The Major

Overview

The central intellectual challenge of the Environmental Studies (EVST) major is to combine the knowledge and diverse perspectives of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences in order to help solve environmental problems that we face today. Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary major whose focus is to prepare the best and the brightest students for solving environmental problems in the future.

This major is grounded in chemistry, biology, and math, and is then combined with humanities and social science courses that focus on the environment. From this broad foundation, students can build their own areas of concentration and decide on their senior research. Many Environmental Studies graduates continue their career development by enrolling in top tier professional and graduate schools. studying law, business, medicine, planning or public health, as well as academic fields such as ecology, geology, economics, and history.

Prerequisites and Application to the Major

Prerequisites

Students interested in becoming Environmental Studies majors are encouraged to complete the prerequisite courses by the end of their sophomore year, however it is not a requirement to have all of them completed at the time of application.

1. Two semesters of college chemistry or AP equivalent
2. One semester of college biology or AP equivalent
3. One semester of college chemistry or biology lab
4. One semester of college physics or calculus or AP equivalent

Admission to the Major:

If you are a sophomore interested in applying to the Environmental Studies major, please submit the following information and materials to the Environmental Studies Program Manager (studies.environment@yale.edu). We offer two application periods for admission to the major. For the 2011-2012 academic year, the fall term deadline is December 21, 2011 and the spring term deadline has been extended to March 1, 2012. All materials should be submitted by 5pm on the date specified.

All applicants should submit a single pdf labeled "Applicant Last Name_EVST_Application_2014.pdf" that includes the following:

1. Applicant's name, address, phone number, email address and SID.
2. A current resume.
3. A transcript (official or unofficial) of coursework at Yale that includes a listing of current courses.
4. Statement of Purpose: Provide a short essay that describes what has motivated you to apply to become an environmental studies major, the concentration within the major you plan to pursue, and your thoughts about what you would like to do after you graduate (500 words or less). Successful applicants will demonstrate commitment to the major, focus and passion, and academic promise supported by past performance.

Application Instructions (pdf)

Recommendation letters are not required.

Your Faculty Advisor

Environmental Studies students are expected to work closely with Yale faculty from various departments. Faculty advisors share responsibility with the DUS for advising students on their course selection, graduation requirements, and most importantly on their senior research project. The faculty advisor is also a valuable mentor to students during and after their education at Yale by aiding students in planning their curriculum, providing career advice, and writing recommendations for students.

Internships

Many Environmental Studies students take part in a summer internship related to an environmental issue. It is the responsibility of the student to find an opportunity and to apply for funding. Some financial support is available on a competitive basis through the Environmental Studies summer fellowship program. Students can begin looking for internship opportunities in Career & Internship Resources.

Senior Essays

All Environmental Studies students are expected to complete a two-term senior essay under the supervision of a faculty advisor.