Breadcrumb
Pathways for Native American Students
Start Your Journey
The land where Cal Poly Humboldt is located is part of the ancestral homeland of the Wiyot people who were here since time immemorial before this campus was founded. We acknowledge the history and present of this land and our indebtedness to the Wiyot and neighboring tribal communities for collaboration with our Indigenous and Indigenous minded scholars.
Your college experience will change the path of your life, and the life of your family. It will open up opportunities you can’t imagine.
That’s why it’s so important you choose a university that values you and your ideas, and cares about your heritage. It should be a university committed to your potential, and to helping you make a real difference for your community.
Enrich Your Heritage, Shape Your Future
Cal Poly Humboldt is focused on being just that kind of place. We guide Native students from the time they’re considering college to the day they graduate. We help them find internships, get into graduate school, start careers and more—and then we often stay in touch as they move on. We’re proud of that commitment.
Our approach is simple — it’s all about support and mentoring. We help you get connected on campus and adjusted to college life. We make sure you have access to counseling, tutoring and peer groups to help you excel academically.
Of course, you’ll need to do your part. College courses are challenging and time-consuming, and the demands on your time mean you’ll need to be well-organized. The important thing is, you’ll have help from staff from a multitude of Native cultures and diverse backgrounds.
And we’re located in the heart of Redwood Country, which has many vibrant and culturally active tribes. That means help doesn’t only come from the campus and other students. Instead, our location allows community based participatory research in partnership with local tribal communities, allowing both students to contribute to each tribe’s respective goals and tribes to be involved in the success of Native students.
At Cal Poly Humboldt, you’ll find a community of cultural support.
Native American Support Programs
Cal Poly Humboldt offers extensive personal support, cultural advocacy mentoring and tutoring for Native students. It's a proven approach. After graduation, many of our Native students take on leadership positions in their professions and communities.
Indian Natural Resources, Science & Engineering Program (INRSEP)
Our Indian Natural Resources, Science & Engineering Program (INRSEP) serves first generation, low income, and historically underrepresented students in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) disciplines with a focus on American Indian and Indigenous students majoring in the sciences and related disciplines. The program has been successful in placing nearly all of its students in graduate programs or career-related positions in private industry as well as federal, state, tribal, and non-profit agencies.
Indian Tribal & Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP)
Our Indian Tribal & Educational Personnel Program supports the professional development of Native students in an expanding array of careers. These range from the arts and social sciences to journalism, Native American studies, social work and business, as well as all majors related to teaching.
HSU is not only near my home and my family, but my major will really benefit my community.
Related Programs and Initiative
In addition to programs specifically designed to support Native students, Humboldt State has specialized programs and resources that can enhance your educational and cultural experience:
Native American Studies (NAS)
Cal Poly Humboldt's major in Native American Studies is unique in the 23-campus California State University system. It provides in-depth knowledge of Native American perspectives in a variety of career paths, including tribal law and government, natural resources and the environment, language and literature and a variety of social sciences.
Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab & Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute
- Develop curriculum, internships, research opportunities, workshops, and programs.
- Provide space that supports basket weaving, food preparation, and regalia making.
- Strengthen the bond between our local community, Indigenous Nations, and students at Humboldt
- Integrate the values of ecological sustainability, bio-cultural sovereignty of Indigenous peoples, interconnectedness of life, and community involvement in efforts to develop reverence for food sovereignty
Goudi'ni Native American Arts Gallery
The Goudi’ni Native American Arts Gallery provides a space to Celebrate Indigenous cultures local and beyond. The only specifically Native gallery in this region.
Earn a BASW & MSW in Social Work
The Department of Social Work maintains an emphasis on working with Indigenous and Rural Communities. Coursework is designed to decolonize mainstream social work education practices by building reciprocal and dynamic relationships, and to support people who are rooted in their communities.
Their rigorous programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and have options to meet your needs in advancing your current career, making a transition, or adding a degree to amplify your voice to better serve the community you call home
Humboldt Library Collections on North American Indians
Found in the Humboldt Room of the Library and the ITEPP Resource Center, Humboldt's collections on North American Indians serve as a major resource for the Northern California community, as well as for students and scholars engaged in research on Northwest California Indian subjects.
Special Events
California Big Time & Social Gathering
Humboldt students organize this annual public event to give the tribal community the opportunity for cultural sharing, networking, educating and creating a space that honors and supports Native students on the Humboldt campus.
American Indian College Motivation Day
Each November, Humboldt State hosts this special event for hundreds of high school students. One highlight is instant admissions to Humboldt for qualified students. There are also campus tours, workshops about college life and a college fair featuring colleges from throughout the Western United States.
