechanical Properties of Wood
The remaining nine hours may be selected from:
WDSC 232, Wood Grading and Procurement
WDSC 330, Wood Machining
WDSC 337, Wood Adhesion and Finishing
WDSC 351, Forest Products Protection
WDSC 362, Forest Products Decision-Making
WDSC 413, Wood Chemistry
WDSC 422, Harvesting Forest Products
WDSC 423, Forest Roads
WDSC 465, Wood-Based Composite Materials
Who Should Consider Minoring in Wood Science and Technology?
Employment opportunities for those with a specialized degree such as the B.S. in Wood Science and Technology are outstanding. A 1999 Division of Forestry survey of recent graduates revealed that approximately 92 percent of the program's graduates have found employment in their major field. Of this number, approximately 55 percent are employed in West Virginia.
The wood products industry also seeks employees with backgrounds in business and economics, engineering, and other fields. Individuals with these backgrounds bring skills and specialized knowledge that the industry requires. However, only a very few of these individuals possess specific knowledge about the properties of wood, and manufacturing processes for wood-based materials. The minor in Wood Science and Technology allows those students to acquire a fundamental background in Wood Science and Technology that will appear on their WVU transcript.
Graduates of other degree programs on campus, including civil and environmental engineering, interior design, and landscape architecture may not work in the wood products industry, but will be required to use wood in design of furniture, buildings, and various structures. A sound fundamental knowledge of wood and wood products would be useful to these professions.
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