Honours Bachelor of Science in Forestry (HBScF)

Launch Your Career as a Registered Professional Forester (R.P.F.)

Lakehead University’s Honours Bachelor of Science in Forestry (HBScF) program offers a direct pathway to becoming a Registered Professional Forester (R.P.F.), recognized and accredited by the Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board. We’re proud to be one of only eight accredited institutions in Canada, and the only undergraduate forestry program accredited in Ontario.

Why Forestry

According to EcoCanada’s National Labour Forecast: 

  1. Working in forestry means good pay and a real chance to move up in the world of green jobs.
  2. Ontario is projected to lead Canada in environmental job growth through 2033.

Why Choose Lakehead’s Forestry Program?

  • 100% of Natural Resources Management graduates are employed 2 years after graduation. (Ontario University Graduate Survey of 2021 Graduates)
  • Flexible Learning: Customize your academic journey with adaptable course schedules and multiple entry points. 
  • We make transfer a seamless transition. Lakehead University has partnerships with community colleges across Canada. Credit is given for most courses on a student’s college transcript. Students entering into HBScF can graduate in two years.
  • Global Experience: Participate in international field studies that expand your perspective and skills.
  • Real-World Training: Access co-op placements and summer job opportunities to build hands-on experience and industry connections.
  • Career-Ready Curriculum: Designed to meet professional standards and prepare you for licensure as an R.P.F.

Lakehead’s HBScF Program helps you build a strong foundation in forestry science and practice

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the biological, social, and operational principles that shape modern forestry and its vital role within ecosystems. Our program combines hands-on experiential learning—from indoor labs to immersive field schools and trips—giving you real-world exposure to forest environments.

You’ll also develop cutting-edge technological expertise, in:

  • Geomatics (GIS, Drone, LiDAR, Remote Sensing)

  • Genetics

  • Forest Pathology

  • Forest Entomology

  • Forest Operations

  • Fire Science

  • Forest Management

  • Wood Science

  • Biomaterials

  • Ecophysiology

Choose your path with one of the three following majors tailored to your interests and career goals:

  • Forest Management
  • Forest Health & Protection
  • Forest Product Marketing

Dual Degree Opportunity: MBA and Forestry

You can apply to our dual-degree program and earn two degrees in just five years: a Bachelor of Science in Forestry accredited by the Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board (CFAB), and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Future Careers with Lakehead’s HBScF

  • Planning Forester
  • Operations Forester
  • Management Forester
  • Silviculture Forester
  • Forest Health & Restoration Specialist
  • Indigenous Land & Resource Stewardship Advisor
  • Forest Policy & Sustainability Analyst
  • Forest Analyst
  • Wildlife Research Analyst
  • Urban & Community Forester
  • Forest Technology & Operations Specialist
  • Silviculture Specialists
  • And more...

Scholarships, Awards, Internships

Awards reflect the belief in sustainable forestry and the students leading its future—backed by faculty, alumni, and industry support.

CHECK OUT THE FACULTY'S Scholarships AND Awards

Meet our students

Contact us

Learn more about the program: 

Dr. Dzhamal Amishev - Chair, HBScF

Email: damish15@lakeheadu.ca 

Apply Now

 Follow us on Instagram:

@lakehead_nrm_official
@lakehead_nrss (Lakehead University’s Natural Resources Student Society)
@lakehead_timberwolves (Lakehead Timbersports)

Accreditation & Professional Associations

Lakehead's Honours Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree is nationally accredited by the Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board. This means that graduates of both the co-op and non co-op programs meet the academic requirements of membership in a number of professional forest associations in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

Graduates are also qualified for membership in the Canadian Institute of Forestry, and they are eligible to apply for registration with the Ontario Professional Foresters Association to obtain their Registered Professional Forester (R.P.F.) designation.

Explore Global Learning Opportunity with us: 

Meet Luke Giroux about his experience in Norway