Online programs prepare professionals for leadership in mass timber and sustainable construction
The future is being built with mass timber — and a new online program from Oregon State University’s College of Forestry is helping prepare the leaders who will shape it.
Designed for working professionals ready to move into leadership roles in advanced wood construction, manufacturing and sustainable materials systems, the Professional Science Master’s degree in Wood Innovation for Sustainability (WINS) provides flexible pathways for people working in architecture, engineering, construction, forestry, manufacturing and sustainability to build expertise in mass timber and the timber circular economy. Coursework includes a foundation in wood science and spans mass timber design, advanced wood manufacturing, sustainable construction and carbon analysis, with additional certificate options focused on mass timber building systems and the timber circular economy.
“As mass timber adoption accelerates and the forest products sector advances toward greater resource efficiency and lifecycle optimization, the industry is looking for experts who understand how forest management, advanced wood manufacturing and modern building systems fit together,” said Eric Hansen, head of the Department of Wood Science and Engineering. “We designed this online program in response to industry needs so people already working in the field can build this expertise and advance their careers.”
Mass Timber and the Circular Economy: two rapidly expanding fields
Wood products can contribute to a carbon-neutral society through their renewable nature, relatively low production emissions, and the carbon storage potential of long-lived products. Maximizing this potential requires advancing sustainable practices across the entire supply chain and expanding the use of advanced engineered wood systems.
Buildings account for a significant share of global carbon emissions, much of which comes from the production of energy-intensive materials. As cities, developers and policymakers look for ways to reduce the environmental impact of construction, mass timber has emerged as one of the most promising alternatives.
Mass timber refers to a category of engineered wood products — including cross-laminated timber and mass plywood panels — used in buildings ranging from residential and mid-rise structures to larger commercial and institutional projects. These materials provide structural strength comparable to steel and concrete while storing carbon and utilizing renewable resources.
Across North America and Europe, mass timber is increasingly used for housing, schools, offices and civic buildings. Advances in engineering, design and prefabricated construction are expanding what is possible with wood — including taller and more complex structures. As adoption grows, so does the need for people who understand how these materials perform, how they are manufactured and how they integrate into modern building systems.
While mass timber represents a leading innovation, progress in the forest products sector extends well beyond it. Advances include more resource-efficient manufacturing processes, the development of value-added products from wood waste streams, and technologies and design approaches that extend the service life of wood products. Improvements in milling efficiency, digital optimization of cutting patterns, and automation have reduced material losses and energy consumption during production. At the same time, residues such as sawdust, bark, and small-diameter timber are increasingly used to produce engineered wood products, bio-based chemicals, and renewable energy, allowing manufacturers to capture additional value from materials that were previously discarded or underutilized. Innovations in coatings, preservatives, and hybrid material systems are also enhancing wood durability and performance, enabling wood products to remain in service longer and perform effectively in more demanding environments. Together, these developments contribute to a more circular and resource-efficient forest products industry, maximizing the value derived from harvested timber while reducing waste and environmental impacts.
Study at the center of mass timber innovation
The College of Forestry is one of the few institutions advancing knowledge and innovation across the full forest system — from forest ecosystems and management to advanced wood products and the built environment. That breadth enables a systems-based approach to addressing complex challenges, connecting sustainable forest management, wood manufacturing and modern building systems.
The programs are led by faculty working at the center of one of the most active mass timber research ecosystems in the United States. Oregon State University is home to the TallWood Design Institute, a nationally recognized partnership between its College of Forestry and College of Engineering and the University of Oregon’s College of Design. The institute works with industry partners, designers and policymakers to advance research, testing and real-world implementation of mass timber buildings.
OSU and the TallWood Design Institute are also home to the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub, recognized and funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration to accelerate innovation and manufacturing in the mass timber sector.
Faculty involved in the WINS program collaborate with manufacturers, engineers and architects to test structural systems, improve manufacturing processes and support building code development — work that informs both research and instruction.
