Yale College Environmental Studies Major
The mission of the Environmental Studies Major (EVST) is to train the next generation of
outstanding environmental scientists and leaders. The major provides Yale College non-majors
with the opportunity to gain fundamental understanding of the world’s major environmental
challenges. The EVST major is grounded in the liberal arts tradition and offers broad exposure
to introductory courses in social sciences, biophysical sciences, and the humanities.
Sophomores in the major develop progressive focus within one of nine concentrations:
Biodiversity & Conservation, Energy & Climate, Environmental Humanities, Environmental
Justice, Environmental Policy, Food & Agriculture, Human Health & the Environment,
Sustainability & Natural Resources, and Urban Environments. Students learn core knowledge in
biological and physical sciences from courses in earth and planetary science, chemistry, biology,
ecology, and environmental health to understand how humans change the environment, and in
turn how these changes affect planetary health. Within the social sciences, they learn to
understand motives behind human behavior in fields such as political science, anthropology,
economics, law, and ethics. They also learn the potential and limits of law and policy to affect
environmental quality and resource sustainability. Humanities courses in history, English
literature, art history, film, and music, train students to explore diverse representations of
nature, human influence, and environmental change. What knits these fields together?
Collectively, they provide a rich intellectual foundation to understand how societies may best
navigate toward a responsible future, one grounded in ethical principles of justice, equity, and security.
Specific Intentions
-
Interdisciplinary Studies: Students experience multiple disciplines and explore their collective
insights to understand the origin and growth of environmental challenges and to conceive new
strategies for their resolution. -
Ethical Reasoning: Students are encouraged to consider the ethical implications of
environmental decision-making on justice, equity, and freedom. -
Research Methods: Students are trained to collect scientific data, evidence, and archival
materials, and to develop the capacity to analyze and integrate quantitative and qualitative
information to reach judgments regarding causal influence. Students conduct original research
to develop their senior essays. -
Communication: Students learn to communicate effectively through written, oral, and graphic expression.
- Leadership: The major cultivates leadership skills as well as organizational and decision-
making capacity needed to encourage more effective and responsible environmental
management.