Wood Science & Technology Courses
WSC 212 Introduction to Wood Science & Technology
All about wood; from the basics of how it is formed in the tree to the practical use of wood.
Topics range from acoustical properties of wood to understanding why wood shrinks and
swells. Practical aspects of use and production of wood products are also covered.
Satisfies the General Education Applications of Scientific Knowledge Requirement.
Lec 3. Cr 3.
WSC 213 Hand Lens Identification of Wood Laboratory
Satisfies the General Education Applications of Scientific Knowledge Requirement.
Cr 1.
WSC 314 Wood and Wood-Fiber Processing
An overview of the machinery and processes used for manufacturing wood-based composites,
veneer, lumber, pulp and paper, etc. Timber defects and their effect on finished product
quality. Methods of measuring process control.
Satisfies the General Education Writing Intensive Requirement.
Lec 3. Lab 3. Cr 3.
WSC 318 Wood and the Environment
Basic wood-moisture relationships and how they affect the strength and performance of
wood products and structures. Drying systems for solid wood and wood products such as
flakes, chips and poles. Recognizing and preventing defects that are caused by drying and
shrinkage. Comparative energy savings using wood in construction.
Prerequisites: permission.
Lec 2. Lab 3. Cr 3.
WSC 319 Wood Deterioration and Protection
Covers how wood is attacked by fungi, insects and other agents, and how wood may be
protected from decay, etc. to prolong its useful life. Taught at a general level, topics include
the importance of the decay of woody materials in carbon cycling, and the mechanisms
which fungi use to penetrate and degrade the cellular structure of wood. The course also
addresses environmental concerns associated with the use of wood preservatives and wood
coatings. Practical methods for preserving and protection in-service wood from deterioration
are addressed.
Satisfies the General Education Lab in Basic or Applied Sciences Requirement.
Lec 2. Lab 3. Cr 3.
WSC 345 Special Problems
Original investigation in wood science and technology, the subject to be chosen after
consultation with the staff. Open to high-ranking juniors and seniors.
Cr Ar.
WSC 395 Internship
A professional activity under the general supervision of an experienced professional with a
high degree of responsibility placed on the student. Learning objectives are pre-established
and agreed upon between the faculty coordinator and the placement supervisor.
Not normally repeated.
Cr Ar.
WSC 396 Field Experience
Practical experience for the undergraduate student, combining work in a business firm,
industry or public agency with academic courses and supervision. Opportunity for student
to gain experience, to integrate classroom learning with job performance, and to develop
future placement possibilities.
Open to wood products students only.
Prerequisite: junior standing or permission.
Cr Ar.
WSC 416 Functional Structure of Woody Plants
Wood and bark are studied as a means to understanding tree physiology, phylogenetic
relationships and taxonomic identification.
This course is identical to FES 416
Prerequisite: FES 100, WSC 213 or permission.
Lec 2. Lab 4. Cr 3.
WSC 425 Mechanical Properties of Wood
The mechanical properties of wood and wood composites and their use in structural
applications. The relationship of mechanical and physical properties to basic processing
techniques.
Prerequisite: WSC 212 or permission.
Rec 3. Lab 3. Cr 4.
WSC 430 Wood Composites and Adhesion
Principles of adhesion and evaluation of adhesive systems. Effect of process variables on
physical and mechanical properties or oriented strand board, medium density fiberboard,
particleboard, hardboard, plywood and wood / polymer composites.
Prerequisite: WSC 314 or permission.
Lec 2. Lab 3. Cr 3.
WSC 440 Adhesion and Adhesives Technology
Fundamentals of adhesion and adhesives including surface science, chemistry and properties
of adhesives, adhesive bond evaluation and applications in composite materials.
Students registered for WSC 440 will not be eligible to register for WSC 540.
This course is identical to WSC 540.
Prerequisite: senior standing or permission.
Lec 3. Lab 3. Cr 4.
WSC 450 Wood Structures
WSC 519 Advanced Wood Deterioration and Protection
How wood is attacked by fungi, insects, marine organisms and other agents, and how wood
may be protected from decay, etc. to prolong its useful life. The importance of the decay of
wood materials in carbon cycling and the mechanisms that fungi use to penetrate and
degrade the cellular structure of wood. Environmental concerns associated with the use of
wood preservatives and wood coatings. Practical methods for preserving and protecting in-
service wood from deterioration. Environmental degradation of wood.
