Foundations of urban forestry management

Microcredential
Online
delivery
Introductory
level
3
courses

Whether shading community spaces, framing bus shelters or lining sidewalks, trees connect us with nature, quietly supporting our health and well-being while providing critical ecosystem benefits. When you earn your Microcredential in Foundations of Urban Forestry Management online from Oregon State University, you’ll engage in the study of trees, learning how urban forests thrive where they’re planted to support healthier, more livable communities.

Learn how to manage urban forests, from the individual tree to the entire canopy that covers a city or community. Explore the economic, social and land use factors that shape urban forestry work, and learn to use your skills to benefit the spaces where you live, work and play. Your coursework aligns with International Society of Arboriculture credentials and can help you prepare for further studies and certification as an arborist or urban forester.  

Coursework (11 credits)

This is an advanced-level microcredential that is designed for those with previous experience in a subject. These offerings provide in-depth training so you can build specialized skills that will help you excel in your field. Often, advanced microcredentials require some prerequisite college courses.

Prerequisite courses

Before you enroll in the microcredential courses listed above, you must complete certain prerequisites. 

To enroll in FES 455 / HORT 455:

Aerial view of an urban park greenway with winding paths, diverse tree canopy, manicured lawns, and visitors enjoying green space

Skills you’ll gain

The in-demand skills you'll develop as a student in this microcredential will give you what you need to stand out and level up in your career.

  • Urban forestry
  • Policy development
  • Hazard identification
  • Tree inventory
  • Community outreach
  • Community development
  • Problem reporting

Additional details

Oregon State microcredentials consist of at least three courses and 8 credits that follow OSU’s quarterly term calendar. All microcredentials are delivered online and some microcredentials may be offered on campus. All course credits used to complete a microcredential must be completed at Oregon State and transfer credit and placement tests may not be used toward microcredential course credits. Read other important microcredential details » 

Microcredentials allow you to gain specialized skills in focused subject areas in less time than it takes to complete a full degree or certificate program. Typically, you can complete a microcredential in nine to 12 months. All microcredential courses follow the same term schedule as on-campus courses and are not self-paced. Learn more about course delivery methods »

Once you complete all classes in this microcredential, you'll receive a digital badge from Oregon State University. You can add the digital badge to your résumé and on LinkedIn, GitHub or other social media profiles. It provides employers with proof of the skills and discipline-specific knowledge you gained from the microcredential. Oregon State's digital badges are issued by Credly, the world's largest digital credential network.

Completing a microcredential is dependent on course availability, term offerings, course sequencing and any required prerequisites. Connect with the OSU Ecampus enrollment services team to better understand when courses in this microcredential are delivered to help you create a timeline for application and enrollment. You can also explore the schedule of classes to preview course availability.

  • Apply to earn a microcredential as a current student: If you’re a current OSU student interested in pursuing a microcredential online, please submit this form. Note: You must complete at least one of the microcredential courses after having been accepted into the microcredential.

You can find detailed tuition information for microcredential offerings on the tuition rates webpage. Please note: If you are pursuing a standalone microcredential as a nondegree student, you will not qualify for federal financial aid.

If you are pursuing a microcredential as a current student in an OSU degree or certificate program, you will be charged your program's tuition rate (if differential tuition is applicable). 

Earning a microcredential is a great way to develop a skill set that current and future employers are looking for. If your employer offers a tuition benefit program, you may be able to enroll online with Oregon State and receive a tuition scholarship that makes your student experience more affordable. You can also learn about the organizations OSU collaborates with to offer direct tuition benefit programs for online learners.

Oregon State offers two computer science degree programs online, and the credits you earn in this programming fundamentals microcredential can be directly applied toward either one — a bachelor’s degree or a postbaccalaureate degree that is designed for those who already have a bachelor’s degree.

If you plan to apply these credits toward a full degree, we encourage you to first contact the microcredential program to learn about the degree requirements. Please note that acceptance into a microcredential does not guarantee acceptance into a degree program. 

Applying credits like this, an approach known as stacking, can help you build credentials over time and advance your career. It's also a great way to test a field of study through a short series of courses before committing to a full degree program. For students like Ali Lanenga, stacking can make a journey to a degree feel more manageable.