Most people love the outdoors. One of life’s greatest pleasures is to glance outdoors and view the wonderful components of our environment, such as the blue sky and the green trees.
The vast outdoors is a terrific place to connect with nature, except for a few bothersome mosquitoes, spiders, or the sporadic sighting of a snake. Along with all other kinds of plants, bushes, and vines, trees play a crucial role in maintaining the health of our environment.
A crucial part of our environment is played by trees. Through a process known as photosynthesis, they have the innate ability to remove extra carbon dioxide from the air we breathe and replace it with oxygen.
True environmentalists could find fulfillment in a job as an arborist or tree surgeon. Saving and precisely diagnosing a tree’s problem is undoubtedly a unique task that is also a gratifying one, especially if you have compassion for nature and the advantages it offers.
Table of Contents
Online Arborist Degree Programs
- Wildlife and Forestry Conservation Online Diploma Program by Penn Foster College
- Arboriculture Minor or Forest Ecosystem Management Major by Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
- Bachelor’s Degree in Arboriculture & Community Forest Management by University of Massachusetts of Amherst
- Arboriculture Online Learning Series by International Society of Arboriculture
- Arboriculture and Tree Management FdSc by University Centre Myerscough
- Arboriculture Foundation Certificate by the University Centre Myerscough
- MSc Arboriculture and Urban Forestry Online by the University Centre Myerscough
1. Wildlife and Forestry Conservation Online Diploma Program by Penn Foster College
Highlights of the Programme
The Wildlife and Forestry Conservation Programme at Penn Foster can be finished in as short as four months. Graduates from this program will be ready for an entry-level position in the forestry/wildlife conservation industry.
This program has its campus in Scottsdale, Arizona and the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) has granted the program accreditation. Admission Requirements include your high school transcripts and the $75 application fee with your submission.
The courses offered include
- Forest Protection
- Park Management
- Rangelands Management
- Wildlife Law Enforcement
You will get management skills through this program for parks, wildlife, and forests. Additionally, you will be knowledgeable about all issues relating to conservation, law enforcement, and wildlife.
2. Arboriculture Minor or Forest Ecosystem Management Major by Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
You can select a minor or major in the natural sciences at Penn State. You can acquire knowledge about planting, cultivating, controlling disease, managing insects, and caring for trees through their minor in an arboriculture degree program.
Majoring in plant sciences or minoring in leadership development are additional degree options. The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools has approved this program.
Fill out the online application, pay the $65 application fee, and send your high school transcripts to apply. Please check the webpage to see what is needed at a minimum.
Sample Courses
- Applied Arboriculture
- Urban Forest Management
- Management of Insect Pests of Ornamentals
- Introductory Soil Science
- Landscape Plant Establishment & Maintenance
- Principles of Arboriculture
The goal of this program is to train graduates for entry-level and leadership positions in consulting, urban landscape management, or as representatives for trees.
3. Bachelor’s Degree in Arboriculture & Community Forest Management by University of Massachusetts of Amherst
The arboriculture program at The Stockbridge School is one of the nation’s oldest, having been founded in 1893. They are proud of their role in fostering the industry’s leadership.
To develop practical expertise in the subject of arboriculture, you will be exposed to the newest and most cutting-edge research technology through their degree program.
The New England Commission of Higher Education has granted this program accreditation.
Admission Requirements
The official high school transcript, SAT/ACT scores, recommendation letter, and $80 non-refundable application fee must all be included with your application.
Sample Courses
- Arboriculture
- Forests & People
- Wildlife Conservation
- Landscape Construction
- Commercial Arboriculture
You’ll be equipped to confidently enter the workforce after graduation. According to the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, “our graduates have several job offers working for tree care businesses and as local or utility arborists.”
4. Arboriculture Online Learning Series by International Society of Arboriculture
You can enroll in the required online coursework through the International Society of Arboriculture’s website in a self-paced course series called “Online Intro to Arboriculture Training.”
25 courses in this collection are intended to “promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater worldwide awareness of the benefits of trees.” This program is ideal for you if you want to become an ISA-certified professional!
The ISA website store is where you can buy these online resources. Topics covered in the 25 courses from the “Introduction to Arboriculture” range from:
- Tree Anatomy
- Principles of Pruning
- Tree Planting
- Biotic Disorders,
- Rigging
- Tree Support Systems
- Climbing
- Tree Worker Safety… and much more.
These programs are ideal for adult learners who want to participate in a convenient program where they may work at their own pace.
The courses are interactive, use teaching methods that are similar to real-world jobs, have outstanding graphics, offer immediate feedback, and feature quizzes that will help students get ready for certification exams.
5. Arboriculture and Tree Management FdSc by University Centre Myerscough
The University of Central Lancashire awards the course, which is taught at University Centre Myerscough. It is fulfilling and fascinating to work in the field of arboriculture, which is the science and practice of planting and caring for trees.
