Explore UCD

UCD Home >

FOR30340

Academic Year 2025/2026

Professional Forestry Practice (FOR30340)

Subject:
Forestry
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Ms Marie Doyle
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module is comprised of three distinct components that will enhance undergraduate forestry students’ professionalism.
One component addresses issues surrounding presentation and communication and includes details on the presentation of technical, scientific and operational information, in an appropriate format, using the correct scientific and professional terminology and level of detail.
A second component comprises input from a number of professional foresters who are employed in a wide variety of roles within the forest sector. Their input will help to familiarise the students with the structure of the Irish forestry sector and the relevance of good communication and professional conduct.
The final component is dendrology. This segment is designed to enhance students’ familiarity with the tree species found in Irish forestry. It will build on the introductory elements of dendrology covered in the Stage 1 module 'Trees and Forests in Ireland'.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Recognise the significance of the correct use of technical and scientific terminology.
2. Determine the appropriate format and level of detail required in reporting on a wide range of professional forestry practices.
3. Produce scientific, technical and operational forestry reports, such as those containing information on site descriptions, silvicultural prescriptions, inventory results, management plans and research findings.
4. Make a presentation, based on technical and/or scientific information.
5. Communicate on the various roles within the Irish forest sector and the relevance of clear communication and professionalism.
6. Identify a range of tree genera and tree species, including those native to Ireland and those in use in commercial forestry.
7. Critique their personal input and evaluate their performance in a team-based setting.
8. Explain some of the key issues affecting forestry currently.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

42
Total

118

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
1. Active/task-based learning
2. Lectures
3. Critical writing
4. Student presentations

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Elective for Stage 3 and 4 Forestry students.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Researching, referencing, use of referencing software. Week 6 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Editing exercise to improve writing skills & develop familiarisation with reviewing tools. Week 4 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
5
 No
Exam (In-person): Practical dendrology exam. Week 14 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No
Individual Project: Presentation based on the topic covered in the students research project. Week 10 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
5
 No
Individual Project: Preparation of CV to match a job specification. Week 6 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
5
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Class Project - Engagement: grade associated with student's commitment to and participation in the Group Project. Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
15
 No
Report(s): Reports on Guest Speaker lectures.
Short written reports to demonstrate understanding of speaker's area of work & develop listening, note-taking and writing skills.		 Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No
Student Negotiated or Choice of Assessment: Class Project - Reflection: grade associated with student's reflection of the process & outcomes of the Group Project. Week 15 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Ongoing verbal and written feedback on small written assignments; grades on other assignments and individual feedback offered if the students request it; feedback on presentations - asked to contribute their own comments as well as class discussion and mod coordinator feedback.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 11:00 - 12:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 10:00 - 10:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.