Why this Program?
Environmental Science & Management isn’t a discipline you learn by simply reading a textbook. You learn through practical experience–a given at Cal Poly Humboldt.
Where You'll Learn
Surrounded by ancient redwoods, and near the Pacific Ocean, pristine rivers, mountains, and marshes, Humboldt has the perfect environment for field research.
Many lab sessions are held in nearby natural habitats, such as the Arcata Community Forest, Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary, and Redwood National and State Parks. There are also day-long or multi-day field trips to places like the Trinity River, Crater Lake National Park, Trinity Alps Wilderness, and the Mattole River watershed.
There are plenty of opportunities on campus, too. For instance, you can volunteer at the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT), Humboldt’s a live-in eco-demonstration house. It’s run by students who demonstrate waste-reduction, energy efficiency, and other ways of living sustainability.
In your senior year, put theory, research, and field experience to the test with the practicum (capstone course), where you’ll apply everything you’ve learned to real-world environmental issues.
Personal Attention
Whether outdoors or in the classroom, our professors are passionate about teaching and mentoring. Professors like Alison O’Dowd make sure to involve undergraduates in their own research. Her students have examined the complex interplay between dams and other diversions, seasonal flow, and aquatic invertebrate community dynamics on the Eel River.
And thanks to small class sizes, they can work with you one-on-one to answer questions, providing advice and any help you may need to thrive at Humboldt.
Study Abroad
In addition to the wide array of courses available at Cal Poly Humboldt there are also opportunities to experience hands-on learning through study abroad and field programs, such as the Earth Education International (EEI). An experiential learning organization in Costa Rica, EEI provides interdisciplinary courses in sustainability, environmental studies and social responsibility. The program works in partnership with global educational institutions to support and promote sustainable initiatives locally. Learn more about the Deep Ecology and Sustainable Living short course offered in the summer and winter and the condensed spring semester program in Sustainable Global Stewardship.
Freshmen Learning Community
As an ESM major, you will participate in a free science program called the Klamath Connection. For one year, freshmen in specific science majors (including ESM) will explore the relationships between science, traditional ecological knowledge, the environment, and Native American communities all through the lens of California’s second largest river, the Klamath River. You’ll gain confidence and be more prepared for your future studies at Humboldt. You’ll also find the support to navigate college life, all while making new friends.
