10001101Introduction to Arboriculture
Course Information
Description
Examines career specialties and jobs within arboriculture. Identify factors that affect tree, shrub, and turf health, examine equipment, tools, and facilities used in the field.
Total Credits
2

Course Competencies
  1. Examine the arboriculture industry, specialties, and employment opportunities
    Assessment Strategies
    Written product and/or oral presentation
    Criteria
    Define arboriculture and urban forestry
    Differentiate between specialties within the industry (commercial, municipal, and utility arboriculture)
    Identify several historical practices and recent changes in the industry
    Identify common jobs and the industry’s growth potential, wages, demographics, and challenges

  2. Incorporate principles of arboriculture
    Assessment Strategies
    Written product and/or oral presentation
    Criteria
    Identify key principles of arboriculture and tree care
    Describe regulations related to tree care activities
    Relate the arboriculture industry to urban forestry
    Describe sustainable urban forests

  3. Analyze trees in an urban environment
    Assessment Strategies
    Quiz, Written product and/or oral presentation
    Criteria
    Describe the effects of the urban forest on air quality, air temperature, wind and energy savings, storm water run-off, erosion control, and noise reduction, social and psychological benefit
    Explain the economic values of the urban forest and how they are determined
    Examine equity in urban forestry (canopy coverage and green space by economic status, park square footage)
    Identify the cost of tree maintenance options
    Compare neighborhood urban forest plantings within South Central Wisconsin area
    Calculate tree maintenance costs for lifespan

  4. Identify factors that affect tree, shrub, and turf health
    Assessment Strategies
    Quiz, Scenario Response
    Criteria
    Identify common invertebrate and vertebrate, pathogenic, and abiotic plant disorders
    Evaluate symptoms and signs of tree, shrub, and turf health problems
    Distinguish between what is normal and abnormal
    Explain a diagnostic approach to tree health management
    Describe integrated pest management and its impact on arboriculture

  5. Identify factors that determine Tree Hazard Management
    Assessment Strategies
    Quiz, Scenario Response
    Criteria
    Explain the component of hazard evaluations
    Describe the Factors influencing tree failure
    Demonstrate evaluating trees for defects
    Evaluate trees for potential for storm damage and evaluate storm effects on the urban forest
    Evaluate the Potential for tree failure caused by decay
    Explain Tree Hazard Management
    Describe mitigation strategies within Tree Hazard Management

  6. Determine the purpose of common landscape equipment, tools, and facilities
    Assessment Strategies
    Quiz, Field Exercise
    Criteria
    Match purpose of common landscape equipment, tools, and equipment to a task
    Determine the financial impact of arboriculture equipment purchases
    Describe long term impact of equipment purchases versus labor costs
    Identify the cost of tree maintenance options

  7. Evaluate incident reports of common equipment in the arboriculture industry
    Assessment Strategies
    Written product (maintenance/incident report), Field Exercise
    Criteria
    Identify best maintenance practices of common pieces of industry equipment
    Describe how the incidents could have been prevented
    Include components in report as specified by instructor
    Follow ANSI Standards that apply to arboriculture and equipment maintenance and safety