Stars to Rocks

Explore forces that make up our universe

Imagine being on a hilltop observatory peering up at the stars using state-of-the-art technology to look for clues about the nature of gravity, chemically analyzing a river water sample to determine the human impact on the natural environment, or taking a field trip to study the Mendocino triple junction atop the Cascadia subduction zone and San Andreas fault.

These are just some of the activities you could do as part of the Stars to Rocks program, a cross-disciplinary learning community.

This program is for students enrolled in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Geology, and Physics & Astronomy.

Video: Stars to Rocks at Cal Poly Humboldt

At Humboldt, we learn in and from the environment around us

Get an Immediate Connection to Humboldt
Stars to Rocks gives you the opportunity to participate in a Humboldt Immersion program before the start of the semester, including field trips, science projects, and other fun activities.
Hands on Experiences from the Beginning
Working with supportive faculty and like minded peers, you’ll conduct research experiments with access to modern laboratory instrumentation.
Classes That Count
Enroll in program-specific sections of major and general education courses. These courses will demonstrate the link between the three participating majors as well as relate them to the place where you are choosing to live and study for the next four years.

The Specialized Experiences that Make up Stars to Rocks

Enroll in program-specific sections of major and general education courses. These courses will demonstrate the link between the participating majors as well as relate them to the place where you are choosing to live and study for the next four years.

You’ll be paired with a peer mentor through Humboldt’s Retention through Academic Mentoring Program (RAMP). The students trained in mentoring will be ready to help find answers to all of your questions about your major and college life.

Take a Native American Studies course that will connect western science with Indigenous cultures, values, and environmental knowledges

You have the option to live on campus with other Stars to Rocks students.

Guided Enrollment

As part of guided enrollment, PBLC students have the opportunity to enroll into a deliberate selection of courses based on their PBLC. Guided Enrollment alleviates the pressure of finding spaces in courses and will set students on the best path to graduation.

Fall Courses for Stars to Rocks
Students in Stars to Rocks will have the opportunity to enroll in:
- SCI 100 (Becoming a STEM Professional in the 21st Century)
- CHEM 109, GEOL 109, or NAS 104 (General Chemistry, General Geology, or Introduction to Native American Studies)
- MATH (dependent on preparedness)
- COMM 100, ENGL 102, or ENGL 104 (Fundamentals of Speech or Composition and Rhetoric)
These courses are selected in collaboration with the Stars to Rocks faculty team and are relevant to Stars to Rocks specific programming.
Spring Courses for Stars to Rocks
The courses students enroll in for spring semester will depend on what students enrolled in for fall semester. Students in Stars to Rocks will have the opportunity to enroll in:
- CHEM 109 (General Chemistry)
- NAS 104 or COMM 100 (Introduction to Native American Studies or Fundamentals of Speech)
Students will work with their advisor to fill out the rest of their spring schedule.