Welcome to our Undergraduate Program

Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources is one of the nation's leading natural resource programs. Our world-class expertise in forestry, wildlife, fisheries and aquatic sciences, natural resources social science, and interdisciplinary ecology is helping solve some of the most important natural resource problems around the globe. Learn more about FNR: About Us.

FNR majors join a departmental ecosystem that emphasizes preparing for careers in outdoor professions.

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Minors

Aquatic Sciences
Focus areas: Fisheries & Aquaculture Marine & Freshwater Biology

Digital Natural Resources
Courses include: Remote Sensing Of Land Resources, Introduction To Uncrewed Aircraft System Operations, Remote Sensing Analysis And Applications

Forest Ecosystems 
Courses include: Dendrology, Forest Soils, Introduction to Ecology and Evolution, Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management, Tree Physiology

Furniture Design
Courses include: Furniture Development, ID And Basic Properties of Wood & Furniture Product Development, Sustainable Wood Products

Urban Forestry
Courses include: Arboriculture Practices, Urban Forest Issues & Urban Ecology, Soil Science, Insects of Urban Landscapes, Spatial Ecology

Wildlife Science
Courses include: Wildlife in America, Ecology & Systematics of Fishes, Amphibians & Reptiles/Mammals & Birds

Wood Products Manufacturing Technology
Courses include: Sustainable Wood Products Manufacturing, ID & Basic Properties of Wood & Furniture Design & Manufacturing

Concentrations

Aquatic Sciences:
Fisheries
Courses include: Marine Biology, The World's Forests & Society, Ecology & Systematics of Fishes, Amphibians & Reptiles, Environmental Science and Conservation

Marine & Freshwater Biology 
Courses include: Ecology & Systematics of Mammals & Birds, Marine Biology, Natural Resource Information Management, Aquatic Sampling Techniques

Forestry:
Forest Management
Courses include: Environmental Science & Conservation, Natural Resources Information Management, Dendrology, Fundamental Remote Sensing, Forestry Practicum

Forest Science
Courses include: Environmental Science And Conservation, Natural Resource Information Management, Dendrology, Forest Ecosystems, Natural Resources Measurement

Sustainable Biomaterials
Courses include: Intro To Environmental Policy, Sustainable Wood Products Manufacturing, Identification And Basic Properties Of Wood, Sustainable Wood Products, Furniture Design And Manufacturing

Urban Forestry Concentration
Courses include: Applied Insect Biology, The World’s Forests And Society, Landscape-Level Planning, Quantitative Methods For Resource Mgmt., Spatial Ecology, Forest Resources Management

Growing in Your Student Experience

See the opportunities below to connect with other students, faculty and staff.

The cost varies depending on factors such as where a student chooses to live, travel expenses, food costs, enrollment in a specific program, scholarships, etc.

The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources conducts a placement survey of our graduates. 

Purdue FNR is dedicated to connecting students, alumni and employers.  The job board is a great resource for all of our students. 

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Practicums

Summer Practicum

Forestry students have been retreating to the woods for over 80 summers, gaining first-hand knowledge and practical field experience no classroom lecture can match. And while many schools are scaling back their summer camp programs, Purdue has expanded the program to include students majoring in aquatic sciences and wildlife. Take a journey through Summer Practicum, Facebook Post Cards from Summer Practicum.

Marine Biology Practicum

Marine Biology Practicum presents students with expanded opportunities to use field techniques to sample and report on marine habitats and organisms. The course emphasizes the proper care and use of field sampling gear and identification of fish and invertebrates samples from exposed shore, lagoon, and estuary habitats. Follow the Marine Biology Practicum on Facebook.

Banner showing the different FNR career opportunities.

Meet Our FNR Students

Purdue TWS president Celia Parton and master's student Emma Johnson accept the plaque for North Central Region Student Chapter of the Year at the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference.
Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society Named North Central Region Chapter of the Year

The Purdue student chapter of The Wildlife Society was named as the North Central Region’s...

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Ashley Higdon and Dr. Barny Dunning birding; a white oak grove; a white-tailed deer
FNR's Most Read Stories of 2024

2024 was a productive year for Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources across the three land grant...

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A hickory tree on Trail 1 at Turkey Run State Park; Trail 4 at Turkey Run State Park; Trail 5 at Shade State Park
FNR Field Report: Donatella Mudica

Freshman wildlife major Donatella Mudica spent the last summer before coming to Purdue as a...

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Identifying zooplankton under a microscope in the Freshwater Ecology Lab; a walleye under a microscope at the Aquaculture Research Lab; A largemouth bass Katie caught hook and line sampling.
FNR Field Report: Katie Buckles

Katie Buckles, a senior wildlife major minoring in aquatic sciences, worked as a technician at...

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A panoramic view of Succession Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park
FNR Field Report: Amber Laughner

Senior forestry major Amber Laughner was a stewardship intern at Shirley Heinze Land Trust in...

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Gabby Dennis stands on a rock in the middle of a forested landscape in New Hampshire.
FNR Field Report: Gabrielle Dennis

Senior wildlife major Gabby Dennis spent the summer as an ovenbird field technician at the...

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World Class Faculty

Our 30 plus world-class faculty in forestry, wildlife, fisheries & aquatic sciences, natural resources social science, and interdisciplinary ecology is helping solve some of the world’s most important natural resource problems.
World Class Faculty

Connect With Us

See student stories, photos and videos on Instagram @Purdue FNR, Facebook Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources, X @PurdueFNR and YouTube Purdue FNR.

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