Department of Sustainable Bioproducts
Major Advisor: Head Rubin Shmulsky
Office: 203 Franklin Center, 201 Locksley Way
The forest products industry is one of the largest economic contributors to Mississippi, as well as in the United States. Employment in the furniture, lumber, wood products, composites, and paper sectors of the economy far exceeds the employment of any other manufacturing sector in the state. Mississippi’s forest products industry recognizes the need for well-trained employees to help increase the conversion efficiencies and alter manufacturing processes to allow compatibility with a changing raw material base. The industry is large in terms of employment, both in Mississippi and nationwide.
The mission of the Department of Sustainable Bioproducts is to enhance the intellectual, cultural, social, and professional development of its students by providing them with knowledge and skills needed to utilize and conserve diverse forest resources effectively. In this regard, the Department’s primary teaching responsibility is to provide high quality educational opportunities necessary to adequately prepare students for professional and scientific careers in sustainable bioproducts and wood science.
Presently, students interested in a sustainable bioproducts curriculum are now directed to the Forest Products concentration within the Forestry Major and to the Sustainable Bioproducts graduate program.
The Department of Sustainable Bioproducts’ physical plant consists of eighteen buildings, with a combined floor space in excess of 90,000 square feet. These buildings house the analytical and testing equipment, pilot plants, and support facilities required for a comprehensive research program involving wood and other bioproducts.
Forest Products Minor
A Forest Products minor is available to non-majors to provide students with the knowledge of wood, wood products, their use, and importance to employers in many areas including construction, design, marketing and distributing, retail and wholesale management, sales, production, technical services, and scientific fields such as chemistry, engineering and industrial technology. A minor in Forest Products will also provide non-major students an excellent background for entering a graduate degree program in Sustainable Bioproducts. Academic advising is available in the Department of Sustainable Bioproducts located at 201 Locksley Way. A total of 18 hours is required to obtain a Forest Products minor. See Section II: Department Specific Policies for the list of requirements and course prerequisites.
Courses
FP 1001 First Year Seminar: 1 hour.
One hour lecture. First-year seminars explore a diverse arrary of topics that provide students with an opportunity to learn about a specific discipline from skilled faculty members
FP 1103 Wood Technology and Products: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. A survey of wood structures, properties and products, including reconstituted wood products, chemicals from wood and wood preservation
FP 2990 Special Topics in Forest Products: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
FP 3012 Introduction to Forest Industries: 2 hours.
40 hours per week for two weeks of laboratory (industry tours). Guided introduction to forest products industries and processes
FP 4000 Directed Individual Study in Forest Products: 1-6 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
FP 4013 Wood Anatomy: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: FP 1103 or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Anatomy of commercial timber species; elements of botanical microtechnique, fundamentals of microscopy, and fundamental properties: gross and minute structural characteristics of wood leading to identification
FP 4023 Wood Chemistry: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: CH 1053 and CH 1223). Three hours lecture. Introduction to the distribution, chemical structure, reactions, and uses of the chemical components of wood including cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and extractives
FP 4113 Adhesives and Finishes for Wood: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: CH 1053, FP 1103, or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Theory and technology of adhesion; adhesive types, application equipment; fundamentals of coating technology; wood finishes; finishing systems; evaluation of glued, finished products; market volumes
FP 4123 Lumber Manufacturing: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Raw materials, production methods and product specifications for sawn wood products. Machinery and plant layout. Operation, control, and analysis of lumber manufacturing systems; markets
FP 4143 Composite Wood Products: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: FP 4113 or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Study of physical and chemical parameters affecting reconstituted wood products; laboratory investigation of processing methods; industrial standards and quality control; markets
FP 4213 Wood Deterioration and Preservation: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Thermal, biological, and mechanical agents of wood products deterioration; biological control; design considerations; wood preservatives, preservation systems; treatability; preservative effectiveness; standards, pollution control
FP 4223 Furniture Production I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: FP 1103 or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. The theory of furniture production; materials for furniture; manufacturing machines and their functions; wood machining and sanding; finishing; industrial processes; marketing
FP 4233 Furniture Production II: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: FP 1103 or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. General principles of upholstered furniture design; frame construction and analysis; material selection; fasteners; joint construction; and testing standards
FP 4253 Quantitative Methods in Forest Products and Furniture: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: MA 1613 or MA 1713, BIS 1013, or concurrent). Three hours lecture. Application of economic principles to the production and marketing of forest products; production theory of single and multiproduct firms; computer applications
FP 4313 Environmental Principles: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: FP 3012 or Consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Environmental regulations pertaining to Forest Products industries. Handling and transport of hazardous compounds. Sources of environmental problems, fate in the environmental, and common control technologies
