Requirements of the Major

Requirements of the Major

The EVST major consists of the core courses requirement, the concentration requirement, and the senior requirement, as well as prerequisites, for students in the BS program.

For more information on the EVST program, major requirements and courses, refer to the Yale College Programs of Study (YCPS), and explore Yale Course Search for the most up-to-date information on course offerings in Environmental Studies.

BA Program

The EVST BA degree program has no prerequisites and requires:

  • 6 core courses
  • 6 concentration courses
  • 2-term senior requirement

Core Courses (6 total)

  • One Mathematics or Statistics course:
    • S&DS 1010 or higher, OR 
    • MATH 1120 or higher, OR
    • MATH 1100/1110 (both required)
  • Two EVST core Social Sciences or Humanities
  • Three EVST core Natural Sciences courses

Concentration (6 courses)

  • Including 1 advanced seminar (2000 level or higher)

Senior Requirement (2 terms)

  • Option 1: One-Term Essay
    • Complete 1 EVST-designated advanced seminar
    • Participate in 1 semester of senior colloquium (EVST 4960a or 4960b)
    • Note: The advanced seminar cannot fulfill other major requirements.
  • Option 2: Two-Term Essay
    • Participate in 2 semesters of senior colloquium (EVST 4960a and 4960b)
    • Requires DUS permission

BS Program

Overview

The BS degree program requires:

  • Completion of prerequisites
  • 4 core courses
  • 6 concentration courses
  • 2-term senior requirement

Prerequisites

One Natural Science Lab/Field Course:

  • Designated or approved by EVST Program

One course in Mathematics, Statistics, or Physics:

  • MATH 1120 or above OR MATH 1100 and MATH 1110 
  • S&DS 1000 or above 
  • PHYS 1700 or above 
  • Completion of the Data Science Certificate

Two-credit introductory Biology sequence:

  • BIOL 1010, 1020, 1030, and 1040 OR
  • EPS 1250

Two-term lecture series in Chemistry:

  • CHEM 1610 and CHEM 1650, OR
  • CHEM 1630 and CHEM 1670 or above

Core Courses (4 total)

  • Two EVST core Social Sciences or Humanities courses
  • Two EVST core Natural Sciences courses

Concentration (6 courses)

  • The six courses must include:
    • 1 advanced seminar (2000 level or higher)
    • 3 Sc-designated courses 

Senior Requirement (2 terms)

  • Two terms of senior colloquium (EVST 4960) 

The Concentration

a focused study of one environmental field, required for completion of the major

Concentrations Offered

The Senior Essay

the culmination of the Environmental Studies Major for both BA and BS degree programs

Senior Essay Requirements