Teaching

I teach various classes in Forestry and Wildlife across the Fall, Spring, and Summer Sessions at Horry-Georgetown Technical College.

FOR 154: Forest Mensuration

Semester: Fall

The purpose of this course is to give the student a working knowledge of the techniques and instrumentation that are commonly utilized to measure the important parameters of a standing forest (basal area, height, diameter, site quality, stand density, and volume). The ability to measure these parameters is essential to develop information required in the decision-making processes involved in silviculture and forest management.

This course is a study of the techniques and instruments used in the measurement of standing or harvested trees. The use of log rules, volume tables, yield tables, and elementary statistics are included.

NRM 130: Outdoor Recreation Management 

Semester: Fall 

Outdoor Recreation in South Carolina is a business that needs to be explored, respected, and managed by educated individuals. This course examines the management of natural resources for outdoor recreational purposes and allows students to understand concepts of recreation management, the influence of recreation on the natural environment, recreational safety, and recreation planning. This course ends with a capstone project where students demonstrate their ability to create a comprehensive recreation management plan. 

FOR 268: Forest Ecology

Semester: Fall 

All living organisms in a forest ecosystem and their environment are linked together. An understanding of the interrelationship between organisms and their environment and organism to organism will help us sustain ecosystem stability and function, promote long term productivity and reduce losses to stress. The student will gain an understanding of the environmental factors affecting the plant community; plant community inter-relationships; factors influencing plant distribution and succession; and environmental forces affecting forest management.

This course is a study of the nature of forests and forest trees, how they grow, reproduce, and their relationships to the physical and biological environment. 

NRM 151: Vertebrate Natural History

Semester: Spring

Vertebrates are the basic component of management in the Southeastern US.  This course will help students understand and identify vertebrate animals by appearance and calls.  The biology and ecology of vertebrates will also be studied.

This course includes the taxonomic classification, identification, geographic range, and biology of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals native to South Carolina and the Southeast.

FOR 269: Forestry Statistics 

Semester: Spring

This course covers measuring, recording, and summarizing various forestry field data and its presentation in technical form. Basic statistical and finance computations, interest, and discount computations are included. 

NRM 201: Soil Fertility and Plant Productivity

Semester: Spring

Managing soil productivity is a basic component of natural resource management.  However, understanding soil and its manipulations are not simple and can be costly.  Students will learn how to manage the soil to meet landowner goals and the costs associated with many soil management practices.

This course is a study of agronomic principles of soil management and plant production, including the use and application of chemical fertilizers.  Emphasis will be placed on utilizing the tools to effectively manage soils for productive wildlife habitat.

FOR 268: Forest Protection

Semester: Spring

This course is designed to assist the student with prescribed and wildfire decisions, pesticide application and forest pest identification.  

This course studies the major Southern Forest damage agents, including fire, insects and disease, and protection practices used. Specific topics include prescribed burning, pesticide use and safety, wildfire suppression, insect and disease identification and control measures. 

This course covers forest fires and the major insects and diseases which attack southern forests.  Methods of prevention and control are explored.

FOR 220: SCWE in Forestry

Semester: Summer

This course is designed to give students on-the-ground experience and exposure to the private or public sector of forestry and forest products, wildlife management, surveying or natural resource management, in preparation for the second year of coursework within the Forestry Management Technology curriculum. This course is a study of the problems of day to day natural resource operations. Employment by an approved forest or natural resource related industry or agency is required.

FOR 222: Forestry Portfolio 

Semester: Summer

This course is an integrated study and comprehensive report related to the materials and curriculum requirements of the student work experience to include forestry management practices, planning and human resources.