FP 4323 Physical Properties of Wood: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: FP 1103, MA 1613, PH 1113, or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Equation derivation; dimensional behavior; psychometry; thermal properties; electricity; moisture movement; case studies/problems
FP 4353 Forest Products Marketing: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: FP 3012 and junior standing). Marketing and practices used by forest products and furniture producing companies as related to differentiated vs non-differentiated products by consumers
FP 4423 Mechanical Properties of Wood: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: FP 1103, MA 1613, PH 1113, or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Strength and elasticity of wood and wood composites; variation in properties as function of structure, moisture, temperature and time; derivation of working stresses; structural design
FP 4990 Special Topics in Forest Products: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
FP 6013 Wood Anatomy: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: FP 1103 or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Anatomy of commercial timber species; elements of botanical microtechnique, fundamentals of microscopy, and fundamental properties: gross and minute structural characteristics of wood leading to identification
FP 6023 Wood Chemistry: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: CH 1053 and CH 1223). Three hours lecture. Introduction to the distribution, chemical structure, reactions, and uses of the chemical components of wood including cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and extractives
FP 6113 Adhesives and Finishes for Wood: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: CH 1053, FP 1103, or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Theory and technology of adhesion; adhesive types, application equipment; fundamentals of coating technology; wood finishes; finishing systems; evaluation of glued, finished products; market volumes
FP 6123 Lumber Manufacturing: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Raw materials, production methods and product specifications for sawn wood products. Machinery and plant layout. Operation, control, and analysis of lumber manufacturing systems; markets
FP 6143 Composite Wood Products: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: FP 4113 or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Study of physical and chemical parameters affecting reconstituted wood products; laboratory investigation of processing methods; industrial standards and quality control; markets
FP 6213 Wood Deterioration and Preservation: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Thermal, biological, and mechanical agents of wood products deterioration; biological control; design considerations; wood preservatives, preservation systems; treatability; preservative effectiveness; standards, pollution control
FP 6223 Furniture Production I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: FP 1103 or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. The theory of furniture production; materials for furniture; manufacturing machines and their functions; wood machining and sanding; finishing; industrial processes; marketing
FP 6233 Furniture Production II: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: FP 1103 or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. General principles of upholstered furniture design; frame construction and analysis; material selection; fasteners; joint construction; and testing standards
FP 6253 Quantitative Methods in Forest Products and Furniture: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: MA 1613 or MA 1713, BIS 1013, or concurrent). Three hours lecture. Application of economic principles to the production and marketing of forest products; production theory of single and multiproduct firms; computer applications
FP 6313 Environmental Principles: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: FP 3012 or Consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Environmental regulations pertaining to Forest Products industries. Handling and transport of hazardous compounds. Sources of environmental problems, fate in the environmental, and common control technologies
FP 6323 Physical Properties of Wood: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: FP 1103, MA 1613, PH 1113, or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Equation derivation; dimensional behavior; psychometry; thermal properties; electricity; moisture movement; case studies/problems
FP 6423 Mechanical Properties of Wood: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: FP 1103, MA 1613, PH 1113, or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Strength and elasticity of wood and wood composites; variation in properties as function of structure, moisture, temperature and time; derivation of working stresses; structural design
FP 6990 Special Topics in Forest Products: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
FP 7000 Directed Individual Study in Forest Products: 1-6 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
FP 8000 Thesis Research/Thesis in Forest Products: 1-13 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
FP 8111 Research Seminar: 1 hour.
Review of current research work in wood science and technology; the scientific method; philosophy of research
FP 8121 Research Seminar II: 1 hour.
One hour seminar. Review of current research work in wood science and technology; the scientific method; philosophy of research. This course focuses on oral communication skills
FP 8123 Advanced Lignocellulosic Biomass Chemistry: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Carbohydrate chemistry; chemistry of cellulose and cell- ulosics, hemicelluloses, lignins, extractives, and bark; pulping and bleaching chemistry; analysis of lignocellulosic materials; biodegradation of lignocellulosics; biomass products
FP 8133 Environmental Issues in Forest Products: 3 hours.
(Consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Environmental impact, regulations, management of wood treatment by-products and chemical wastes; biodegradation microorganisms; bioremediation; biomass residues; soil, sediment, water, air contaminations; current clean-up technologies
FP 8213 Advanced Wood Mechanics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Study of elastic and viscoelastic behavior of wood composites; fracture in wood; stress analysis; current topics in wood mechanics
FP 8990 Special Topics in Forest Products: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
FP 9000 Dissertation Research /Dissertation in Forest Products: 1-13 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged