ENV 511a, Ecological Foundations for Environmental Managers

This course gives students a fundamental mechanistic understanding about the way abiotic (e.g., climate) and biotic (e.g., resources, competitors, predators) factors determine pattern in the distribution and abundance of species. Students learn how individuals within a species cope with changing environmental conditions by altering their behavior, making physiological adjustments, and changing the allocation of resources among survival, growth, and reproduction. Students learn how populations of species coexist within communities and how species interactions within communities can drive ecosystem functioning. Students also learn how ecologists use scientific insight to deal with emerging environmental problems such as protecting biodiversity, understanding the consequences of habitat loss on species diversity, and forecasting the effects of global climate change on species population viability and geographic distribution.  1½ Course cr
TTh 10:30am-11:50am

ENV 512a, Microeconomic Foundations for Environmental Managers

This six-week course provides an introduction to microeconomic analysis and its application to environmental policy. Students study how markets work to allocate scarce resources. This includes consideration of how individuals and firms make decisions, and how policy analysts seek to quantify the benefits and costs of consumption and production. We consider the conditions under which markets are beneficial to society and when they fail. We see that market failure arises frequently in the context of environmental and natural resource management. The last part of the course focuses on the design of environmental and natural resource policies to address such market failures. The course is designed to cover basic knowledge of economics analysis and prepare students for ENV 834 and other more advanced offerings.  1½ Course cr
TTh 10:30am-11:50am

ENV 521a, Physical Science Foundations for Environmental Managers

This required foundational course provides students with the physical science basics that they need to understand and manage environmental problems. The course draws on climatology, environmental chemistry, geology, hydrology, meteorology, oceanography, and soil science. Focus is on understanding both the underlying concepts and how they apply to real-world environmental challenges. Useful both as a freestanding course and as a gateway to a wide spectrum of intermediate and advanced courses.  1½ Course cr
M 10:30am-11:50am

ENV 522a, Social Science Foundations for Environmental Managers

In this course, we investigate the role of culture, history, ethics, and governance in shaping varying perspectives on the natural world and management strategies for environmental resources. We explore the following questions: What does it mean to be an environmental steward in a world filled with social, political, and economic inequalities?  Can we weave together multiple “ways of knowing” to better manage natural resources? Is it possible to balance the need for social and environmental change in a manner that is both place-based and responsive to global concerns? What would it look like to incorporate non-economic measures of human well-being into our decision making? Can a rights-based approach to natural resource management succeed in the twenty-first century?  1½ Course cr
T 2:30pm-3:50pm

ENV 550a, Natural Science Research: From Idea to Proposal

The course guides students through the process of developing an individualized research project in close partnership with their faculty adviser. We focus on writing a research proposal, which prepares students to apply for competitive research funding and is required of all M.E.Sc./M.F.S. students. In doing so, we cover critical reading of the literature, narrowing a broad topic of interest to a feasible research project, proposal writing, and a high-level introduction to the philosophy of science. Students engage in peer review throughout the course and present their completed proposals to the class at the end of the semester.  3 Course cr
TTh 9am-10:20am

ENV 551a, Research Methods for Qualitative Inquiry

This course covers approaches to designing and implementing qualitative research with a focus on understanding complex questions that lie at the nexus of people and the environment. Qualitative research is critical to understand the interconnected patterns and processes in the social world that cannot be reduced to quantitate data or mechanistic explanations. The methods covered in this course include interview techniques; document analysis of texts and social artifacts such as maps, images, public documents and archival material; ethnographic techniques such as observation and writing thick description; and participatory action tools that support community-based approaches to research. The strategies of inquiry of qualitative research we learn about include ethnography, oral history, participatory action research, and case study research. Finally, we probe the practice of social science research by engaging in a range of ethical and practical decisions that a researcher will encounter when examining the nature of the human condition.  3 Course cr
TTh 10:30am-11:50am

ENV 553a, Perspectives: Environmental Leadership

This course equips you with core leadership and systems-thinking tools to help you navigate YSE, Yale, and your future career with increased clarity and confidence, regardless of the specialization path you may take. Both leadership and systems-thinking tools are grounded in fostering an increased appreciation of your unique perspective and the valuable perspectives of others. Through study of frameworks and reflection accompanied by peer-to-peer discussion, you will firmly establish a connection between a questioned and confirmed articulation of purpose, clarified prioritization, visualized potential, and maximized progress to effect positive change at individual, organizational, and system levels. The course also highlights opportunities for greater depth provided by other courses and activities across the school, including ENV 554 in Fall 2. An additional intended outcome is that you all feel welcome at YSE, appreciative of others, and confident you belong in an inclusive larger learning community of YSE.  3 Course cr
T 9am-10:20am

ENV 573a, Urban Ecology for Local and Regional Decision-Making

Urban ecology is the interdisciplinary study of urban and urbanizing systems from local to global scales. While urban ecology shares many features with the biological science of ecology, it emphasizes linkages with social, economic, and physical sciences and the humanities. Geographically, the subject includes central and edge cities, suburbs of various ages and densities, and exurban settlements in which urban lifestyles and economic commitments are dominant. In application, urban ecology can be useful as a social-ecological science for making cities more sustainable, resilient, and equitable. Emerging “grand challenges” in urban ecology include the development of robust approaches to and understanding of (1) integrated social-ecological systems in urban and urbanizing environments; (2) the assembly and function of novel ecological communities and ecosystems under novel environmental conditions; (3) drivers of human well-being in diverse urban areas; (4) pathways for developing healthy, sustainable, and disaster-resilient cities; and (5) co-production of actionable science for policy, planning, design, and management.  3 Course cr
W 1pm-3:50pm

ENV 592a, Documentary Film Workshop  Charles Musser

This workshop in audiovisual scholarship explores ways to present research through the moving image. Students work within a Public Humanities framework to make a documentary that draws on their disciplinary fields of study. Designed to fulfill requirements for the M.A. with a concentration in Public Humanities.  3 Course cr
W 3:30pm-6:20pm, T 7pm-9pm