This course is for you if you wish to advance into tree survey and inspection, start your firm, or assume a managerial role and are interested in becoming an arboriculturalist or already work in the field.
This course incorporates elements of science and technology to make sure you have the know-how needed for management-level work.
You will learn how to survey and examine trees, identify deterioration, and incorporate concepts from soil science and tree biology into tree care and management plans.
To tackle the issue of planting trees in urban areas, a focus is also placed on tree production and establishment practices, highlighting a variety of novel, cutting-edge, and cutting-edge procedures.
Additionally discussed are tree law, tree protection, safe work practices, and the social, environmental, economic, and aesthetic advantages of trees. You can hone your abilities in business and entrepreneurship or research methods and data analysis thanks to a variety of elective modules.
The Foundation Degree in Arboriculture and Tree Management includes a significant portion of the development of work-related practical skills and experiences. Important components of the course include a vocational skills module and the chance to investigate the arboriculture sector.
Numerous modules include real-world examples where you can put what you’ve learned to use. You will have good opportunities for networking within the sector to get you started on the path to a career in arboriculture and tree management through visiting speakers and excursions to locations, companies, and nurseries.
Learning Environment
The course includes a variety of learning activities, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions, and workshops. To support lectures, seminars, and examinations, students are required to conduct considerable independent study and research.
Group projects and presentations are significant components of the training. Students will have access to specialized software and hardware for computers, as well as a classroom environment and library online.
Assessment
This course is made to guarantee that numerous assessment kinds are used, many of which directly reference materials and procedures used in the business. Technical reports, portfolios, exams, individual presentations, laboratory/practical reports, research posters, and extended project work will all be used as assessment tools.
Tuition Fees
£14,500.00 (US$ 18,013) per year for physical classes and £1,250.00 (US$ 1,553) Module for online classes.
6. Arboriculture Foundation Certificate by the University Centre Myerscough
The University of Central Lancashire awards the course, which is taught at University Centre Myerscough. Anyone interested in working in this gratifying and interesting industry, as well as those who are already employed in arboriculture, should take this course.
Employers need candidates with a mix of managerial and technical expertise in tree care science and technology. To guarantee that you have the requisite skill set for an entry-level job in the arboriculture industry, this course includes both of these components.
You will learn how to recognize and assess trees, as well as how to incorporate soil science and tree biology into tree care.
To tackle the problem of planting trees in urban areas, a focus is also placed on the production and establishment of trees, highlighting a variety of new, cutting-edge, and contemporary practices. The course includes a specific module on work skills that emphasizes the development of work-related practical skills and experiences.
Learning Environment
The course includes a variety of learning activities, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions, and workshops. To support lectures, seminars, and examinations, students are required to conduct considerable independent study and research.
Group projects and presentations are significant components of the training. Students will have access to specialized software and hardware for computers, as well as a classroom environment and library online.
Assessment
This course is made to guarantee that numerous assessment kinds are used, many of which directly reference materials and procedures used in the business. Technical reports, portfolios, individual presentations, laboratory/practical reports, and identification tests will all be used as assessment tools.
Study Options
For offline classes, the tuition fee is £14,500.00 (US$ 18,013) per year for a full year. While for online/distance learning the tuition fee is £1,250.00 (US$ 1,553) Module for 1.5 years.
7. MSc Arboriculture and Urban Forestry Online by the University Centre Myerscough
The University of Central Lancashire awards the course, which is taught at University Centre Myerscough. This ground-breaking education with an international reputation is the University of Central Lancashire’s online MSc Arboriculture and Urban Forestry.
The course acknowledges the necessity for a multidisciplinary approach to the planning, upkeep, and management of trees in green infrastructure projects. The course is intended for professionals who want to learn more about managing urban trees and developing sustainable futures for our urban forests.
The course promotes discussion and critical evaluation of cutting-edge research and practices in urban forestry and arboriculture from the perspectives of science and business.
Because trees and urban green space are so important to making cities liveable, yet are sometimes ignored as a subject or viewed as a secondary resource in cities, we examine the present challenges in providing adequate tree care and healthy urban forests. This degree program is online and the tuition fee is £1,250.00 (US$ 1,553) for 3 years
Entry Requirements
For Students from Nigeria
You must be able to prove that you possess at least CEFR level B2 in each of the four language learning skills—reading, writing, hearing, and speaking—to prove that you are fluent in English.
For International Students
People with a minimum Lower Second Class (2.2) Honours Degree (or equivalent) in a related field are encouraged to apply. English proficiency at the IELTS 6.5 or equivalent is needed for applicants whose first language is not English.
How long does it take to become a certified arborist?
The overall strategy for certification determines how long it takes to become a certified arborist. Arborists need to have at least three years of full-time job experience that provides actual arboriculture expertise before they can sit for the International Society of Arboriculture’s (ISA) Certified Arborist exam.
