The Complete Guide to Becoming A Forestry and Conservation Science Teacher, Postsecondary

Chapter 1: What Does a Forestry and Conservation Science Teacher, Postsecondary Actually Do?

Let's start by clearing up what this job actually is, because the title is a mouthful and the reality is a lot more specific than "teaching kids about trees." A Forestry and Conservation Science Teacher at the postsecondary level - which just means any education after high school, including two-year community colleges, four-year universities, and technical colleges - is someone who teaches college students the science and practice of managing forests, wildlife habitats, watersheds, and other natural resources. You are not a park ranger who occasionally gives a lecture. You are not a forester who happens to stand in front of a classroom. You are a professional educator and often a researcher, and your day is built around semesters, credit hours, student evaluations, and - if you're at a research university - a constant pressure to publish studies and bring in grant money.

To understand the day-to-day work, you have to understand the three main settings where this job exists, because they shape everything else. The first is the research university, usually a large state school like Oregon State University or the University of Georgia. Here, you hold the title of assistant professor, associate professor, or full professor, and your contract requires you to do three things: teach a moderate number of courses (usually two or three per semester), run a research program that produces peer-reviewed papers, and secure external funding to keep that research going. The