ENV 594a, Global Carbon Cycle

Carbon is one of the most abundant elements in the universe, the building block for all of biochemistry, and the energy exchange material for the Earth’s metabolism. Over the past two hundred years, people have mined fossil carbon to power the global economy, leading to profound transformations in the cycling of carbon among land, oceans, and atmosphere and disrupting Earth’s climate. This course explores in detail the cycling of labile carbon among the major biogeochemical reservoirs. We spend roughly four weeks each on land and oceans and spend the final four weeks exploring carbon-climate interactions, including engineered carbon dioxide reduction. The course involves quite a bit of mathematics and computation. All are encouraged to register, but please be aware of the quantitative approach.  3 Course cr
MW 9am-10:20am

ENV 603a, Environmental Data Visualization for Communication  Simon Queenborough and Jennifer Marlon

Welcome to the Information Age! It is now much easier to generate and access more data than ever before. Yet, our ability to manage, analyze, understand, and communicate all this data is extremely limited. Visualization is a powerful means of enhancing our abilities to learn from data and to communicate results to others, especially when informed by insights into human behavior and social systems. Developing the quantitative skills necessary for analyzing data is important, but for addressing complex and often urgent environmental problems that involve diverse audiences: understanding how to effectively communicate with data is equally essential for researchers, policymakers, and the public alike. This course is for students who wish to gain an understanding of the principles, tools, and techniques needed to communicate effectively with data. The course primarily uses the programming language R. Students are required to demonstrate basic proficiency in this software before or during the course. Resources for learning R are provided. Classes consist of short lectures about principles of design, data preparation, and visual communication, discussions about examples from the news and scientific literature, guest lectures, peer critiques, and hands-on individual and collaborative group activities. Throughout the semester, we use Excel, PowerPoint, R, Tableau, and other tools to develop visualizations using diverse datasets. Students also work with a dataset of their own choice or from a partner organization to develop a final project consisting of a poster, infographic, report, dashboard, story map, or related product. Enrollment is limited and application is required.  3 Course cr
TTh 9am-10:20am

ENV 604a, Public Health Entrepreneurship

This is a case based course about innovation and entrepreneurship for health equity and drivers of health. Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This requires removing obstacles to health such as poverty, racism, gender and other biases and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, healthy foods, safe environments, and health care. We refer to these as drivers of health. COVID-19 has brought to light for many the complexities in drivers of health, and the role of entrepreneurship and cross-sectoral collaboration in eliminating health disparities.  1½ Course cr
HTBA

ENV 610a, Managing Ecosystems for Climate Change Solutions

This course explores the scientific foundations and practical strategies for managing ecosystems to contribute to climate change mitigation. Grounded in ecosystem ecology and with a focus on tropical regions, the course examines how the conservation of intact ecosystems, the active management of disturbed systems, and the restoration of degraded areas can reduce carbon emissions, enhance carbon sequestration, and support climate resilience. Students engage with core ecological concepts, analyze global and tropical carbon cycles, and explore the mechanisms—biophysical, ecological, and implementation-focused—through which ecosystems influence climate. The course builds from foundational scientific knowledge to applied case studies, hands-on data analysis, and evaluation of policy-relevant approaches.  3 Course cr
TTh 1pm-2:20pm

ENV 612a, Transforming Global Value Chains for Sustainability: The Case of Fashion and Textiles

This course investigates what it means to create sustainable and resilient global value chains, with fashion and textiles serving as a primary case. We explore key questions about the relationship between global trade, governance, environmental management, and supply chain design. Rather than presuming fixed answers, students are invited to critically assess emerging frameworks, institutional challenges, and innovation strategies to advance environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Through a comparative and systems-based lens, we seek to understand how sustainability can be embedded within global production and consumption networks.  3 Course cr
T 2:30pm-5:20pm

ENV 625b, Writing Workshop

This course is aimed at helping students improve their writing. The goal is to develop writing skills and make students better able to communicate their work and ideas through writing that is clear, accessible, and free of jargon. Students are required to write every week throughout the course: short assignments (600–800 words) each week, and one longer assignment (1,500–2,000 words) due at the end of the term.  1½ Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 626b, Writing for Publication in the Natural Sciences  Simon Queenborough

This course is intended to give students insights into the process of writing natural science manuscripts. The course guides students through writing a paper and ends the term with a submitted manuscript. We also consider various strategies for writing, accountability, time management, and productivity. The course is aimed at students in the natural sciences with analyzed data that they want to write up for publication.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 629b, North American Drylands: Ecology and Land Use  William Lauenroth

The first half of the course consists of lectures about the causes of the geographic distribution of North American drylands and their ecology. The second half consists of reading and discussing scientific papers about past, present, and future land use. Students lead the discussions. While we cover the breadth of drylands, in the second half we emphasize ecosystems in which big sagebrush is the dominant plant species. Enrollment limited to twelve.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 630b, The Physical Science of Climate Change  Peter Raymond and Xuhui Lee

The course provides students with core knowledge on the processes controlling the earth's climate system. The first half of the class focuses on the four components of the earth climate system, providing a knowledge base on the atmospheric energy and water budgets and the roles of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, the oceans, land and cryosphere in altering these budgets. Students also learn how to run a climate GCM (general circulation model). The second half of the class focuses on impacts of climate change on a number of societal sectors including natural ecosystems, energy use, water resources, the food system and the built environment.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 631a, Poverty, Environment, and Inequality

This course explores the relationship between poverty, environment, and social inequality. It examines how race and class interact in American rural and urban environments to produce or sustain inequalities. The course examines how structural factors and community characteristics influence environmental outcomes. Students begin by examining the relationship between degraded environments and poor schooling. They examine the environmental hazards that exist in or adjacent to urban and rural public schools. Students will analyze inner-city and poor rural communities as they examine disinvestment, the concentration of poverty, efforts to disperse the poor, and the potential for community revitalization. Students examine homelessness and the ways in which climate disasters impact housing experiences. The course also examines another aspect of poverty: the issue of food security; it looks at the rise in community gardening in poor communities as an attempt to combat lack of access to healthy food. Students examine residential segregation and zoning and study the spatial inequalities that arise from the siting of hazardous facilities in minority and low-income urban and rural communities. The course examines the classic environmental justice question: which came first the facilities or the people? It examines economic questions related to costs of hosting noxious facilities and if and how communities can seek compensation to host such facilities. The course also examines the quandary communities face when presented with economic models that seek to provide compensation – the question of the long-term health of the people and environment takes center stage as community residents seek to determine how to balance economic development with concerns about sustainability. Students analyze water, energy, and climate justice.  3 Course cr
TTh 1pm-2:20pm

ENV 633a, Critical Race Theory

This class studies critical race theory from its origins to its current expression. Understanding the deep interconnections between race and law, and how race and law are co-constitutive, is the project of critical race theory. One of the central claims of critical race theory is that racial subordination is not a deviation from the liberal legal ideal but is, unfortunately, part of its expression. We focus on the origins of the critique that is central to the development of the theory and contrast its analysis with conventional analytic frameworks on race and American law and society. Because it is a positive theory but also driven by a normative vision, we explore the possibility of transforming the relationship between law and racial power. The law is not the only site of critical race theory; it has had a significant impact on other disciplines in the social sciences. We examine those impacts as well.  3 Course cr
TTh 1pm-2:20pm

ENV 635b, Renewable Energy Project Finance  Daniel Gross

The course is intended to be a practicum, exposing students to real-world tools of the trade as well as the theory underlying them. In place of a textbook, students are provided with approximately 400 pages of actual project documents used for a U.S. wind energy project. Through weekly homework assignments, students develop the skills necessary to construct a detailed financial model, largely comparable to what would be used by an investment firm, project developer, or independent power producer. Modeling skills include sizing debt capacity, sensitivity analysis, stochastic forecasting, taxes, and the creation of financial statements. Lectures also provide an introduction to risk management, energy market dynamics, alternative contractual structures, financial structuring, and the core engineering and risks inherent in the most common renewable energy technologies. This course is primarily online but may include four to six in-person sessions, pending the instructor’s availability to travel. While cross-listed at the School of Management, it follows the YSE academic calendar. Admission requires an application.  3 Course cr
TTh 9am-10:20am

ENV 645a, Urbanization, Global Change, and Sustainability

Urbanization and associated changes in human activities on the land (land use) and in the physical attributes of Earth’s surface (land cover) have profound environmental consequences. Aggregated globally, these effects constitute some of the most significant human impacts on the functioning of Earth as a system. This course examines the interactions and relationships between urbanization and global change at local, regional, and global scales with an emphasis on the biophysical aspects of urbanization. Topics include urbanization in the context of global land use change, habitat and biodiversity loss, modification of surface energy balance and the urban heat island, climate change and impacts on urban areas, urban biogeochemistry, and urbanization as a component of sustainability. Emphasis is on management of urban areas worldwide or at national scales for planetary sustainability.  3 Course cr
T 1pm-3:50pm

ENV 646b, Regenerative Agriculture Systems  Stephen Wood

Agriculture systems both depend and have a profound impact on the natural and human environment. There is widespread recognition of the need for agriculture systems to be more regenerative: regenerative food producing systems are ones that contribute to the improvement of the environment and to human wellbeing, not just avoid damages. The aim of this course is to explore what makes food producing systems regenerative. While there is a lot of momentum around the framing of “regenerative agriculture,” there is not a lot of detail about what actually makes a system regenerative. The goals of the course are to: provide technical understanding of the science of agricultural systems; develop practical experience applying this science to real world scenarios of strategy development in agriculture; and increase exposure to practitioners at the interface of agriculture and the environment.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 652b, Wood: Structure and Function  Craig Brodersen

This course focuses on the extraordinary diversity of wood anatomy at the cellular level, and on the practice of dendrochronology that allows students to take advantage of predictable, inter-annual variability in tree growth to reconstruct environmental history. The primary focus of the course is on common northeastern trees and other commercially important timber species. A primary goal is to participate in the development of a master tree-ring chronology for the School Forests. Enrollment limited to ten with permission of the instructor. Prerequisites: basic statistics and a background in tree physiology and anatomy are strongly recommended.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 653b, Maple: From Tree to Table  Joseph Orefice

This course covers the cultural, industrial, and sustainable practices of nontimber forest products through the lens of maple sap and syrup. Maple sugar is a forest product unique to northeastern North America, and it has seen a resurgence in interest as global consumers seek nutritious, natural, and sustainably produced foods. This course covers the booming industry and culture around maple syrup, from backyard operations through modern 100,000-tap investment operations. Maple producers are on the front lines of climate change and forest health threats. The course provides students with the knowledge of how challenges related to forest health and climate change are directly impacting maple producers and how these producers are learning to adapt in ways that are environmentally friendly, ecologically sound, and financially competitive in a global market.  1½ Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 659b, The Practice of Silviculture: Principles in Applied Forest Ecology  P Mark Ashton

The scientific principles and techniques of controlling, protecting, and restoring the regeneration, composition, and growth of natural forest vegetation and its plantation and agroforestry analogs worldwide. Analysis of biological and socioeconomic problems affecting specific forest stands and design of silvicultural systems to solve these problems. Applications are discussed for the management of wildlife habitat, bioenergy and carbon sequestration, water resources, urban environments, timber and nontimber products, and landscape design. Four to six hours lecture. One-hour tutorial. Seven days of fieldwork. Recommended: some knowledge of soils, ecology, plant physiology, human behavior, and resource economics.  4 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 660a, Forest Dynamics