Multiple courses and practice tests are part of the self-paced exam preparation process. About a year is needed to complete the preparation process. Typically, it takes at least four years to complete a certification program in arboriculture by the ISA.
Before pursuing arborist certification, some people obtain a degree in a related discipline, such as forestry, horticulture, or environmental science. Associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees are all possible.
Others enroll in these disciplines’ certificate programs. The amount of experience necessary before the ISA permits a person to appear for the Certified Arborist exam may be lowered if they have a certificate or degree.
A certificate usually takes a year to finish, an associate’s degree usually takes two, a bachelor’s degree usually takes four, and a graduate degree usually takes five years or more. Before ISA certification, arborists who have already earned a certificate or degree must still work for at least four years.
7 Things you can do with an arborist degree
The cultivation and care of woody plants including trees, shrubs, and vines entail a variety of tasks. Here are seven alternatives for careers in or related to arboriculture that you might want to think about.
- Grounds Person
- Plant Health Care Technician
- Tree Surgeon
- Tree Climber
- Forester
- Arborist Representative
- Landscape Architect
1. Grounds Person
National average salary: $34,033 per year
A grounds person also referred to as a tree or arborist grounds person, works on the ground with a crew that takes care of trees and offers assistance when required. Those who first entered the area of arboriculture frequently started as groundskeepers.
Their responsibilities include performing pruning tasks with the use of machines including chainsaws, hedge trimmers, wood chippers, and hand tools, as well as assisting with rigging systems by holding ropes and lines.
Other tasks could include operating vehicles used in a tree care operation, putting up signs and cones as safety indicators, and carrying out other tasks as assigned by the crew.
2. Plant Health Care Technician
National average salary: $40,300 per year
The maintenance of the health of plants in an urban setting is the responsibility of a plant health care technician. It’s crucial to keep an eye out for symptoms of diseases and pests on woody plants in cities since they develop outside of their optimal environment, which could cause them to infect other plants.
The responsibilities of a plant health technician include identifying and examining plants, detecting any issues or dangers to their health, and establishing a plan of action to address such issues. These remedies could involve the use of pesticides, soil fertilization, root growth stimulation, and root girdling removal.
3. Tree Surgeon
National average salary: $44,052 per year
A tree surgeon performs examinations and keeps trees healthy. They inspect and diagnose difficulties, and make plans to address them, much like a surgeon would.
For instance, they could use insecticides or move a tree to promote development if they discover problems with pests or the soil. To isolate the issue and safeguard nearby buildings and plants, they may fall a diseased or dead tree and remove the stump.
4. Tree Climber
National average salary: $52,153 per year
A tree climber climbs trees to carry out different tasks. They are employed by homeowners and municipal organizations to perform a variety of tasks, including applying pesticides to tree tops, saving animals or people from high branches, and removing branches to promote healthy tree growth or prevent damage to nearby structures.
A tree climber, sometimes referred to as a climbing arborist in the area of arboriculture, is a person who climbs trees to do activities like removing deadwood, thinning the crown, lowering branch weight, and rigging systems.
5. Forester
National average salary: $63,182 per year
A forester oversees the quality of the land in woody areas like parks and forests. The position entails duties in several areas, including control of tree growth, disease, and fire prevention, and conservation of wildlife.
They may be tasked with clearing land, supervising forest regeneration and tree planting, putting safety precautions in place to avoid or put out wildfires, and coming up with environmentally friendly ways to remove timber.
6. Arborist Representative
National average salary: $64,913 per year
One kind of sales agent is an arborist representative. Their main responsibility is to locate new customers and visit with them to discuss the need for tree care services. An arborist representative will frequently be familiar with the functional aspect of arboriculture and will be able to explain how the services of their crew may help clients.
They may use their communication abilities to evaluate the residential or commercial landscapes of clients, submit work orders to their crew, assess the performance of their crew, and attempt to maintain client relationships.
7. Landscape Architect
National average salary: $65,696 per year
A landscape architect creates public places, especially ones where the positioning of natural elements like trees, bushes, and flowers is important. Their objective is to enhance a location’s aesthetic appeal while preserving its ecological equilibrium.
They frequently oversee the operations that contribute to the visual appeal of different environments, such as gardens, lawns, public parks, campuses, and the grounds around commercial buildings.
Discussing design requirements with clients, selecting contractors, determining the state of the land, and utilizing computer-aided design tools to develop landscape plans are some of the main responsibilities of the position.
Conclusion
We have seen that taking a degree in arboriculture would be worth it if you are a lover of nature and the environment. So, you should get on with it if you haven’t started already. It would also be better that you add certifications to your degree to improve your proficiency.
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A passion-driven environmentalist by heart. Lead content writer at EnvironmentGo.
I strive to educate the public about the environment and its problems.
It has always been about nature, we ought to protect not destroy.