Graduate students in the Master of Science program in Biology at Humboldt State can choose to pursue investigations or projects with an emphasis in the laboratory, forests, marine habitats, or a variety of other settings. This northernmost campus of the California State University is surrounded by ancient redwood forests, fir and pine forests, nearby marine and freshwater habitats, and is within easy driving distance of many national, state, and regional parks. Students can study living processes at all levels, from cellular-molecular to ecosystems. Those interested in an education focus may pursue projects in the form of a book, film or digital media, or curricular resources for educators.

The department has facilities and faculty expertise that allow master’s students to complete their programs in almost any area of biology. Laboratories on the main campus are equipped for biotechnology, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, mammalogy, genetic analysis (including DNA sequencing), and computer modeling. Field opportunities include the marine laboratory 14 miles from the main campus, a university forest, and a 90-ft ocean going research vessel, RV Coral Sea.

The Biological Sciences includes the following research areas: Botany, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Biodiversity, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Zoology.