background 0background 1background 2background 3

The CSU has a new policy on freedom of expression. Learn more.

Breadcrumb

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Get Your Hands Dirty Studying Science on California’s North Coast  

There’s no better place to study science than at Cal Poly Humboldt. Our community is a living laboratory with the Pacific Ocean, ancient redwoods, and other diverse ecosystems for you to  explore. 

The College of Natural Resources & Sciences boasts a wide variety of science-focused areas of study, from biochemistry to zoology. Our multiple fieldwork opportunities, Place-Based Learning Communities, and extensive research faculties paired with our stellar faculty and staff create an environment for you to feel inspired, challenged, and engaged with the science all around you.  

Undergraduate Research

Many universities reserve research experience for graduate students. At Cal Poly Humboldt, you may conduct your own research or assist professors with their projects as early as your freshman year. Either way, you’ll put theory into practice, building a fundamental understanding of concepts and methodologies. With opportunities to present at local and national conferences, you’ll learn how to explain your findings, too. Experiences like these offer a glimpse of what it’s like to be a professional scientist and will help you discover your passion. 

Students collection samples

Fieldwork

Located on the North Coast of California, Humboldt is surrounded by ancient redwoods and close to the Pacific Ocean, mountains, and rivers. You’ll find the region’s natural environment is the perfect outdoor classroom where learning happens through real-world experience. Track elk, hike through forests to measure redwoods, or take water samples from California’s second largest river—Humboldt provides a wide range of opportunities for fieldwork, which helps develop critical thinking and collaboration skills, and a passion for learning that will take you far in life. 

Wildlife faculty and student in the field

Personal Attention

College is a time to expand your horizons and find out who you really are, and our attentive faculty are here to support you every step of the way. From the moment you begin your program, you won’t be just another face in the crowd. You’ll be part of a community as you get to know your professors. They’ll challenge you, but they’re accessible, too. Whether through mentoring or one-on-one feedback, they’ll help you build the knowledge and skills to be successful at Cal Poly Humboldt.   

Professor helping students

Equipped for Excellence

Cal Poly Humboldt has a diverse range of research facilities, labs, and special collections as essential tools for conducting research and gaining real-world experience. Utilizing a renewable energy technology research center, a marine laboratory, and the largest botanical collection in the CSU system, you will actively engage with research during your undergraduate years.

Student in the Marine Lab

Place-Based Learning Communities

Learning goes beyond the classroom at Humboldt—we learn from the environment we are in. Our Place-Based Learning Communities provide you with a tight-knit community of like minded peers before classes even start.  

We start right away—you’ll be immersed in major-related fieldwork, seminars, and classes with students like you before the semester even begins. These connections will help you navigate college life, gain confidence, succeed academically, and gain a sense of belonging within the Humboldt community.

PBLC student at ocean

Alumni Updates

Warren Marchioni

Biological Sciences, 1965

Warren's Master's Degree helped him get employed as a fishery biologist for the U.S. Bureau of Fish and Game at Sandy Hook Marine Laboratory in New Jersey where he researched the behavior of striped bass. He later transitioned to becoming a science educator at the secondary and university level. After his retirement, he continued to work part-time at Liberty Science Center. At the age of 80, he thought it was time for a complete retirement. His wife Ann was also an educator. They currently are involved in establishing pollinator gardens in our community, enjoy biking, and recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. Warren's interest in photography comes in handy when they visit their daughter who is an instructor in Alaska.


 

Captain Paul C. Golden, U.S. Coast Guard Ret.

Fisheries Biology, 1970

Paul joined the Coast Guard, with his marine environmental background was assigned to the White House to draft the first Federal Environmental Impact Statement, for the TransAlaskan Pipeline. He spent two years patrolling the Bering Sea protecting the “Deadliest Catch” fishing fleets. A second White House tour coordinated Pacific Basin interagency drug interdiction operations. Two years in the Persian Gulf/Africa dealing with Pirates, Smugglers & Terrorists. Retired from the Coast Guard, the next 14 years were with the Intelligence Community. Four Masters:  Univ. Michigan-Environmental Management, Naval War College-National Security Planning & Risk Management, Salve Regina-International Affairs, CalState Hayward-Government Pandemic Management.  

 

Barry k Avery

Biological Sciences, 1975

Barry became a UCONN Master Gardener after I retired about 25 years ago.  Barry says his Humboldt State education was very valuable in obtaining the certification. He has used his Degree in Biology and the MG certification to teach classes for the State of Connecticut and Northeast Organic Farmers Association, and is also one of the three Founders of "The Holcomb Tree Trail, a 120-acre Arboretum here in his hometown, Granby Connecticut. He says his HSU education served him well and has been invaluable to me since his graduation in 1975.

View All Alumni Updates

Achievements

Find out what our students, faculty, and staff are being recognized for.

Student

Kendall Pargot

Biological Sciences

Kendall Pargot, Master's student in Biology (advisor Karen Kiemnec-Tyburczy) was awarded a conservation grant from the Northern California Herpetological Society to support her thesis research. The funds will be used to purchase cameras to record the nocturnal behavior of salamanders.

Faculty

Andrew P Kinziger

Fisheries Biology

Coauthored and edited a special issue in Molecular Ecology Resources titled:  skúkum tílixam: Uniting to Support Indigenous Contributions to Molecular Ecology

 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17550998/current

Faculty

Daniel Barton

Wildlife

Dan Barton (Faculty, Wildlife) chaired the scientific program of an international joint conference between the Pacific Seabird Group and the Waterbird Society, held in San José, Costa Rica, in early January 2025. The bilingual meeting featured over 300 scientific presentations on seabird and waterbird biology and conservation by authors from over 40 countries.

View All Achievements