This course introduces the study of forest stand dynamics—how forest structures and compositions change over time with growth and disturbances. Understanding the dynamic nature of forest stands is important for creating and maintaining a variety of critical ecosystem services sustainably and synergistically, including sustainable supplies of wood products, biodiversity and wildlife habitats, water, wildland fire, forest restoration and others. Through readings, lectures, field observation, and discussions we will explore forest development processes and pathways, concentrating on the driving mechanisms and emergent properties including natural and human disturbances. Non-YSE students must apply and get instructor permission.  3 Course cr
TTh 10:30am-11:50am

ENV 668b, Field Trips in Forest Resource Management and Silviculture  P Mark Ashton

Seven- to twelve-day field trips to study the silviculture and forest management of particular forest regions. In previous years, classes have visited Slovenia, Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, British Columbia, and, in the United States, the southern Coastal Plain and Piedmont, and the Allegheny, Appalachian, Adirondack, and Green mountains. Enrollment limited to sixteen.
HTBA

ENV 670b, Southern Forest and Forestry Field Trip  Joseph Orefice and P Mark Ashton

This course augments our forestry curriculum by providing a forum for viewing and discussing forestry and forest management with practitioners. The trip provides M.F. candidates and other interested students with an opportunity to experience the diversity of southeastern forested ecosystems and ownership objectives ranging from intensively managed pine plantations to restoration and protection of endangered habitats. Students discuss forest management issues—including forest health, fragmentation, policy, law, and business perspectives—with landowners and managers from large industries, nonindustrial private landowners, TIMOs, federal and state land managers, NGOs, and forestry consultants. We also tour sawmills, paper mills, and other kinds of forest products processing facilities, active logging operations, and, weather permitting, participate on prescribed fires. Not least, we experience the unique cultures, food, and hospitality of the southeastern United States.
HTBA

ENV 671a, Dendrology: Woody Plant Taxonomy and Identification

Dendrology literally translates as “the study of trees” and integrates morphology, phenology, ecology, biogeography, and the natural history of tree species. In this course students learn how to identify the major temperate woody plant families, with a focus on eastern North American species. Students learn to identify by sight using morphological and ecological traits of over 100 woody plant taxa, using an ecosystem focused approach for plant identification. Besides learning how to identify species, we discuss principles of plant ecology, biogeography, phylogenetic community structure, and natural history in each ecosystem. Class periods consist of practical field and laboratory skills used in plant taxonomy and field lecturing. Weather permitting, we are outside in the field/forest for most class periods. Limited to thirteen.  3 Course cr
W 1pm-5pm

ENV 677b, Ecological Restoration  Marlyse Duguid

This course is intended as a broad overview of restoration ecology. We use the framework of ecosystem science to understand how and why humans facilitate the recovery of degraded ecosystems. We balance discussions on the theory, background, and application of restoration ecology with topics related to the implementation of restoration projects (e.g., planning, evaluation, and policy). These various concepts are integrated through the discussion of case studies presented by a variety of practitioners and scientists working across different systems (coral reefs, wildlife, fire, wetlands, etc.) and with diverse perspectives so that students get a broad exposure to the breadth and depth of scholarship and work in the field. Limited to fifteen.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 679a, Plant Ecophysiology

This course focuses on the physiological ecology of plants and their interaction with the biotic and abiotic environment, understood through the lens of first principles. We use a quantitative approach to demonstrate the linkages between photosynthesis, growth, and carbon allocation at the tissue and whole plant level, which can then be scaled up to forests and ecosystems. We also focus on specific physiological and anatomical adaptations plants use to survive in the many varied habitats on Earth. Enrollment limited to twenty-four.  3 Course cr
T 1pm-3:50pm

ENV 683b, Seminar in Tropical Forest Restoration  P Mark Ashton

This seminar is focused on the biological and social science, management, and policy governing reforestation in tropical regions. Topics covered include the ecology and management of native species plantations and second-growth forests; the social drivers of and barriers to restoration; and the methodological protocols of gathering and assessing social, economic, and cultural values. A particular emphasis is placed on tropical Asia and Latin America. Part of this course is taught online, part in a series of weekly discussions. Optional 1-credit field trip on dry tropical forest restoration, Azuero, Panama. Enrollment limited to twenty. Prerequisite: ENV 659.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 688b, Forest Management and Operations  Joseph Orefice

This course provides students with an opportunity to understand many aspects of forest management, especially as it relates to multiple-use forestry. Course content includes understanding and critique of forest inventory, and students are introduced to growth and yield concepts. Forest planning and optimization for objectives such as forest products and carbon are covered. Stewardship of forestland is discussed, as are legal aspects to land ownership and forest conservation. Included are sections focused on forest operations. Students gain experience in the diverse elements and aspects of forest harvesting. The course is taught from the perspective of what a forester should know about harvesting, which includes logging safety, timber harvesting operations and sale administration, legal dimensions of harvesting, planning and maintaining forest access systems, timber procurement and appraisal, logging costs and analysis, and environmental and social influences. Field experiences complement lecture material.  4 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 692a, Science and Practice of Temperate Agroforestry

This course explores the science and practices of temperate agroforestry, covering current knowledge of agroforestry science and shedding light on the myths and assumptions that have yet to be tested regarding the integration of trees in agricultural systems. The course begins with an overview of modern agriculture to help us better understand why agroforestry systems have potential to improve the sustainability of farming systems. We also cover the social science regarding agroforestry and why it has not been widely adopted. Silvopasture and forest farming systems are the primary focus, but windbreaks, alley cropping, and riparian forest buffers are also covered. The field of agroforestry has struggled with the promotion of hypothetical practices; this course introduces students to real-world production agroforestry systems and helps them better contribute to financially viable and environmentally sound agricultural operations.  3 Course cr
M 2:30pm-5:20pm

ENV 695a, Yale Forest Forum Series: A History of People, Forests, and Forestry

The Forest School continues its series on a history of forests, people and forestry. This fall series focuses on scientific forestry, from sustained yield to ecosystem management. The second part in this series explores the history of “scientific forestry,” tracing its origins in early-modern European views of nature, where scientific expertise was seen as a tool for dominion over the natural world and its colonial expansion. The course examines how European forestry practices influenced the development of forestry in the United States during the nineteenth century and how the profession gained ground in North American universities (including with the founding of the Yale Forest School in 1900). Focusing on the twentieth century, we trace the transformation of forestry from its early focus on protection and recovery of forests in the West to timber and sustained yield forest management particularly in the South and far West to the development of an ecosystem and ecological approach to managing our nation’s forests. Through this lens, we evaluate forestry in the United States by considering its successes and also its problematic legacies in relation to Native American dispossession and settler colonialism. From the Eastern United States in the colonial period to the upper Midwest and eventual expansion to the US South and Pacific Northwest in the early twentieth century, we follow the roots of land use and forestry and explore how the profession evolved with advances in modern genetics and ecosystem forestry, culminating in the watershed legislation of the 1970s, including NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Forest Management Act, which laid the foundation for a new era in forest management.   1½ Course cr
Th 12pm-2pm

ENV 705a, Climate Change: Simple, Serious, and Solvable  A. Scott Denning

Simple: Earth’s climate is determined by the balance of radiation inputs and outputs at planetary scale. Greenhouse gases produce a radiation imbalance that forces change. Basic physics and paleoclimate agree that modern changes are enormous. Serious: Impacts of twenty-first-century climate change on weather, drought, fires, famines, and floods pose the greatest threat to ecosystems in millions of years and the worst threat to the global economy since the Black Death. Worse, the changes are essentially permanent. Solvable: Rapid and complete decarbonization of the global energy system is feasible and affordable, but politically difficult. We consider economic, policy, and engineering solutions and finish by examine cultural narratives about solutions.  3 Course cr
MW 1pm-2:15pm

ENV 708a / ENVE 6400a, Aquatic Chemistry  David Kwabi

A detailed examination of the principles governing chemical reactions in water. Emphasis is on developing the ability to predict the aqueous chemistry of natural and perturbed systems based on a knowledge of their biogeochemical setting. Focus is on inorganic chemistry, and topics include elementary thermodynamics, acid-base equilibria, alkalinity, speciation, solubility, mineral stability, redox chemistry, and surface complexation reactions. Illustrative examples are taken from the aquatic chemistry of estuaries, lakes, rivers, wetlands, soils, aquifers, and the atmosphere. A standard software package used to predict chemical equilibria may also be presented.  3 Course cr
MW 1pm-2:15pm

ENV 709a, Lectures, Discussions, and Applications of Soil Science

Topics cover the structure and functioning of soils, and how this relates to soil fertility, carbon accounting, climate feedbacks, and ecosystem function in a changing environment.  3 Course cr
W 9am-11:50am

ENV 713a, Coastal Ecosystems

An examination of the natural processes controlling coastal ecosystems, the anthropogenic threats to the health of these systems, and the potential for restoration. Coverage of estuaries, seagrass meadows, macroalgal forests, rocky shores, coral reefs, and mangrove swamps, with a special emphasis on tidal marshes. The course covers a wide range of physical, chemical, and ecological processes. Anthropogenic impacts covered range from local to global and include chemical pollution, climate change, habitat destruction, hypoxia, invasive species, nutrient enrichment, sea-level rise, and overfishing.  3 Course cr
M 1pm-6pm

ENV 723a, Wetlands Ecology, Conservation, and Management

Wetlands are ubiquitous. Collectively they cover 370,000 square miles in the United States and globally encompass more than five million square miles. Most points on a map are less than one kilometer from the nearest wetland. Yet wetlands are nearly invisible to most people. In this course we explore wetlands in all of their dimensions, including the critical services they provide to other systems, the rich biodiversity they harbor, and their impact on global climate. Additionally, wetlands are linchpin environments for scientific policy and regulation. The overarching aim of the course is to connect what we know about wetlands from a scientific perspective to the ways in which wetlands matter for people.  3 Course cr
TTh 9am-10:15am

ENV 730a, Environmental Data Science in R: Introduction to Data Integration and Machine Learning

In today's world, understanding environmental data and making informed decisions based on it is crucial for addressing complex environmental challenges. This course serves as an introductory exploration into the integration of environmental data using R programming language coupled with machine learning techniques. Participants gain hands-on experience in handling, analyzing, and interpreting environmental datasets, with a focus on leveraging the power of R for data integration and predictive modeling.  3 Course cr
Th 2:30pm-5:20pm

ENV 734b, Biological Oceanography  Mary Beth Decker

Exploration of oceanic ecosystems and how these environments function as coupled physical/biological systems. Ocean currents and other physical processes determine where nutrients are available to support primary production and where organisms from plankton to top predators occur. Includes discussion of anthropogenic impacts, such as the effects of fishing and climate change on marine ecosystems. Recommended prerequisite: college-level biology or ecology course.  3 Course cr
MW 1pm-2:15pm

ENV 742b, Fundamentals of Working with People  Stuart DeCew

Environmental scientists and environmental managers are working to transform environmental outcomes by changing institutional and human behavior. Research indicates time and time again that teams are important for tackling these important challenges. From developing research projects to building a business or NGO, teams can lead to better, more efficient output because they incorporate various perspectives and benefit from a wider range of skill sets. But developing and deploying effective teams is an art and a science, full of its own challenges. It requires a deep understanding of self, including one’s own strengths, blind spots, priorities, and needs. It also requires reflection, empathy, communication, and collaboration. This course aims to introduce students – particularly scientists and environmental managers – to the theory and practice of team management. Through a series of lectures, simulations, reflections, discussions, and exercises, students will increase their ability to: (1) Understand themselves and other individuals; (2) Form and lead diverse teams; (3) Influence the actions of the organizations within which they are working; (4) Collaborate with others affecting the resources about which they care.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 744b, Conservation Science and Landscape Planning  Oswald Schmitz

This advanced course applies ecological principles to understand and manage biodiversity and attendant ecosystem functioning and services in the anthropocene. The course addresses the ethical and functional basis for conservation and fosters thinking about why and how humans ought to share the planet with nonhuman life. It covers scientific principles such as evolution, life-history and the viability of species, species endangerment and extinction risk, the kinds of biodiversity, the spatial distribution of biodiversity, the functional roles of species in ecosystems, vulnerability and risk assessments, and valuing biodiversity and ecosystem services. The course applies these principles to the exploration of such topics as biodiversity’s role in the functioning and sustainability of ecological systems, restoration of environmental damages, conserving biodiversity in dynamic landscapes, adapting landscapes to climate change, balancing conservation with urban development and agriculture, and renewable energy siting. It provides students with the quantitative skills to conduct population viability analyses, geospatial analyses of the distribution of biodiversity across landscapes, vulnerability analyses, and decision analysis to balance trade-offs among multiple objectives of human land development and biodiversity conservation. Prerequisites: ENV 602 or equivalent course in population or community ecology, F&ES 755 or equivalent course in GIS, and ENV 728 or equivalent course in statistical analysis of biological data. A course in economics or applied math for environmental studies is strongly encouraged.  4 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 750a, Writing the World

This is a practical writing course meant to develop the student’s skills as a writer. But its real subject is perception and the writer’s authority—the relationship between what you notice in the world around you and what, culturally speaking, you are allowed to notice. What you write during the term is driven entirely by your own interest and attention. How you write is the question at hand. We explore the overlapping habitats of language—present and past—and the natural environment. And, to a lesser extent, we explore the character of persuasion in environmental themes. Every member of the class writes every week, and we all read what everyone writes every week. It makes no difference whether you are a would-be journalist, scientist, environmental advocate, or policy maker. The goal is to rework your writing and sharpen your perceptions, both sensory and intellectual. Enrollment limited to fifteen.  3 Course cr
T 2:30pm-5:20pm

ENV 752a, Ecology and Conservation of Tropical Forests

Tropical forests contain extraordinarily high biological diversity and provide critical ecosystem services with complex interactions with humans. This course focuses on the structure, function, and diversity of intact and degraded tropical forests, with an emphasis on ecological processes that shape plant and animal communities in these unique and diverse ecosystems. We also discuss the major threats to tropical forests, as well as examples of tropical forest recovery following disturbance. The course involves a mix of lectures, classroom activities, and student-led discussions. Students who successfully complete this course are given priority for ENV 717, Tropical Field Ecology (field trip course).  3 Course cr
MW 10:30am-11:50am

ENV 756a, Modeling Geographic Objects

Modeling Geographic Objects teaches the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a collection of hardware and software tools that allow users to visualize and analyze geographic data in its spatial configuration. Geographic data is is modeled spatially as drawings of discrete objects (vector) or as images of continuous space (raster). MGO focuses on the former, mapping the relationships among objects in space: cities, rivers, buildings, districts, parcels, trees, etc. Students learn the theory of geospatial analysis alongside practical methods for acquiring, manipulating, displaying, and analyzing cartographic data.  3 Course cr
Th 1pm-3:50pm

ENV 757a or b, Data Exploration and Analysis  Jonathan Reuning-Scherer

Survey of statistical methods: plots, transformations, regression, analysis of variance, clustering, principal components, contingency tables, and time series analysis. The R computing language and web data sources are used.  3 Course cr
HTBA

ENV 759a, Power, Knowledge, and the Environment: Social Science Theory and Method

Introductory graduate course on the social science of contemporary environmental and natural resource challenges, paying special attention to issues involving power and knowledge. Section I, overview of the course. Section II, disasters and environmental perturbation: pandemics, and the social dimensions of disaster. Section III, power and politics: river restoration in Nepal; the conceptual boundaries of resource systems, and the political ecology of water in Mumbai Section IV, methods: the dynamics of working within development projects; and a multi-sited study of irrigation in Egypt. Section V, local communities: representing the poor, development discourse, and indigenous peoples and knowledge. The goal of the course is to develop analytic distance from current conservation and development debates and discourse. This is a core course for M.E.M. students in YSE, and a core course in the combined YSE/Anthropology degree program. Enrollment is capped.  3 Course cr
M 1pm-3:50pm

ENV 760b, Conservation in Practice: An International Perspective

This seminar focuses on the practice of wildlife and wildlands conservation, examining key topics from the dual perspectives of academic literature and actual field experiences; bringing together interdisciplinary thinking; and drawing on examples from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America. The thematic outline of the seminar is organized around three fundamental questions in nature conservation: What are we trying to save—and why? How is this being done—and how has it changed over time? What lessons are we learning—and what overarching issues remain problematic? Specific topics include how different players define and value wildness; selection and prioritization of conservation targets; comparisons of various species and landscape conservation approaches; and governance and decision-making in conservation, including ties between conservation and development and community-based conservation. During the term, students work in small teams to assess one of several current case studies—integrating biological, social, economic, and governance considerations—to propose an effective path forward for conservation. Participation and leadership are key, as the seminar is discussion-based and approximately 25 percent of the sessions are student-led. Evaluation is based on participation, presentations, and a final paper.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 761a, Negotiating International Agreements: The Case of Climate Change  Susan Biniaz

This class is a practical introduction to the negotiation of international agreements, with a focus on climate change. Through the climate lens, students explore cross-cutting features of international agreements, the process of international negotiations, the development of national positions, advocacy of national positions internationally, and the many ways in which differences among negotiating countries are resolved. The seminar also examines the history and substance of the climate change regime, including, inter alia, the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the 2009 Copenhagen Accord, the 2015 Paris Agreement, the UAE Consensus, and other recent developments. There are two mock negotiations.  3 Course cr
M 1:30pm-3:20pm

