The Concentration: Heart of the EVST Major

Design Your Academic Path

One of the defining features of the Environmental Studies major is the opportunity to develop expertise in an environmental issue that inspires you. Every EVST student completes a six-course concentration that provides depth in a particular area of environmental study while building on the major’s interdisciplinary foundation.

Your concentration is more than a collection of courses—it’s an opportunity to develop your academic identity and build expertise in an environmental issue that matters to you.

Students may choose from nine established concentrations spanning the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, or create a custom concentration that reflects their unique academic interests. Working closely with a Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS), students design a concentration that supports their intellectual curiosity, senior essay, and long-term academic and career goals.

Whether you’re interested in climate change, biodiversity, environmental justice, food systems, sustainability, public health, environmental policy, or another emerging environmental issue, EVST provides the flexibility to tailor your education to your interests.

Concentration Requirements

Each concentration consists of six courses focused on a particular environmental topic or field of study. Students work with their Director of Undergraduate Studies to select courses that provide both disciplinary expertise and an interdisciplinary perspective.

For detailed concentration course requirements, please refer to the BA and BS Degree Requirement Checklists.

Design Your Own Concentration

Students whose interests extend beyond the established concentrations may design a custom concentration in consultation with their Director of Undergraduate Studies.

This option allows students to create an individualized course of study by combining courses from across Yale to explore emerging environmental topics or unique interdisciplinary interests. Custom concentrations provide exceptional flexibility while maintaining the academic rigor and coherence expected of the Environmental Studies major.

Explore the Concentrations

The nine concentrations below illustrate the breadth of environmental studies at Yale. Whether you choose an established concentration or design one of your own, you’ll develop the knowledge, research experience, and interdisciplinary perspective needed to understand and address today’s most pressing environmental challenges.