Urban Forestry & Arboriculture involves the management of trees in cities and suburbs, where more than 80% of people in the United States live. More than 50% of the world’s population lives in cities and suburbs, which are the fastest growing communities in the country. As this trend continues, arborists and urban foresters strive to preserve trees during construction and replace trees that were removed during construction. Trees take on special importance in urban areas, where their greatest value is for aesthetics, climate modification, and habitat for urban wildlife. Urban, residential, and park environments are especially challenging for trees due to compacted soils, pavement, utility lines, and buildings. Urban foresters and arborists work to ensure healthy populations of trees to provide sustained benefits to billions of people. Students in the Urban Forestry and Arboriculture concentration are qualified for professional credentials through examination by both the Massachusetts Arborist Association and the International Society of Arboriculture.

Contact: Brian Kane
Office: 214 Holdsworth
Phone: (413) 545-6637
Email:

Urban Forestry & Arboriculture Curriculum Sheet

Additional courses required for the concentration:

LANDCONT 105 Landscape Drafting or LANDCONT 112 Introduction to Landscape Design, NRC 102 Arboriculture Field Techniques I, NRC 191Seminar in Arboriculture and Community Forestry, NRC 210 Arboriculture Field Techniques II, NRC 232 Principles of Arboriculture, NRC 305 Commercial Arboriculture, NRC 310 Community Forestry, STOCKSCH 105 Soils w/lab STOCKSCH 109 Insects of Ornamentals or STOCKSCH 572 Forest Insects, STOCKSCH 111 Hort Plant Path plus STOCKSCH 113 Hort Path Lab, and STOCKSCH 230 Turfgrass Mgt