ENV 762a, Foundations of Applied Math for the Environment (FAME)

The language of mathematics is an important leg in the stool of interdisciplinary research and analysis, and many graduate courses at YSE involve mathematical content. However, many graduate students have not taken a math course in years, and their math skills are rusty. Furthermore, many graduate-level mathematical concepts may be entirely new. Experience suggests that many students either opt out of taking courses they are truly interested in or muddle through, struggle with the math, and miss important concepts. FAME is meant to help students refresh or acquire new math skills and succeed in content and provide a foundational “toolbox” for graduate-level courses. FAME provides a structured opportunity to learn a range of mathematical concepts used in environmental research. The course assumes that, at a minimum, students took college algebra (and have been exposed to calculus). Concepts are presented heuristically in a “how to” and “why” approach with examples from environmental research and policy questions. The goal is for students to be conversant and have intuition about (i.e., to demystify) why logs, exponents, derivatives, integrals. Also covered is a bit of history of math and an introduction to computer programming.  1½ Course cr
T 9am-10:20am

ENV 763b, Applied Math for Environmental Scientists (AMES)

AMES is a continuation of FAME. It is intended for students who wish to round out their graduate level applied math toolbox and start building mathematical models. Topics covered show up in many graduate courses as if students had formal training in them. This provides students with on ramps to important concepts like linear algebra, optimization, stability analysis, and differential equations. This course is especially helpful for students considering or starting a Ph.D.  1½ Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 764a, American Cosmologies

This course equips students to recognize and analyze how moral and cultural worldviews shape the way Americans understand nature, make policy, and define national purpose. Drawing on sociology, philosophy, and religious studies, students examine how sacred values guide decisions across sectors often seen as technical or rational, from environmental science to land management. The course centers the North American West—not as a regional niche but as a powerful lens for understanding how American belief systems collide, adapt, and endure. We trace these dynamics through public land conflicts, ecotourism, spiritual movements, unlikely forms of cooperation, and cultural responses to death and extinction. Students learn to analyze cultural systems, write persuasively, build confidence speaking, and engage across political and moral divides with nuance and clarity. Don’t take this course if you’re not ready to do heavy reading, challenge your assumptions, and engage in open debate.  3 Course cr
Th 9am-11:50am

ENV 767b, Tools for Conservation Project Design and Management

As wildlife and wildland conservation programs have multiplied and grown in size, conservation organizations have sought methods to improve strategic project planning, assessment of progress, cross-project comparison, learning of lessons, and transparency for donors. To address these challenges, major nonprofit organizations have collaboratively designed a set of decision-support tools for planning field projects and programs and for monitoring their progress, summarized in the “Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation” (http://cmp-openstandards.org). Use of these tools has allowed organizations to more clearly articulate strategies, define priority actions, critically assess success, manage adaptively, and derive lessons—all of which help to improve effectiveness. Students in this course explore a mutually reinforcing suite of these project tools: their underlying principles are introduced, students practice the techniques, and current case studies from field conservation are examined to explore tool utility. Students synthesize use of these design tools in a final project design focused on a single case study of their choice. The suite of decision-support tools covered includes situation (logic) models for project design, stakeholder assessments, threats and opportunities analysis, conservation target identification, and monitoring frameworks. Students gain experience in design of projects and their monitoring, as well as familiarity with budgeting. Evaluation is based on class participation, regular assignments, and a final project design paper.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 773a, Air Pollution Control  Drew Gentner

An overview of air quality problems worldwide with a focus on emissions, chemistry, transport, and other processes that govern dynamic behavior in the atmosphere. Quantitative assessment of the determining factors of air pollution (e.g., transportation and other combustion-related sources, chemical transformations), climate change, photochemical “smog,” pollutant measurement techniques, and air quality management strategies.  3 Course cr
MW 9am-10:15am

ENV 789b, Energy and Development

This course delves into the relationship between energy use and economic development, at a household, national, and global scale. The course provides both a quantitative and qualitative understanding of poverty, energy demand, and the relationship between the two. Students grapple with different income and multidimensional poverty and standard of living indicators, and with GDP and its limitations as a human development measure. They learn about energy poverty in various parts of the world and about energy consumption patterns with rising income. Students study actual household survey and national statistics data on consumption and energy use, and are exposed to cutting-edge research on standard of living measures and their embodied energy needs. The course covers basic models for household energy transitions and appliance diffusion. This is a seminar course, wherein students are expected to present readings in class. The course involves one term project and presentation, which may be quantitative or qualitative. Prerequisites: basic math, Excel, and microeconomics. Those selecting technical projects should have basic R or other data manipulation skills.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 795b, Nature as Capital: Merging Ecological and Economic Models

Students learn concepts and develop skills in natural resource economics including thinking about natural resources as capital assets with a specific link to quantitative measures that may be useful in assessing sustainability. Students gain a working knowledge of concepts necessary to apply capital theory to ecosystems and develop a skill set sufficient to build dynamic bioeconomic models that can help them approximate the value of changes in ecosystems. Students also learn computational tools in Excel and Rin dynamic optimization, which are useful for forward-looking decision-making. Application focus on natural resources and conservation questions.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 796b, Biopolitics of Human-Nonhuman Relations

Advanced graduate seminar on the “post-humanist” turn toward multi-species ethnography. Section I, introduction to the course. Section II, perspectivism: ontological theory and multi-species ethnography; human consciousness and the environment; and mimesis in human-prey relations. Section III, entanglements: translating indigenous knowledge; the history of natural history; and the politics of environmentalism. Section IV, metaphors: non-human imagery in political discourses; and geologic/volcanic imagery. Section V, student selections of readings; and student presentations of their seminar papers. Section VI, conclusion: plants as teachers; and a lecture by the course TF. Three hour lecture/seminar. Enrollment capped.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 800b, Energy Economics and Policy Analysis

