Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management

You can’t dig and describe a soil profile or quantify vegetation communities while sitting in a classroom. The RRS program arguably spends more time afield than any other major on campus. Additionally, our students travel to participate in contests and workshops in plant identification and collegiate soil judging.

A recent survey of our graduates showed that nearly all found jobs in their chosen careers. Their main employers—private companies and governmental agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service—also make lots of summer jobs available to our students, providing an opportunity to make money, establish contacts, sharpen your skills, and see different parts of the western United States.

Despite being the largest forestry department in California (almost 300 students), we remain a cohesive community where classes are small and professors know students by name. Perhaps because of all the time spent outdoors together (especially in the rain!), students routinely form bonds that persist long after they graduate and go on to careers in places far from one another.

The educational program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree is accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF), the largest professional forestry organization in the United States.  SAF accreditation ensures that a program meets standards set by the profession and increases and enhances employment opportunities for students.

1. Identify and describe the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of forests and other wildland ecosystems
2. Explain the ecological, hydrological, edaphic, social, political, and economic structures and processes related to forest and wildland ecosystems across spatial and temporal scales
3. Measure, calculate, analyze, and model forest resources and associated processes utilizing mathematics, statistics, and geospatial tools
4. Communicate about forest and wildland ecosystems effectively in oral and written formats
5. Comprehend and utilize scientific publications in the fields of forestry, ecology, hydrology, rangelands, and soils
6. Use critical thinking skills to apply multidisciplinary knowledge of forest resources, policy, administration, and economics to manage forest and wildland resources for diverse objectives
7. Become ethical professionals with a sense of life-long learning and curiosity who contribute to developing sound policy and addressing social needs related to forest and wildland resources

You can’t dig and describe a soil profile or quantify vegetation communities while sitting in a classroom. The RRS program arguably spends more time afield than any other major on campus. Additionally, our students travel to participate in contests and workshops in plant identification and collegiate soil judging.

Our program typically has about 50 students learning and discovering together, alongside other natural resources and sciences majors. Humboldt’s RRS major is the only program in California that regularly offers courses to qualify for the federal job series 0454 “Rangeland Management Specialist.” Our RRS curriculum also fulfills educational requirements to become a California Certified Rangeland Management Specialist.

For 50 years employers have sought out the quality and specialized skill sets they know Humboldt Range and Soils students and alumni have. We teach and learn about applied terrestrial ecology; developing expertise in soils, plants, animals, and related human interactions.

Students build a strong foundation in the science, management, and policy of fire. They conduct research that is timely, relevant, and takes into consideration multiple perspectives.

Exacerbated by drought, fire suppression policies, and climate change, wildfires are becoming more frequent, larger, and more destructive. The Applied Fire Science & Management bachelor’s degree program meets this challenge head-on by exploring the science and management of fire from multiple disciplines and perspectives, including local indigenous knowledge. Exploring and learning from a dynamic and varied set of practices provides students with a strong background in fire science, management, and policy in a rapidly changing world.

Students take their learning beyond the classroom to conduct research, which local partners use to inform fire management learning techniques. First-year, first-time students will automatically be enrolled in the Klamath Connection. One of several place-based learning communities, the free year-long program of science and general education (GE) courses and activities focus on one theme: the Klamath River. Students have access to the campus Fire Lab, which is among the most well-equipped fire research facilities in any university in the country.

The region has 680,000 acres of state and national parks and 1.5 million acres of forest, making Cal Poly Humboldt the perfect place to live and learn. We are only 45 minutes west of a set of large, recent wildfires to study. There are many prescribed burns and indigenous cultural burns nearby as well.

• The Arcata Community Forest: Just behind campus, the 790-acre redwood forest is a nationally recognized model of excellent forestry and land stewardship.
• Jacoby Creek Forest: The nearly 900-acre property acquired by the University is a major destination for field trips, capstone projects, and student research.
• L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm: This 385-acre property serves as a field experiment station for student and faculty research, an outdoor classroom for educators, and a demonstration area for forestry professionals.

Cal Poly Humboldt is located in the heart of the coastal redwood forest. The surrounding environment is perfect for hands-on experience beyond the classroom.

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