Forestry education and employment: Views from alumni of a southern forestry school

Forestry alumni of the School of Forest Resources at Mississippi State University were surveyed to elicit their views on curriculum improvements and employment success in their fields of study. The Forestry major consists of two options: Forest Management and Wildlife Management. About two thirds (68%) of responding Forest Management alumni worked in private forest industry. Interestingly, more Wildlife Management Option graduates were employed in a forestry related (50%) enterprise than a wildlife-related enterprise (about 38%). Almost one third (31%) of the forestry jobs held by wildlife graduates were in timber procurement