The Yale Tell Leilan excavation project, in northeastern Syria. Recent research suggests intensifying agriculture and abrupt climate change led to societal collapse in the third millennium BC. |
The central intellectual challenge of this major is to bring the knowledge and diverse perspectives of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to bear on the environmental issues that we face. The core courses encourage you to attain the breadth, the skills of critical thinking, and familiarity with methods of analysis and to address this challenge. They also provide the basis for more advanced courses, selecting an area of concentration, and undertaking research. Core courses may be used to satisfy Yale College distribution requirements.
Majors are required to take at least two core courses from Group A (humanities and social sciences) and two from Group B (environmental sciences with associated labs). Ordinarily students will take at least one core from each group before admission to the major at the end of the sophomore year. Students may also use core courses as electives in the major during the third and fourth year.
The faculty designed the following core courses especially for this major. EVST numbers in the 100s indicate courses appropriate for freshman and in the 200s for students with more background or experience.
Information on this website supplements the information on the program and courses provided on the official Yale College Course Information Website.
NOTE: EVST Group B core courses, EVST 262, Ecology and Conservation and EVST 263L, Ecology and Conservation, will not be taught in 2009-2010.
If EVST majors wish to fulfill their ecology Group B core course and lab requirement in 2009-2010, then it is suggested that students take E&EB 220a, General Ecology during the fall term with and substitute the Group B core ecology lab with another scientific lab course (i.e. chemistry, geology, biology). Remember to consult with EVST DUS about any lab substitutions.
Additionally, majors may fulfill the ecology Group B core course and lab requirement by taking EVST 275b and EVST 276Lb during the spring term. Undergraduate enrollment in EVST 275b and EVST 276Lb is limited to 15 students.
EVST Program | EVST Courses | Top
Introduction to Environmental History
Paul Sabin
EVST 120a/HIST 120a
TTH 10:30-11:20am
Atmosphere, Ocean,
and Environmental Change (with 1/2 credit lab)
Ronald Smith
EVST 201a/G&G 201a
MWF 9:25-10:15am
Lab: EVST 202La/G&G 141La
Physical processes that control Earth's atmosphere, ocean, and climate. Quantitative methods for constructing energy and water budgets. Topics include clouds, rain, severe storms, regional climate, the ozone layer, air pollution, ocean currents and productivity, El Niño, the history of Earth’s climate, global warming, energy and water resources. Must be taken concurrently with EVST 202La.
Environmental Anthropology: From Historic Origins to Current Debates
Michael Dove
EVST 345a/F&ES 384a/ANTH 382a
TH 2:30-4:30pm
History of the anthropological study of the environment organized around themes, including the aature-culture dichotomy, ecology and social organization, methodological debates, the politics of the environment, and knowing the environment.
Environmental Politics and Law
John Wargo
EVST 255b/F&ES 255b
TTH 10:30-11:20am
Exploration of the politics, policy, and law associated with attempts to manage environmental quality and natural resources. themes of democracy, liberty, power, property, equality, causation, and risk. Case histories include air quality, water quality and quantity, pesticides and toxic substances, land use, agriculture and food, parks and protected areas, and energy.
Top | Electives | Research Seminars