Academic Programming Description Plans for 2023
Applied Fire Science & Management BS
A degree program that focuses on applied fire science and management would provide students with an interdisciplinary education focused on developing practical knowledge and skills to become fire science or management professionals. This program will be developed as a collaboration between the Forestry & Wildland Resources (CNRS) and Native American Studies (CAHSS). This partnership will enable the creation of a novel program through the integration of differing perspectives and knowledge systems (e.g., traditional ecological knowledge), with a specific emphasis on incorporating indigenous practices. The primary focus of the program is to provide a better educated workforce that recognizes the importance of fire as an ecological and cultural process, more effectively managing wildfires, planning and implementing fire and other fuels management treatments, and mitigating the impacts of high severity wildfires. Given the on-going trends of increased wildfire frequency, size, and severity in many regions of California and other western states, there is a growing need and demand to increase workforce capacity across the public and private sectors.
Cannabis Studies BA
This degree program is firmly rooted in the interdisciplinary study of the environment and natural resources; a commitment to the development of socially and environmentally responsible cannabis industry practices and policy; and promoting positive health outcomes and social change as laws move away from prohibition. Humboldt County is uniquely situated as an historical epicenter of environmental and social justice issues related to both legalization and ongoing prohibition at the Federal and Global levels. Humboldt County is also a globally renowned epicenter of the US domestication of cannabis cultivation. This program will teach students critical perspectives on both cannabis prohibition and legalization en route to concentrations in Equity and Social Justice and Environmental Stewardship leading to professional outcomes in regulation, policy, consulting, and community advocacy; as well as graduate studies in Planning, Environmental Science, and Law. Our graduates will be to assist in the integration of cannabis into the complex policy landscape, equipped with critical expertise in the history and geography of cannabis criminalization, the contemporary policy landscape, and applied general skills that will also be portable to non-cannabis careers in public and private sectors that relate to Environmental Stewardship and Equity and Social Justice. 29
Cybersecurity Stackable Certificate
Cybersecurity programs are often interdisciplinary programs that incorporate computer information technology and criminal studies courses. The Leadership Studies degree completion program with Cybersecurity Stackable Certificate aligns well with cybersecurity job requirements and pathways for community college transfers or employed adults seeking to upskill and advance in their careers. In addition to relevant leadership coursework, such as; Data Driven Leadership, Project Implementation/ Evaluation, and Technology & Leadership, approximately 11-21 units of designated cybersecurity coursework will advance understanding of computer and network security, hacking and risk analysis, computer forensics, intrusion detection and investigation, prevention, and recovery. The program will incorporate apprenticeship and internship opportunities as an opportunity to provide real-world experience, working with Humboldt ITS and other partners. While many transfer students and adults working in the field may have already achieved some of the industry certifications; Cisco, CompTIA Security+ and A+, and Microsoft, the students in this program develop degree plans that will incorporate preparations for certifications needed to advance in their careers.
Data Science BS
The Data Science program will support students to develop and practice skills in synthesizing knowledge and applying contemporary statistics, data analysis, and computational science methods to solve social and environmental problems. The program vision includes a robust set of courses that would also serve students in other majors, creating a nexus for interdisciplinary instruction and knowledge exchange. Students will apply contemporary computer-based and data-oriented analysis that is in service of a broader synthesis of knowledge including contributions from humanities, natural sciences, traditional ecological knowledge, and other foundational frameworks for understanding. Efforts will be made to consider data sets related to social justice and environmental sustainability to be in line with Humboldt’s unique vision which emphasizes social and environmental responsibility and action. Degree options include a BS degree, a certificate program to add on to other BS degrees, and an MS degree (potentially in collaboration with 3 other Northern CSU campuses, forming the Northern California Data Science Coalition).
Energy Systems Engineering BS
The Energy Systems Engineering program will prepare students for careers in developing, designing, operating, and analyzing clean energy systems. At the lower division, students will take a core set of engineering courses that are common between this major and the existing Environmental Resources Engineering major, providing a well-rounded foundation in natural sciences, humanities, math, computational science, data analysis, and engineering design. At the upper division, Energy Systems students will engage with project-based and interdisciplinary courses that cover key topics including thermodynamics, transport phenomena, building energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, electricity grids, and community energy planning. The program will be accredited as a “General Engineering” program, incorporating many elements commonly included in Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, and Electrical engineering disciplines.
Engineering & Community Practice MS
The one-year Master of Science degree in Engineering & Community Practice (E&CP) is designed to develop future engineering leaders who will sustain, restore, and protect our natural resources and the environment. The degree is tailored to those who wish to pursue resource management positions that require strong technological and management skills with a particular focus on interfacing and working with indigenous and traditionally under-served communities. The unique ERE curriculum combines traditional environmental engineering with management of natural resources in applications such as ecological restoration and energy resource management. This program will be further created to integrate curriculum and perspectives from the NAS program that already excels in educating students on Indigenous community history, sovereignty, and ways of knowing and creates space to nurture TEK (Traditional Ecological Knowledge). The program will promote social responsibility and civic engagement through the focus on critique of the traditional engineering approach and partnering with indigenous and under-served communities. The program is aimed towards students who have earned an undergraduate engineering degree in a related field such as environmental, civil, or mechanical engineering or students who have completed the necessary prerequisite courses prior to enrollment to be successful in graduate level engineering design electives. Possible areas of concentration include aquatic restoration, watershed protection (quality and quantify) and management, and clean and renewable energy systems.