Cr 3.
WSC 530 Wood Physics
Study and evaluation of non-mechanical physical properties of wood; response to liquids,
vibrational stimulation, heat, electricity and ionizing radiation.
Prerequisite: understanding of basic physics, wood anatomy or permission.
Lec 2. Lab 2. Cr 4.
WSC 531 Mechanics of Wood and Wood Composites
Application of orthotropic and nonlinear constitutive relations, laminate theory, and failure
criterion on the prediction of mechanical properties of solid wood, wood fibers, laminated,
and other wood composite materials.
Prerequisite: WSC 425 or equivalent or permission.
Cr 3.
WSC 540 Adhesion and Adhesives Technology
Fundamentals of adhesion and adhesives including surface science, chemistry and properties
of adhesives, adhesive bond evaluation and applications in composite materials.
Students registered for WSC 540 will not be eligible to register for WSC 440.
This course is identical to WSC 440.
Prerequisite: senior standing or permission.
Lec 3. Lab 3. Cr 4.
WSC 550 Wood-Polymer Hybrid Composites
Fundamentals of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials, manufacturing and performance
characteristics. Addresses issues of combining wood with FRP's such as interfacial
properties and durability of the resulting wood-polymer hybrid composite materials.
Prerequisite: WSC 430 or permission.
Lec 3. Cr 3.
BMB 221 Organic Chemistry
Basic theories of organic chemistry, including reactions, mechanisms and nomenclature.
Emphasis on those aspects of organic chemistry which relate to biological chemistry.
Prerequisite: BMB 207 or CHY 121 and CHY 123.
Cr 3.
BUA 201 Principles of Financial Accounting I
An introduction to the use and preparation of financial accounting information. Emphasis is
on gaining an understanding of the income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash
flows and applying that knowledge to a corporate annual report.
Prerequisite: sophomore standing.
Cr 3.
CHY 121 Introduction to Chemistry
Topics include: units and definitions, atomic structure, bonding, chemical change,
concentration of solutions, reaction rates and equilibria, acid-base chemistry and summary
topics related to applications in materials science, biological chemistry and the environment.
Students wishing to pursue a B.A. in chemistry with an environmental concentration should
enroll in the focus section for this area for which summary topics are chosen to relate
specifically to the environment.
Satisfies the General Education Lab in the Basic or Applied Sciences Requirement
Corequisite: CHY 123
Prerequisite: MAT 122
Lec 3. Cr 3.
CHY 123 Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory
Introduction to experimental techniques and concepts in chemistry.
Satisfies the General Education Lab in the Basic or Applied Sciences Requirement
Corequisite: CHY 121
Lab 3. Cr 1.
CHY 483 Introductory Wood Chemistry
Emphasis on the chemical and physical properties of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and
extractives.
Prerequisite: CHY 252 or permission.
Lec 3. Cr 3.
COM 103 Fundamentals of Public Communication
The nature and problems of public speech communication, with practical experience in
representative speaking situations. Participation in research to a maximum of 3 hours is
expected.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions Requirement.
Cr 3.
ENG 101 College Composition
The nature and problems of public speech communication, with practical experience in
representative speaking situations. Participation in research to a maximum of 3 hours
is expected.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions Requirement.
Cr 3.
FES 100 Introduction to Forest Biology
Introductory concepts related to forest plants, animals, environment and ecology.
Satisfies the General Education Lab in the Basic or Applied Sciences Requirement.
Lec 2. Rec 2. Lab 4. Cr 4.
FSC 401 Harvesting of Forest Crops
Harvesting methods in the United States and Canada, with special emphasis on Maine.
Discussion on organization, equipment, forest road construction and regulations.
Lec 2. Lab 3. Cr 3.
FTY 101 Introduction to Forest Resources
A survey course designed to introduce first-year, first-semester forestry students to the
history, current issues and breadth of professional opportunities related to forestry.
Rec 2. Cr 1.
FTY 104 Statistical Inference for Forest Management
Provides an introduction to the language of probability of statistical inference applied to
forestry. Topics include: distribution of binomial and normally distributed random variables,
two-sample tests, simple random, systematic and stratified sampling, multi-stage sampling,
confidence intervals and basic regression analysis.
