Semester Conversion - Forest and Fire Science (FFS)
Cal Poly is moving to the semester system in Fall 2026!
The Natural Resources Management & Environmental Sciences Department and CAFES Advising are here to support you through the transition from quarters to semesters. Below, you'll find helpful information on course scheduling, typical term offerings, and important course updates
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Your Last Year on Quarters: What to Take and When
It's advised that outside of the prioritized courses, students follow their flowchart as best as they can.
| Students | Prioritize | Hold Off On | Classes Not Being Offered and Substitutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started Fall 2025 |
• NR 140 • NR 141 • NR 215 • NR 218 • MATH 141, 161, or 221 • GE Area A1, A2, and A3 • GE Area C1 |
Not applicable | No new information at this time |
| Started Fall 2024 |
• STAT 217 or 218 • NR 208 • NR 307 • NR 215 • BRAE 237 • GE Area D1 • GE Area D2 (ECON 201 recommended)
• GE Area F |
• NR 260 (if you've already taken this, it can count towards an approved elective) | Some courses may not be offered— please check the Course Offerings page for more updates |
| Started Fall 2023 |
• NR 305 • NR 308 • NR 320 • NR 315 |
• NR 260 (if you've already taken this, it can count towards an approved elective) | Some courses may not be offered— please check the Course Offerings page for more updates |
| Started Fall 2022 |
• NR 365 (Fall and Spring only, listed under NR 470 + NR 471) • NR 402 • NR 414 (Winter only) • NR 435 • NR 465 |
Not applicable | Some courses may not be offered— please check the Course Offerings page for more updates |
Flowcharts
To assist with course planning, the department is designing flowcharts that will help visualize course sequencing. There are different types of flowcharts:
- 3+1 Flowchart: For students who started as first-time freshmen with 3 years on quarters, and 1 year on semesters.
- 2+2 Flowchart: For students who started as first-time freshmen with 2 years on quarters, and 2 years on semesters.
- 1+3 Flowchart: For students who started as first-time freshmen with 1 year on quarters, and 3 years on semesters.
- Transfers Students: Meet with your academic advisor to develop a personalized graduation plan.
For now, flowcharts have not yet been developed for this major. We will send communications through your Cal Poly email and update this section once they are complete.
Course by Course Changes: Quarters to Semesters
On semesters, some courses will change numbers, merge with others, or no longer be offered—check here to see what’s happening to the classes you need.
This document is not yet made available to students. We will send communications through your Cal Poly email and update this section once they are complete.
Terms Typically Offered on Semesters
This chart shows which term a course is planned to be offered under the semester system for Fall 2026 to Spring 2027.
Forest and Fire Science (FFS)
MAJOR & CONCENTRATION COURSES
| semester COURSE | QUARTER COURSE EQUIVALENT | COURSE TITLE | OFFERED FALL | OFFERED SPRING | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERSC 3303 | ERSC 303 | Soil Erosion and Water Conservation | ✔ | ||
| NR 1141 | NR 140 + NR 141 | Introduction to Forest Ecosystem Management | ✔ | ||
| NR 2204 | NR 204 | Wildland Fire Control | ✔ | ✔ | |
| NR 2208 | NR 208 | Dendrology | ✔ | ✔ | |
| NR 2218 | NR 218 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | ✔ | ||
| NR 2290 | NR 290 | Intercollegiate Forestry Activities | ✔ | ✔ | Logging Team |
| NR 2350 | NR 350 | Urban Forestry | ✔ | ||
| NR 3305 | NR 305 | Forest and Fire Ecology | ✔ | ✔ | |
| NR 3308 | NR 308 | Fire and Society | ✔ | ✔ | |
| NR 3310 | NR 310 | Global Climate Change | ✔ | ||
| NR 3312 | NR 312 | Technology of Wildland Management | ✔ | TBD when course will be offered | |
| NR 3315 | NR 315 | Forest Mensuration | ✔ | ✔ | |
| NR 3319 | NR 320 (Lab) | Watershed Processes Lab | ✔ | ✔ | |
| NR 3320 | NR 320 (Lec) | Watershed Processes and Management | ✔ | ✔ | |
| NR 3339 | NR 339 | Internship in Forest and Natural Resources | ✔ | ||
| NR 3340 | NR 340 | Wildland Fire Management | ✔ | ||
| NR 3341 | NR 341 | Wildland Fire Behavior | ✔ | ||
| NR 3363 | NR 363 | Undergraduate Seminar | ✔ | ||
| NR 4365 | NR 365 | Silviculture and Fuels Management | ✔ | ||
| NR 4402 | NR 402 (Lec) | Forest Health and Disturbance Ecology | ✔ | ||
| NR 4403 | NR 402 (Lab) | Forest Health and Disturbance Ecology Lab | ✔ | ||
| NR 4414 | NR 414 | Sustainable Forest Management and Operations | ✔ | ||
| NR 4417 | NR 417 | Natural Resource Protection and Policy | ✔ | ||
| NR 4418 | NR 418 | Applied GIS | ✔ | ✔ | |
| NR 4422 | NR 422 | Stream and Water Quality Measurements | ✔ | ||
| NR 4461 | — | Senior Project - Prescribed Fire | ✔ | ||
| NR 4466 | NR 455 | Senior Project - Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Protection | ✔ | ||
| NR 4469 | NR 420 | Senior Project - Watershed Assessment and Protection | ✔ | ||
| NR 4475 | NR 475 | Senior Project- Forest Stewardship | ✔ |
SUPPORT COURSES
| semester COURSE | QUARTER COURSE EQUIVALENT | COURSE TITLE | OFFERED FALL | OFFERED SPRING | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOT 1121 | BOT 121 | General Botany | ✔ | ✔ | |
| BIO 1114 | BIO 114 | Plant Diversity and Ecology | ✔ | ✔ | |
| BRAE 1237 | BRAE 237 | Introduction to Engineering Surveying | ✔ | ✔ | |
| CHEM 1120 | CHEM 127 + CHEM 128 + CHEM 129 | Fundamentals of Chemical Structure and Properties | ✔ | ✔ | |
| MATH 1264 | MATH 161 | Calculus for Data Science | ✔ | ✔ | |
| SS 1120 | SS 120 | Introductory Soil Science | ✔ | ✔ | |
| STAT 1110 | STAT 217 or STAT 218 | Applied Statistical Concepts and Methods | ✔ | ✔ | |
| ECON 2201 | ECON 201 | Survey of Economics | ✔ | ✔ | Required for Area 4B on the GE 2026 Catalog; 2022-26 catalogs or earlier do not require this course for D2. |