What courses did the CSU Desert Studies Center offer through University Extension?

CSU Desert Studies Center courses give students the opportunity to learn directly in one of California's most remarkable outdoor classrooms and living laboratories. Led by expert faculty, these hands-on courses combine classroom instruction with real-world exploration, allowing participants to develop practical skills while studying the unique landscapes, ecosystems, and geology of the Mojave Desert. Discover one of the courses offered through Cal State Fullerton (CSUF) University Extension and hear what students had to say about their experience.

3D Close Range Sensing of Arid Environments - Spring 2026

Instructor: Dr. Stratis Karantanellis, Geological Sciences, CSUF

Step into the Mojave Desert and learn how scientists capture the landscape in 3D. This hands-on, three-day field course introduces students to cutting-edge geospatial technologies used to study desert terrain. This immersive experience combines drone flights, terrestrial LiDAR scanning, field surveys, and GIS-based data analysis to turn real-world observations into high-resolution digital surface models.