Resources
Facilities
Kosmos Lab
Founders Hall 106
Kosmos is the Department of Geography's technology and teaching lab.
Kosmos was designed to support Geography's cartography courses, integrate mapping and web applications throughout the geography curriculum, complement existing Humboldt remote sensing and GIS labs, and link geography majors with students from other departments sharing an interest in mapping with a strong design component.
A grant from the National Science Foundation, matching university and college funds, and an anonymous gift provided the resources to equip and furnish our lab. Software available for student use includes GIS packages (ArcMAP, QGIS), as well as design software (Adobe Creative Suite).
Dendroecology Lab
The Dendroecology Lab is directed by Rosemary Sherriff and supports research in the areas of physical geography, vegetation and disturbance ecology (fire, insect outbreaks and other disturbances), dendroecology, landscape ecology and geospatial analysis.
The facility includes tree-ring measuring systems, field and lab equipment, computers and instrumentation to support research with graduate and undergraduate students in the areas listed above.
Dendroecology LabHumboldt Weather StationDaily Weather Station DataWeather Station Data DownloadHarper Room
Founders Hall 126
This room is named for former Humboldt geographer Dr. John L. Harper, who served 27 distinguished years in the department starting in 1971. Designed for student study and meetings, it is outfitted with a conference table, atlas stand, whiteboard and projection screen, and a full complement of geography journals, books, and other resources.
*Course reserve readings are located here.
Institute for Cartographic Design
Founders Hall 103
Scholarships
John L. Harper Scholarship
A special scholarship was established in 2001 to honor the memory of Dr. John L. Harper and his distinguished career for over 27 years at Humboldt as a physical geographer, scholar, active environmentalist and published author.
Scholarship Amount:
$1500 ($750/semester) applied to student account at Humboldt for educational expenses during the academic year.
Timeline:
Offered each Spring for the next academic year. Applications are due March 2nd.
Requirements:
1. Must be a geography major.
2. Consider her/himself to have strong interests in physical geography.
3. Be a continuing full-time student at Humboldt during the 2016-2017 school year.
4. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA.
Application:
For information about this scholarship contact the Geography Department Chair or the Geography Department office .
If you would like to honor Dr. Harper's memory and help fund the scholarship, please send a check to the Gift Processing Center, Cashier's Office - SBS 285, Cal Poly Humboldt, 1 Harpst St., Arcata, California 95521-8299. Make the check out to Humboldt and designate JOHN L HARPER SCHOLARSHIP in comments area of check. Be sure to include a return address so we can acknowledge your gift. On behalf of Dr. Harper's family, current geography majors, faculty and staff, thank you very much.
Herring Family Scholarship
Nancy and Steven Herring, Humboldt Alumni, are pleased to announce the Herring Geography Scholarship for Humboldt Geography majors.
Scholarship Amount:
$1000 ($500/semester) applied to student account at Humboldt for educational expenses during the academic year.
Timeline:
Offered each Spring for the next academic year. Applications are due March 2nd.
Requirements:
1. Enrolled full-time, pursuing a geography degree at Cal Poly Humboldt.
2. Demonstrate financial need as determined by FAFSA.
3. At least 2.75 GPA.
Application:
For information about this scholarship contact the Geography Department Chair or the Geography Department office .
Dr. Joseph L. Leeper Scholarship
To honor the service of Dr. Joseph Leeper to the Department of Geography and Cal Poly Humboldt, the Dr. Joseph Leeper Geography Scholarship has been created.
Scholarship Amount:
$1000 ($500/semester) applied to student account at Humboldt for educational expenses during the academic year.
Timeline:
Application cycle opens November 15th and closes the following Spring. Recepients are annouced in May for the the following academic year.
Requirements:
1. Must have declared Geography Major with at least one semester completed at Cal Poly Humboldt.
2. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA.
3. Must have a demonstrated interest in Human / Cultural Geography.
Application:
For information about this scholarship contact the Geography Department Chair or the Geography Department office .
Preference will be given to those who have demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
Suzanne Wetzel Seemann Scholarship
To honor the memory and service of Suzanne Wetzel Seeman to the Department of Geography and Cal Poly Humboldt, the Suzanne Wetzel Seeman Geography Scholarship has been created.
Scholarship Amount:
$1000 ($500/semester) applied to student account at Humboldt for educational expenses during the academic year.
Timeline:
Offered each Spring for the next academic year. Applications are due March 2nd.
Requirements:
1. A declared Geography major with at least one semester completed at Humboldt.
2. Exhibit character strengths and virtues and the capacity for academic achievement as determined by faculty members in the Department of Geography.
Application:
For information about this scholarship contact the Geography Department Chair or the Geography Department office .
Preference will be given to those who have demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
Opportunities
Job Search
One of the best sources of information on jobs and careers for geography students is right here on Humboldt’s campus – the Career Center. The links below also offer a wealth of useful information to help you in your career search.
Association of American Geographers ➜
(Click on "Careers in Geography")
Graduate Schools in Geography
Many of our geography graduates decide to go on for more advanced degrees. We have collected a number of links with information on graduate geography programs across the country. Please see your advisor to discuss the options. To apply to graduate school you will likely need several letters of reference from your professors and GRE exam scores.
AAG Guide to Geography Programs ➜
Professional Organizations and Conferences
For information on upcoming conferences go to the home page of the organization.
Association of American Geographers (AAG) ➜
Association of Pacific Coast Geographers (APCG) ➜
California Geographical Society (CGS) ➜
California Geographic Alliance (CGA) ➜
North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS) ➜
Internships / Service Learning
Below are some examples of agencies and organizations that have provided internships or service learning to geography students. Ask your professors about currently available internship and service learning opportunities.
Environmental Careers Organization ➜
California Coastal Commission ➜
Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association ➜
Northcoast Environmental Center ➜
Redwood Community Action Agency ➜
Y.E.S.- Youth Education Services, Humboldt ➜
Geography Careers
- Administrative Management
- Agricultural Geographer
- Air Traffic Analyst
- Cartographer
- Certified Arborist
- Climatologist
- Coastal Commission Director
- Community Development
- Community Relations
- County or City Planner
- Demographer
- Environmental Impact Analyst
- Environmental Research Specialist
- Environmental Scientist
- Fire Management
- Foreign Service
- Land Use Management Specialist
- Marketing Area Analyst
- Outdoor Guide
- Outdoor Photographer
- Park Ranger
- Peace Corps
- Pilot
- Policy Analyst
- Recreational Area Manager
- Resource Management
- Spatial GIS Analyst
- Sustainable Food Management
- Teacher
- Transportation Analyst
- Utility Analyst
Geospatial Science & Technology Careers
- Aerial Photo Interpreter
- Agricultural Geographer
- Cartographer
- Cartographic Researcher
- City Planner
- Demographer
- County Planner
- Demographer
- Environmental Planner
- Environmental Research Specialist
- Foreign Service
- Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV/drone) pilot
- Geographical Consultant
- GIS Technician
- GIS Analyst
- GIS Specialist
- GIS Programmer
- GIS Specialist working in a wide range of disciplines including: wildlife, forestry, rangeland, fisheries, pollution, health services, water resources, utilities, geology, coastal and marine management, climate impacts and resilience, urban planning, disaster planning, social issues, epidemiology, transportation, energy, anthropology, and agriculture.
- Economic Development Specialist
- Land Use Management Specialist
- Emergency Management Specialist
- Map Editor
- Marketing Area Analyst
- Navigation Response Associate
- Park Ranger
- Recreational Area Manager
- Resource Planning Analyst
- Surveyor
- Teacher
- Urban Planner