Learn from innovators driving the timber circular economy
The College of Forestry brings extensive expertise to advancing the timber circular economy through research, innovation and industry collaboration. Faculty and researchers are actively developing technologies that convert forest and agricultural residues into high-value products, helping reduce waste while maximizing the value of natural resources. Areas of focus include pyrolysis and biochar production systems that transform biomass into stable carbon products and soil amendments, as well as novel wood composites that utilize underutilized timber species, small-diameter trees and forest and agricultural byproducts. These innovations help expand markets for materials that are often left unused while supporting more resilient forest management and supply chains.
Extensive research within the College also focuses on enhancing the durability and performance of wood-based products and timber structural systems, thereby extending their service life. In parallel, innovative design approaches are being developed to facilitate the reuse of materials and components in new systems. Together, these efforts support prolonged carbon storage and help reduce premature disposal. In addition, the College of Forestry is advancing modern wood manufacturing through improvements in process efficiency, automation and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) systems. Research in advanced sensing, digital manufacturing and performance testing is helping manufacturers produce more consistent, high-performance wood products while reducing material waste and production variability. Together, these efforts support a more circular forest products sector — one that keeps materials in productive use longer, increases the value derived from biomass and strengthens sustainable forest-based economies.
Flexible options for working professionals
The program is designed for flexibility. Delivered fully online, participants can take classes from anywhere and progress at a pace that fits their schedules — ideal for those who want to build expertise while continuing in their current roles or managing other personal demands.
Professionals can pursue the master’s degree and choose an area of specialization or begin with one of two graduate certificates that can later be applied toward the degree. Each 20-credit certificate can be stacked toward the 45-credit master’s program, allowing participants to build toward the degree over time. Learn more about the College of Forestry and the online Professional Science Master’s in Wood Innovation for Sustainability and graduate certificates in Mass Timber and the Timber Circular Economy:
- Professional Science Master’s in Wood Innovation for Sustainability
The online graduate degree prepares participants to work across mass timber design, advanced wood manufacturing, sustainable construction and carbon analysis. Coursework addresses structural performance, fire design, building codes, digital modeling and life-cycle assessment. - Mass Timber Graduate Certificate
Focuses on the design, engineering and construction of mass timber buildings, including engineered wood products, structural systems, prefabrication and digital design tools. - Timber Circular Economy Graduate Certificate
Explores how forest management, manufacturing, supply chains and product design contribute to a renewable materials economy, including strategies that reduce waste, store carbon and extend the life of wood products.
Construction is changing fast, and mass timber is leading the way
Mass timber, a new generation of engineered wood products made by layering and bonding lumber into high-strength structural panels and beams, is transforming skylines around the world. Strong enough to rival steel and concrete, mass timber offers something those materials cannot: it stores carbon, reduces environmental impact and comes from a renewable resource.
As cities and industries seek climate-smart building solutions, demand for mass timber expertise is accelerating. Careers in mass timber combine climate impact with strong job growth across design, engineering, manufacturing and construction. From sustainable high-rise buildings to innovative housing solutions, the field is creating new opportunities for engineers, architects, supply chain specialists, foresters and business leaders who want to shape a more sustainable built environment.
Oregon State University offers an online master’s degree in wood innovation and sustainability designed for professionals entering or advancing in the mass timber industry. Through its College of Forestry, OSU delivers the Professional Science Master’s in Wood Innovation for Sustainability, known as the PSM WINS.
The program was developed in direct collaboration with industry leaders who saw a growing need for professionals trained in mass timber, advanced manufacturing and sustainable wood systems.
“This degree was created because industry asked for it,” said Eric Hansen, head of the Department of Wood Science and Engineering. “Companies told us they need professionals who understand both the science of wood products and the business realities driving innovation. The WINS program delivers that combination.”
Designed for working professionals, the fully online program allows students to advance their careers without stepping away from them. Coursework blends technical depth in wood science and mass timber with leadership, supply chain and business skills that can be applied immediately on the job.
Tom DeLuca, dean of the College of Forestry, sees the program as part of a larger movement. “Mass timber represents one of the most promising pathways toward climate-smart construction,” he said. “Through the PSM WINS degree, Oregon State is equipping leaders who will shape the future of sustainable building and resilient forest economies.”
Mass timber is more than a trend. It is a movement toward climate-smart construction, resilient forests and sustainable communities. Learn more about the online PSM WINS degree from Oregon State’s College of Forestry.