Klamath Connection

Explore environmental and social justice issues facing the Klamath River

Imagine you're standing on the banks of the second-largest river in California. With your feet in the mud and your head full of ideas, you collect water samples, take it back to the lab and, later, test for toxic algae.

These are just some of the things you would do as part of the Klamath Connection, a free year-long program of science and general education courses and activities that focus on one theme: the Klamath River.

This program is for students majoring in Fire Science, Fisheries Biology, Forestry, Environmental Science & Management, Rangeland Resource Science, and Wildlife.

At Humboldt, we learn in and from the environment around us

Humboldt Immersion

Go on field trips and explore topics related to the Klamath River in special multi-day programming the week before the start of school.

Connect Western Science to Indigenous Cultural and Value Systems

You’ll take a Native American Studies course, where you’ll learn how the Wiyot and Yurok tribes have interacted and coexisted on this land for generations. You’ll connect Western scientific perspectives and approaches with Indigenous environmental knowledge and cultural perspectives.

Instant Connections

Meet other students in your major and related majors, get to know your professors courses before class even begins. You’ll also be connected to campus resources and opportunities to help you succeed.

Video: Klamath Connection at Cal Poly Humboldt

Students on Klamath Connection field trip at river

The Specialized Experiences that Make up Klamath Connection

You’ll automatically be enrolled in program-specific sections of major and general education courses. These courses will demonstrate the link between the participating majors as well as relate them to the place where you are choosing to live and study for the next four years.

You’ll conduct experiments alongside scientists working on water quality, habitat restoration, and fish and wildlife conservation.

You have the opportunity to live in our themed housing, where we organize study sessions when you need it most.

Guided Enrollment for Fall Semester

Fall Courses: Environmental Science & Management, Rangeland, and Wildlife majors

All students in Klamath Connection will have the opportunity to enroll in:

SCI 100 (Becoming a STEM Professional in the 21st Century)
MATH (dependent on preparedness)
NAS 104, COMM 100, ENGL 102, or ENGL 104 (Introduction to Native American Studies, Fundamentals of Speech, or Composition and Rhetoric)

These courses are selected in collaboration with the Klamath Connection faculty team and are relevant to Klamath Connection specific programming.

Environmental Science & Management, Rangeland Resource Science, and Wildlife majors will also have the opportunity to enroll in the following courses:

BOT 105 (General Botany)

Fall Courses: Fisheries majors

All students in Klamath Connection will have the opportunity to enroll in:

SCI 100 (Becoming a STEM Professional in the 21st Century)
MATH (dependent on preparedness)
NAS 104, COMM 100, ENGL 102, or ENGL 104 (Introduction to Native American Studies, Fundamentals of Speech, or Composition and Rhetoric)

These courses are selected in collaboration with the Klamath Connection faculty team and are relevant to Klamath Connection specific programming.

Fisheries majors will also have the opportunity to enroll in the following courses:

FISH 260 (Fish Conservation and Management)

Fall Courses: Forestry majors

All students in Klamath Connection will have the opportunity to enroll in:

SCI 100 (Becoming a STEM Professional in the 21st Century)
MATH (dependent on preparedness)
NAS 104, COMM 100, ENGL 102, or ENGL 104 (Introduction to Native American Studies, Fundamentals of Speech, or Composition and Rhetoric)

These courses are selected in collaboration with the Klamath Connection faculty team and are relevant to Klamath Connection specific programming.

Forestry majors will also have the opportunity to enroll in the following courses:

BOT 105 (General Botany)
FIRE 123 (Fundamentals of Fuel and Fire)

Guided Enrollment for Spring Semester

Spring Courses: Environmental Science & Management majors

The courses students enroll in for spring semester will depend on what students enrolled in for fall semester. Environmental Science & Management majors will have the opportunity to enroll in the following courses:

GSP 101 (Geospatial Concepts)
NAS 200 (Indigenous Peoples in U.S. History)

Students will work with their advisor to fill out the rest of their spring schedule.

Spring Courses: Fisheries majors

The courses students enroll in for spring semester will depend on what students enrolled in for fall semester. Fisheries majors will have the opportunity to enroll in the following courses:

CHEM 107 (Fundamentals of Chemistry)
COMM 100 or NAS 104 (Fundamentals of Speech or Introduction to Native American Studies)

Students will work with their advisor to fill out the rest of their spring schedule.

Spring Courses: Wildlife majors

The courses students enroll in for spring semester will depend on what students enrolled in for fall semester. Wildlife majors will have the opportunity to enroll in the following courses:

CHEM 107 (Fundamentals of Chemistry)
WLDF 210 (Introduction to Wildlife Conservation and Administration)
COMM 100 or NAS 104 (Fundamentals of Speech or Introduction to Native American Studies)

Students will work with their advisor to fill out the rest of their spring schedule.

Spring Courses: Forestry majors

The courses students enroll in for spring semester will depend on what students enrolled in for fall semester. Forestry majors will have the opportunity to enroll in the following courses: