2023-2024 Cal Poly Humboldt Catalog 
    
    Oct 05, 2024  
2023-2024 Cal Poly Humboldt Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Social Science, Environment and Community Concentration, M.A.


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This is a two-year, interdisciplinary graduate program focused on understanding and advancing sustainability and community resilience within the context of social and environmental change at multiple scales. The program is committed to conceptually rigorous, applied research on sustainability and equity in a manner that transcends a nature-society dichotomy. Students explore these topics through graduate seminars in three curriculum areas: economic and political dimensions; socio-cultural dimensions: race, class, gender and place; and environmental dimensions. Capstone topics for graduate students in this program include the following general themes: sustainable food systems, community-natural resource management interactions, environmental and social justice, environmental education, Native American/indigenous natural resource management, and sustainable urban communities. Our graduates pursue successful careers in the nonprofit sector, education, private sector, and public sector. 

Program Admission Requirements

Postbaccalaureate Candidate Pathway

  • Completed BA or BS degree
  • GPA not less than 3.00 in the last 60 units of college coursework
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Candidate statement of purpose (prompts are available on the Environment & Community Program website)
  • Ten-page writing sample
  • Graduate coordinator approval after faculty committee review of application file 

Bachelor’s + Master’s (Undergraduate) Pathway

The Social Science, Environment and Community program has developed, in conjunction with select undergraduate majors, dual degree pathways that enable exceptional students to simultaneously earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years. Although the pathway does not change undergraduate major nor graduate degree requirements, students in the program seamlessly progress from undergraduate to graduate status. Students are eligible to apply for the pathway upon completion of 60 units. A faculty committee evaluates student applications. Participation is based on prior academic performance and other measures of academic excellence.

Contact the program coordinator for majors that participate.

Requirements for the Degree (36 units)

For a description of degree requirements to be fulfilled in addition to those listed below see, “Master’s Degree Requirements ”.

Required Courses (15 Units)


Culminating Experience (9 Units)


The program culminates in a master’s thesis, project, or comprehensive examination. Students must receive approval for the comprehensive examination option.

Approved Electives (6 Units)


Complete one 3-unit research methods elective, chosen from an approved list, to be completed no later than the third semester.

Complete one additional course at the graduate or upper-division undergraduate level from a list of elective options approved by the graduate coordinator.

Graduate Seminars (15 Units)


Complete at least one seminar from each of the following three curriculum areas. Seminars are developed by the advisory committee comprised of program faculty.

Economic & Political Dimensions


Course topics including: Politics of Sustainability, Globalism, Capitalism, and Environment, Political Ecology, and Colonialism/Decolonization

Socio-Cultural Dimensions


Course topics including: Community and Place, Klamath River Issues, Decolonizing Methodologies

Ecological Dimensions


Course topics including: Ecosystems and Society, Conservation Ecology and Society

Environment & Community Program Learning Outcomes


Students completing this program will have demonstrated:

  • skills to analyze the environmental consequences of economic and political structures and decisions
  • tools to address issues of race, class, and gender in environment-community relationships
  • an understanding of community, place, and sense of place
  • knowledge of and experience in diverse approaches to social science research and action
  • insight from case studies that offer a problem-solving approach to learning
  • preparation for careers in teaching, government, community, and environmental organizations
  • an ethic of service and civic engagement.

Program Faculty


Anthropology: Gordon Ulmer

Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies: Nancy Perez

English: Andrea Delgado

Environmental Science & Management: Daniel Lipe

Environmental Studies: Sarah Jaquette Ray

Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management: Buddhika Madurapperuma 

Native American Studies: Cinthya Ammerman Muñoz, Aaron Gregory, Kaitlin Reed, Cutcha Risling Baldy

Politics: John Meyer, Tani Sebro

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