About
What’s special about the Department of Environmental Science and Management (ESM) at Humboldt?
Connecting People With The Environment
Our world is at a crossroads. We need to protect the environment, yet our growing population is poised to consume more resources than ever before. Our programs in Environmental Management & Protection, and Environmental Science, develop professionals capable of addressing this issue. Our graduates develop ways for humanity to satisfy its needs without degrading the earth, help communities understand, appreciate and restore the natural world, and use the latest technology to map and analyze changes in the environment. Our programs prepare you to succeed in a wide range of careers, by providing you with a broad and versatile education.
Classroom instruction is integrated with hands-on field experience and practiced in our easily accessible natural environment.
- Numerous upper division courses provide opportunities to work with resource agencies in a professional setting.
- Capstone courses and/or internships are a requirement for students in both majors, and other hands-on opportunities to gain knowledge and experience are emphasized.
- Many of the 3-hour lab sessions are held outdoors in nearby natural habitats such as the Arcata Community Forest, Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary, Redwood National and State Parks, Six Rivers National Forest, and many other locations. Many of the lab classes also have an all-day Saturday field trip, and sometimes two- to three-day trips.
The faculty is committed to teaching while conducting on-going professional research.
- Many of our faculty are considered leaders in their field and hold positions such as Associate Editor of research journals, authors of research and planning/management publications, and board members of advisory boards and land management councils.
- ESM faculty are some of the most respected in the nation and secure substantial research funding from federal, regional, state, and municipal sources.
- Small classes and extensive faculty-student contact, plus interactions among graduate students, undergraduates, and local professionals mean that you receive personalized and professional guidance.
The curriculum in EMP and ENVS:
- combines general science with specialized courses in natural resources education, conservation, planning, management, restoration, policy, and energy & climate science.
- weaves recurring natural resource themes to create a cohesive understanding of current theory and practice.
Current students and graduates alike have earned strong reputations and have a high rate of job-placement.
- The excellent learning facilities available to ESM students are some of the most technologically advanced. Students enter the workforce as highly skilled and experienced employees.
- Internships create close interactions with natural resource professionals, providing many students the perfect “foot in the door” to a fulfilling career.