Wood Science and technology is a professional, accredited program with emphases ranging from Wood Design and Craftsmanship to Wood Engineering. As greater demands are made on the world’s forest resources by a growing and consuming population, the development of new technology is essential to meet these demands in an environmentally acceptable and sustainable manner. Wood scientists and forest products technologists are vital links to meeting consumer and environmental demands on our forests. The wood science curriculum prepares students to work with wood as master Craftsperson or alternately, and depending on the elective sequence chosen, to work in the forest products industry. All students complete a comprehensive study of wood material science fundamentals (anatomy, chemistry, mechanics and physics), and primary and secondary wood products manufacturing processes. Many laboratory classes are taught at UMaine’s world-class Advanced Engineered Wood Composite Center (AEWC), where our students learn the latest in the design and use of advanced structural materials. Many of the wood science courses have laboratory components to reinforce lecture material and as such typically attract students with an interest in hands-on learning and careers. Numerous field trips to wood working facilities ensure exposure to the latest advances in the field. A capstone course allows students to apply learned wood science principles to case studies of wood product design and manufacturing problem solving. The curriculum also exposes the students to a sound grounding in the sciences, including mathematics, chemistry, and physics. There is great demand for wood science graduates and numerous career opportunities in this field of study. Nationally, an average of four jobs are available for each graduate.
The curriculum is designed to be flexible and allows students to complement their training with electives in specific areas of interest. Many students with an interest in management successfully combine their program with business courses. A strong graduate research program (MS and Ph.D.) results in many opportunities for undergraduates to become involved in research and development projects associated with the New England Wood Utilization Research Program, Forest Bioproduct Research initiative and the Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center.
An off-campus-training phase of this program provides summer employment experience in the field of forest products, including a comprehensive report.
Reduced tuition is available for the Wood Science and Technology program for students from all other New England states.
This program is part of the School of Forest resources which has the largest scholarship endowment fund on campus. These funds are available to help support academic studies in Forest Resources.
The University of Maine The University of Maine
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