ESPM 1001 - Orientation to Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management

This course provides an introduction to the Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management (ESPM) curriculum, associated careers, and faculty teaching in the ESPM program. Academic planning, advising, and career planning (internships, summer experience, mentoring) are major components of the course. Students are also introduced to key issues in their field of study and to relevant information technologies.

FR 2104 - Measuring Forest Resources

This course is offered at the Cloquet Forestry Center. The purpose of the course is to acquaint students with the use and care of forestry instruments and to give students an introduction to the techniques used in field forest measurements and timber cruising. The course is presented to the students under the assumption that they have had no prior exposure to this aspect of forestry, either in the classroom or in the field. Field exercises are used to teach the principles of field measurements. Classroom lectures are used only to the extent needed to get the student started on field work.

ESPM 3012 - Quantitative Methods for Environmental Scientists and Managers II

This course will prepare students for further course work in the Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management and Forest Resources curricula that requires analytic thinking and problem solving skills. The course introduces statistical ideas with a subsequent focus on regression analysis and sample survey design, two topics of particular importance to environmental scientists and managers.

FR 3218/5218 - Measurement and Modeling Forests

This course is intended for Forest Resources curriculum juniors and seniors who have completed courses in calculus and statistics. It is also appropriate for any graduate student who wishes to learn more about sampling methods generally, forest vegetation sampling specifically, as well as forest growth modeling methods. Topics covered will include sample survey designs, measurement and sampling methods for vegetation (primarily trees), tree and stand growth description and modeling, as well as landscape processes, characterization, and modeling. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to design, apply, and analyze efficient sample surveys, apply specialized measurement and sampling methods for vegetation and understand the processes of tree to landscape change and apply models of the same. The course will consist of three lectures per week with assignments requiring use of computers.

FR 5228 - Advanced Topics in Assessment and Modeling

This course is aimed at graduate students (primarily) and advanced undergraduates who wish to explore additional topics in quantitative methods applicable to forest resources assessment and modeling. Topics are chosen based on the interests/backgrounds of the students. Readings are from the current scientific literature and a variety of texts. Detailed data analysis projects are assigned for each of the topics presented.