Many of the world’s most debilitating illnesses such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and microbial diseases are strongly associated with the quality of air, water, food, and indoor environments. The majority of these debilitating and costly illnesses are preventable via strategic management of microbial and infectious diseases, reducing air pollution both outside and indoors, avoidance of hazardous chemicals such as metals, solvents, tobacco products and pesticides, water filtration, or shifting dietary patterns to reduce intake of livestock products, saturated fats, salt, sugars, and alcohol. Collectively this means that prevention of many diseases and premature mortality is possible.
- Air pollution: respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and cancers
- Drinking water: microbial and chemical contamination
- Food and human health: malnutrition, starvation, obesity, contamination
- Vector-borne diseases: dengue, malaria, Zika virus
- Influenza transmission: incidence reductions
- Environmental toxicology: plastics, pesticides, metals, and solvents
- Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) Chemicals
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)
- Legal and regulatory policy development
- Public health education and disease prevention
- Psychological health and environmental factors
- Climate change impacts on human health
- Environmental health in conflict zones
- Risk assessment, perception, communication, and management
- Bachelor of Science (BS): Emphasizes policy and social aspects of environmental health
- Bachelor of Arts (BA): Focuses on scientific and biomedical aspects of environmental health
- Health care and medical professions
- Public health administration and research
- Environmental policy analysis and development
- Government health agencies
- Non-profit organizations focused on health and environment
- International health organizations
Alumni Stories
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Parker Chang '25 is an incoming PhD candidate at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health
Parker Chang’s senior essay, “Characterizing PFAS Exposures from Residential Floor Dust Using an Integrated GC- and LC-HRMS Non-Targeted Analysis…
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Carlos Gould '15 is an Assistant Professor at UC San Diego's Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science
After graduating from Yale, Carlos earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health…
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Rachel Shaffer '12 is an Environmental Health Scientist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Rachel’s passion for environmental health began early and deepened during her time at Yale. Under the mentorship of John Wargo, she completed her…
Suggested Coursework
Students in the Human Health & Environment Concentration must complete six courses of their choosing related to human health and the environment
Related Organizations
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Yale Center on Climate Change and Health
Utilizes Yale’s multidisciplinary expertise and global reach to train future leaders.
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Yale Institute for Global Health
A university-wide effort with global partners focused on improving the health of individuals and populations worldwide.
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Yale School of Public Health 5-Year Program
Opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree from Yale College and an MPH degree from the Yale School of Public Health in a five-year joint program.
