Breadcrumb
Department of Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
The Department of Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis at Cal Poly Humboldt helps students understand how people, place, power, and environment shape the world through fieldwork, research, and geospatial tools.
B.A. in Geography
Research and explain how people and environments shape the world. Build skills in fieldwork, qualitative and mixed-methods research, and critical spatial analysis focused on socio-ecological change, cultural landscapes, and spatial justice.
B.S. in Geospatial Science & Technology
Use GIS, remote sensing, and spatial data to map and solve real-world problems. Build technical skills in geospatial analysis, modeling, and field data collection for environmental and social applications.
Ready to take the next step?
Explore programs • Request info • Apply to Cal Poly Humboldt
Academic Programs
Geography, B.A.
The Geography B.A. program at Cal Poly Humboldt prepares students to analyze how people, places, and environments interact in a rapidly changing world. Coursework engages with topics such as global environmental change, social movements, political ecology, and spatial justice, helping students connect local places to broader systems and power relations.
Graduates are prepared for careers and graduate study in planning, environmental and community organizations, education, public service, and related fields where analysis and communication matter.
Geospatial Science & Technology, B.S.
The Geospatial Science & Technology B.S. is a dynamic, interdisciplinary program where students gain hands-on experience with mapping technologies, spatial data analysis, environmental modeling, and remote sensing to solve real-world environmental and social challenges.
The program builds strong technical proficiency alongside applied problem-solving, preparing graduates to work across diverse landscapes and professional sectors.
Geospatial Certificate Programs
Geospatial Certificate Programs offer flexible, stackable pathways to build in-demand skills in mapping, GIS, and remote sensing. Start with the Basic Certificate to develop spatial thinking, data analysis, and geovisualization, then add focused certificates in GIS, Remote Sensing, or Cartography.
For undergrads, grads, and non-degree learners, courses emphasize hands-on projects, real data, and portfolio-ready work for careers in many fields nationwide.
Real World, Hands-On Learning
Whether you're collecting environmental samples, learning new spatial analysis software, or collaborating with local organizations, you’ll learn by doing—both in the classroom and out in the world. Our students gain practical experience through local fieldwork, lab training, and community partnerships that bring geography and geospatial science to life.
Research Experience & Career Prep
Our seniors complete self-designed research projects that build critical thinking, technical fluency, and a portfolio of work for graduate school or employment. The department also supports student travel to conferences, publishing opportunities, and research collaborations with faculty mentors.
Small Classes, Big Support
Our small class sizes foster close connections with professors and peers who know you by name. You'll grow intellectually while sharpening your analytical and technical skillset, all within a supportive community that guides you from your first semester through graduation and beyond.
Place-Based Learning Community: People & Planet
As a freshman, you’ll participate in hands-on geographic and community activities with your peers before classes even start, and in some cases, have the opportunity to live in the same residence halls with your peers. Geography students will join four other departments for People & Planet, which focuses on learning how sustainability is both local and global, while addressing specific case studies in fields such as agriculture, clean energy, and climate justice.
Achievements
Find out what our students, faculty, and staff are being recognized for.
Tony Nichols
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
Geography major Tony Nichols won third place in the Tom McKnight Undergraduate Student Paper Award at the California Geographical Society annual conference in Huntington Beach, CA, for her paper Finding Belonging: Interviews with Queer People Across Humboldt County. In her paper, Tony highlights how queer residents in Humboldt County experience belonging, exclusion, and uncertainty across different community spaces, underscoring the importance of “third places” and supportive local environments in shaping LGBTQ+ well-being.
Ari Dixon
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
Ari Dixon won third place in the undergraduate Student Cartography Award at the California Geographical Society Annual Meeting in Huntington Beach, CA. This map uses a creative visualization to highlight woman-owned breweries across the U.S. West Coast, using proportional symbols to show the number of breweries within 100-mile buffers and callout boxes to spotlight specific brewery stories in Washington, Oregon, and California.
Will Bellairs
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
Geospatial Science and Technology major Will Bellairs won first place in the Tom McKnight Undergraduate Student Paper Award at the California Geographical Society Annual Conference in Huntington Beach, CA. Will's paper, titled Map Games: Learning Map Literacy through Engaging Play, demonstrated the design and classroom testing of an interactive educational map game he developed to increase elementary school students' geographic learning.