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College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
The College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS) is an artistic, creative, and intellectual community. It is an equitable partnership of staff, faculty, and students who are devoted to teaching, learning, and collaboration. The many fields within CAHSS provide the greatest breadth for service-learning, creative engagement, and professional opportunity within a diverse and changing society.
Hands-on Experience
Our programs and majors offer many unique opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom including student performances, studios, laboratories, newsrooms, internships, and more. Hands-on learning enriches the student, the university, and the community, tying academic study to real-world experiences.

Study Abroad
Studying abroad is an exciting way to enhance an undergraduate experience through exposure to different cultures, languages, and communities. Travel, explore, embrace new environments, all while making progress toward graduation.

Personal Attention
It’s the difference between sitting through a lesson and playing a role in creating it. Feel challenged by faculty who expand students’ worldview and supported by departments that pride themselves on personalized attention.

Paul Michael Atienza
Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies
Dr. Paul Michael L. Atienza joined the closing summit of the NSF-funded Knowledge of AIDS (KOA) Research Community Network (RCN). KOA-RCN seeks to form a scholarly community for social scientific, humanistic, and socio-technical researchers, artists, and community advocates of HIV/AIDS broadly situated within the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS). The final meeting in late March focused on forms of civic engagement that emerged and continues to actively respond for HIV/AIDS advocacy and resources. KOA-RCN seeks to develop multiple outputs in the coming years that include a robust online community and support for ongoing research collaborations.
Amy Rock
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
The framing article for a special issue in the Professional Geographer has been published. The article, In Their Own Voices: The Stories and Status of Women in Geography in the United States (Oberhauser, Dixon, Li, Mossa, Rock, and Sultana), summarizes the articles that share the results of a 4-year project. The special issue, Moving the Needle on Gender Equity: An Analysis of the Status of Women and Marginalized Groups in Geography, covers a range of methods used to assess current and historical conditions for women and marginalized groups within academic geography, celebrating progress and identifying continuing barriers to equitable representation in the discipline, and offers recommendations for continued growth. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00330124.2026.2633341
Dr. Armeda C. Reitzel
Communication
Dr. Armeda C. Reitzel, Professor Emeritus, Communication, has been selected to join the Peace Corps as a Virtual Service Pilot Participant. Beginning in May 2026, Dr. Reitzel will work with staff in Ukraine to co-teach a "Summer English and Culture Club for Ukrainian Teens." This assignment builds on Dr. Reitzel's expertise in teaching English as a second language and intercultural communication.
CAHSS Alumni Updates
Tracy Alvarado
Art, 2025
As an Associate Governmental Program Analyst (AGPA) State of California DMHC for the Provider Complaint Branch (PCB) for 25 plus years, your core responsibilities center on protecting the financial stability of California's healthcare system by ensuring health plans pay providers accurately and on time.
As an Associate Governmental Program Analyst (AGPA) on the DMHC Equity in Action team, l analyze internal and external data sets to identify inequities and recommend strategies for promoting a more diverse, inclusive workplace. You are responsible for coordinating equity activities, such as healing circles and training sessions, to normalize conversations around race and ensure that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) are integrated into the Department's day-to-day operations.
Caleb Chen
Sociology, 2025
Caleb Chen was recently interviewed about Cannabis research on mycannabis.com.
Brian Law
Applied Anthropology, 2024
Hello, I enjoyed my time in the BA Leadership Studies program, so I decided to join the MA Applied Anthropology program in the Fall of 2024. I just had my first anniversary as a Teaching Assistant and Peer Advisor, and I will continue to do so as long as I am eligible for student employment.
Upcoming Events
See what's happening around campus.
CAHSS News
- New Major Explores Land, Food, and Farming
- Show Your Support During the Fourth Annual Giving Day
- Cal Poly Humboldt to Launch Five New Degrees This Fall
- New Applied Humanities B.A. Blends Human Insight with Polytechnic Practice
- Annual History Event Welcomes Hundreds of Local Students
- From the Redwood Curtain to Carnegie Curtain Call




