WOOD PRODUCT SCIENCE

General Information

Traditional BSc programmes all over the world dealing with the utilization of wood have been known by the terms such as "Wood Science", "Wood Technology", Forest Products", or "Wood Utilization".

The classical approach in most of these programmes has been to strongly stress the material science side (i.e. subjects like Wood Anatomy, Wood Physics, Wood Chemistry, Mechanical Properties and Wood Quality), while some attention was also paid to processing subjects (sawmilling, drying, preservation, board products, laminated products, etc.), but very little attention was paid to downstream value-adding.

In the new B.Sc. Wood Products Programme offered at the University of Stellenbosch from 2003, much more emphasis is placed on value-adding aspects in e.g. the furniture industry and the built environment.
The aim of the new program is to emphasize the important field of processing beyond the primary phase and to establish the vital link between the basic wood properties and further industrial processing to high-value products. It is critical that there exists the appropriate educational environment in South Africa to support a viable and progressive forest products industry that can keep pace with similar industries throughout the world.
 

In the program, material and basic sciences, management and engineering principles form the basis for the manufacture and marketing of products made from wood such as board and laminated products, and furniture joinery. The B.Sc. Wood Products Science program is:

  • interdisciplinary
  • focused
  • national in impact
  • international in scope
  • industry driven
  • hands-on and is offered
  • using modern teaching methods

The table below shows a brief summary of the course layout.
Download the course description document: PDF (17 KB)
 
 
Study options to address specific interests and aptitudes
 
Wood Products
Management
 
 
Natural Sciences
Engineering
 
 

 

The Stellenbosch graduate will:

  • be qualified in basic Wood Science (i.e. will have a knowledge of Wood Properties, Wood Anatomy, Wood Physics, Wood Chemistry, Mechanical Properties, Drying Principles, etc.)
  • have Business skills
  • have Engineering skills
  • have Production and Management capabilities in the broadest sense
 
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