Equitable & Sustainable Future Certificate
The Certificate for an Equitable & Sustainable Future will be a stackable certificate designed in collaboration with faculty from the departments of Environmental Studies, Geography, Environmental & Spatial Analysis, and Native American Studies and offered through the College of Extended Education & Global Engagement. Designed for professionals in the educational workforce, this certificate prepares administrators, faculty, and staff to be sustainability leaders and foster social and environmental responsibility in educational settings. The courses are designed to provide applicable knowledge and skills to promote equity and sustainability.
Upon completion of the certificate, an individual will have acquired foundational knowledge, creative abilities, and practical skills to reduce environmental impacts and associated costs for an educational setting, to promote health and wellness for students and staff, and to advance climate justice and sustainability. The certificate program utilizes the International Sustainability Society of Professionals curriculum, and students are prepared to complete the Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) credential exam. Key learning outcomes are mechanics of proposal writing and the political and social aspects of "grantsmanship," with a focus on skills to identify sources of grant funding to address social and environmental justice, modeling of sustainability education that fosters critical, ethical, and relational thinking, and training in both theory and praxis of leadership in climate justice and resilience.
Geospatial Science & Technology BS
Cal Poly Humboldt has a well-developed geospatial curriculum that includes 15 classes, 13 undergraduate and 2 graduate. Currently, students can obtain a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science & Management (ESM) or Geography with a focus in geospatial. This degree program will give students the option to major in Geospatial Science & Technology with a focus in a diverse range of disciplines. This will create a greater depth of geospatial knowledge and experience for students and attract additional students interested specifically in a geospatial degree. The program will also make our geospatial curriculum more visible to prospective students.
The program’s objectives are to prepare students for careers as Geographic Information System (GIS) analysts and specialists, remote sensing analysts, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and geographers. The basic structure of the program will include a geospatial core of lower and upper-division courses, depth experience courses, a capstone, and an area of focus. Students will have the option to specialize in applying their skills to other disciplines in natural sciences, social sciences, cultural and ethnic studies, and professional studies. We expect to maintain the minors and certificates as well, which will be further strengthened by the presence of a degree program.
Information Technology Certificates
Cal Poly Humboldt IT Certificates programs offer a range of non-credit learning experiences that connect student learning in cohorts, projects that culminate in a portfolio team-based project, and learners accumulating various industry certificates. Many of the emerging learning resources and industry certifications are free or very affordable, however, the design relies on asynchronous and self motivated learner paths, lacking a cohort and coherent team and project based learning approach, and the completion rate is extremely low. An affordable and scalable strategy combines existing industry resources and with a flexible curated learning program designed to meet the plethora of IT job requirements that emphasize IT skills and experience with industry certificates in at least three major platforms; AWS Learn, Google IT Certificates, and Facebook for Business and Developers. This non-credit Certificate program is ideal for non-traditional learners, community college transfers, or employed adults seeking to upskill and advance in their careers. Various opportunities for degree completion at Humboldt will be promoted when appropriate.
Marine Biology BS
Marine Biology includes coursework about marine organisms, from bacteria to whales. The inclusion of a wide range of organismal courses sets Humboldt apart as uniquely prepared for careers in marine biology. Humboldt students gain research experience every semester at the Telonicher Marine Lab, an easy half-hour drive from the Humboldt campus. In addition, Humboldt has a 91’ vessel, the R/V Coral Sea, located at the Woodley Island Marina in Eureka, which is one of the largest ocean-going vessels dedicated to undergraduate education in the entire U.S. and regularly used in our courses in Biology, Oceanography, Fisheries, Chemistry, Geology, and Wildlife.
Mechanical Engineering BS
Mechanical Engineers design diverse systems, processes, and devices that help improve the health, happiness, and safety of our everyday lives. The applications are broad, including biomedical devices, aircraft and cars, building HVAC systems, miniature environmental sensors, and systems to store large-scale renewable energy. More generally, the mechanical engineer designs machines, devices, products and control systems, and works with the generation, conversion, transmission, and utilization of mechanical and thermal power. Their work often includes analysis and synthesis of mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems. Mechanical engineering is divided into two broad areas: mechanical systems and thermal systems. Mechanical systems include the design of mechanisms and the analysis of the strength and wear of materials. Thermal systems include methods of energy conversions, heat transfer and fluid flow. Mechanical engineers are also responsible for characterization, specification, and analysis of physical materials used in design and manufacturing. Manufacturing systems, robotics, electromechanical devices, sensors, and control systems are also the purview of the mechanical engineer.
Software Engineering BS
Software Engineering is a field that applies engineering concepts to software development. It encompasses the development, operation and maintenance of programs. The curriculum of software engineering programs includes computing fundamentals, software design and construction, requirements analysis, security, verification, and validation; software engineering processes and tools appropriate for the development of complex software systems; and discrete mathematics, probability, and statistics, with applications appropriate to software engineering.
A bachelor’s degree in software engineering leads to highly paid careers in software development in fields including business, communications, transportation, medicine, aeronautics, and more. Software engineering graduates are eligible for positions in related fields like cybersecurity and may also be competitive for many mid-level positions in software development. Graduates may also have opportunities to work on embedded software projects; this type of software is used in virtually every industry, from medicine to aeronautics.
The median annual salary for software engineers is over $100,000. Workforce demand in the field is very high, with large projected growth over the next decade. High workforce demand has also made Software Engineering programs in the CSU either impacted or highly selective.