Prerequisite: At least MAT 111 level competence is required.
Lec 3. Cr 3.
FTY 105 Introduction to Forest Measurements
Basic field measurements for determining the volume of standing and felled timber.
Basic field data collection methods and data recording techniques.
Cr 3.
FTY 107 Forest Vegetation
An introduction to the identification, distribution, taxonomy, silvics and utilization of North
American tree species. Emphasis on the dominant forest cover types typical of each region
of the U.S. together with their associated shrub and herbaceous communities. Site
affiliations and the relationships to selected vertebrate wildlife species are included.
Forest Ecosystem Science and Forestry Majors only.
Lec 3. Lab 3. Cr 4.
FTY 444 Forest Resources Economics
Economics of domestic and international forest resources production, processing and
distribution. Contributions of forest resources to local, regional, and national economies.
Fundamentals of financial analysis. Evaluation of priced and unpriced forest resources for
acquisition, taxation, management, and disposal.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions Requirement.
Prerequisite: INT 110 or equivalent.
Lec 3. Cr 3.
FTY 540 Forest Products Marketing
Development of market segments and marketing strategies for domestic and international
forest products markets including pulp and paper, hardwood lumber, softwood lumber, logs
and in wood-based composites. Prerequisites: permission.
Lec 3. Cr 3.
INT 110 Modern Economic Problems
An introduction to the operation of modern economic systems. Topics include: the price
system, resource allocation, the organization of markets, the economics of government
policy, the international aspects of the economy. This course does not substitute for either
ECO 120 or ECO 121.
Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions Requirement.
Cr 3.
MAT 126 Calculus l
An introduction to calculus for students in mathematics, engineering, and the sciences.
Covers the differential calculus of the algebraic, trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic
functions, concluding with the definite integral and the fundamental theorem of calculus.
The approach is intuitive and geometric, with emphasis on understanding the basic concepts
of function, limit, derivative and integral.
Note: Because of overlapping subject matter, no more than four (4) degree credits will be
allowed for successful completion of more than one of MAT 114, MAT 126, and MAT 151.
Satisfies the General Education Mathematics Requirement
Prerequisite: a grade of C or better in MAT 122, or adequate performance on a departmental
qualifying examination given during summer orientation and the first week of classes.
Cr 4.
MAT 151 Calculus for Life Sciences
An introduction to differential and integral calculus and its applications to the life sciences.
Note: Because of overlapping subject matter, no more than four (4) degree credits will be
allowed for successful completion of more than one of MAT 114, MAT 126, and MAT 151.
Satisfies the General Education Mathematics Requirement
Prerequisite: a grade of C or better in MAT 122, or adequate performance on a departmental
qualifying examination given during summer orientation and the first week of classes.
Cr 4.
MAT 232 Principles of Statistical Inference
Intended for students who will use statistics as an aid to the comprehension of quantitative
work done by others and for students who will follow this course by an intermediate level
applied statistics course. An introduction to the language and methods of statistical analysis,
probability, graphic and numeric descriptive methods and inference from sample data.
Note: Because of overlap MAT 232 and MAT 215 can not both be taken for degree credit.
Satisfies the General Education Mathematics Requirement.
Prerequisite: two years of high school math or MAT 111.
Cr 3.
PHY 107 Technical Physics l
An introduction to the basic concepts of mechanics and heat with illustrations taken from
technical applications. Algebra and trigonometry are used. Intended for Engineering
Technology students.
Satisfies the General Education Lab in the Basic or Applied Sciences Requirement.
Lec 2. Rec 1. Workshop 1. Lab 2. Cr 4.
PHY 111 General Physics
An introduction to the principles of mechanics, energy, heat, sound and properties of matter.
Designed for science majors as well as premedical and predental students. No calculus. A
working knowledge of algebra and trigonometry is required.
Satisfies the General Education Lab in the Basic or Applied Sciences Requirement.
Lec with dem 2. Rec 1. Problem Workshop 1. Lab 2. Cr 4.
PPA 465 Pulp Technology
The chemical and engineering principles of manufacturing various wood pulps.
Prerequisite: junior standing, CHE 200 or permission.
(Fall) Rec 3. Cr 3.
Professional Electives
These are intended to strengthen the student in one of several cogent areas such as business, chemistry or engineering. A total of 15 credits can be selected for this purpose.