This course examines energy policy issues that pertain to the environment, with a focus on providing tools for analyzing these issues. A primary objective is to apply economics to particular issues of energy markets, environmental impacts, investment in renewables, and other energy issues such as transportation and energy efficiency. We cover the economic and technical considerations behind a particular energy policy issue and then discuss a related article or case study. Prerequisites: ENV 512 (or equivalent background) and at least one course on energy.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 805a or b, Seminar on Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

This seminar is based on outside speakers and internal student/faculty presentations oriented toward original research in the field of environmental and natural resource economics and policy. Presentations are aimed at the doctoral level, but interested master’s students may enroll with permission of the instructors.  1½ Course cr
HTBA

ENV 807a, Corporate Sustainability: Strategy and Management

This survey course focuses on the policy and business logic for making environmental issues and sustainability a core focus of corporate strategy and management. Students are asked to analyze when and how sustainability leadership can translate into competitive advantage by helping to cut costs, reduce risk, drive growth, and promote brand identity and intangible value. The course seeks to provide students with an introduction to the range of sustainability issues and challenges that companies face in today’s fast-changing marketplace. It introduces key corporate sustainability terms, concepts, tools, strategies, and frameworks based on the overarching theory that the traditional profit-maximizing mission of business (often called shareholder primacy) is giving way to a new vision of stakeholder responsibility that still seeks to provide good returns to the enterprise’s owners but also acknowledges obligations to employees, suppliers, customers, communities, and society more broadly. The course combines lectures, case studies, and class discussions on management theory and tools, the legal and regulatory frameworks that shape the business-environment interface, and the evolving role of business in society. It explores how to deal with a world of diverse stakeholders, increasing transparency, and rising expectations related to corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. Self-scheduled examination.   3 Course cr
MW 2:30pm-3:50pm

ENV 811a, Pricing and Managing Sustainable Assets

This is an applied course on the metrics, indicators and tools used by businesses to implement strategically relevant Corporate Social and Environmentally Responsibility (CR) or Sustainability programs. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the knowledge and tools used by practitioners in CR. Although this course explores details of the CR strategy implementation, it is designed to link CR to the overall business drivers and is therefore relevant for any potential corporate manager or consultant. Non-SOM students taking a YSOM course are assessed a fee for copyright charges. The fee is $30 for a full-semester course and $15 for a half-semester course. Students enrolled in either the YSOM course number or the cross-listed course number will be charged.  3 Course cr
TTh 8:30am-9:50am

ENV 814a, Energy Systems Analysis

This three-credit lecture course offers an overview of all aspects of energy systems and their interaction with society and the environment. The course provides students with a comprehensive theoretical and empirical knowledge base about energy systems in the world. This course describes and explains the basics of energy and the laws that govern it, the different components of an energy system (supply technologies, delivery systems, and demand), the institutions that govern the energy sectors, the role of energy in development, its impact on climate change, and an understanding of the key challenges of an energy transition towards a sustainable future. The course has a specific emphasis on electricity systems, how they are operated and governed, and how they have to be transformed to tackle climate change. Students receive a unique exposure to energy issues in the Global South. This course provides students with basic analytical tools and knowledge to formulate and solve energy-related decisions at an individual, national, and global scale and to understand and critique ongoing policy dialogues on energy and climate.  3 Course cr
MW 9am-10:20am

ENV 816a, Electric Utilities: An Industry in Transition

The U.S. electric utility industry is a $400 billion business with capital expenditures on the order of $100 billion per year to replace aging infrastructure, implement new technologies, and meet new regulatory requirements. A reliable electricity infrastructure is essential for the U.S. economy and the health and safety of its citizens. The electric industry also has a significant impact on the environment. In the United States, electric power generation is responsible for about 40 percent of human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas. Electric utilities in the United States are at a crossroads. Technological innovations, improving economics, and regulatory incentives provide a transformational opportunity to implement demand-side resources and distributed energy technologies that will both lower emissions and improve service to customers. Such significant changes could, however, disrupt existing utility business models and therefore may not be fully supported by incumbent utilities. This course focuses on the issues, challenges, risks, and trade-offs associated with moving the U.S. utility industry toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. We explore how utilities are regulated and how economic factors and regulatory policies influence outcomes and opportunities to align customer, environmental, and utility shareholder interests to craft win-win-win solutions.  3 Course cr
Th 1pm-3:50pm

ENV 821a, Environmental Policy Making: From Local to Global

This course focuses on policy making around environmental issues. We explore and analyze institutions at all levels of government, from community management of forests to global management of greenhouse gas emissions. We also explore a variety of environmental case studies. Students learn to examine issues and institutions through the lens of the actors involved, their incentives, and the information they have. The course includes a simulation taking place over multiple weeks at which students negotiate an international environmental agreement.  3 Course cr
MW 1pm-2:20pm

ENV 824b, Environmental Law and Policy

This course provides an introduction to the legal requirements and policy underpinnings of the basic U.S. environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and various statutes governing waste, food safety, and toxic substances. Students examine and evaluate current approaches to pollution control and resource management as well as the “next generation” of regulatory strategies, including economic incentives, voluntary emissions reductions, and information disclosure requirements. This course investigates mechanisms for addressing environmental issues at the local, regional, and global levels, and explores the intersection between environmental and energy law and policy. Students gain an understanding of overarching legal and policy concepts, such as federalism, administrative procedure, separation of powers, environmental justice, judicial review, and statutory interpretation.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 831a, Urban Planning Strategies for Sustainable Development

This class explores how urban planning strategies shape the function and sustainability of cities. Students will examine key approaches, including proximity-based planning (such as the 15-minute city, superblocks, and transit-oriented development) and community-driven interventions (such as tactical urbanism and informal mobility). Through lectures and case studies, the course traces the historical origins and evolution of these strategies, the motivations behind their adoption, and their intended and unintended impacts on urban sustainability. In a final project, students synthesize comparative evidence to evaluate the conditions that shape the effectiveness of these strategies. The course provides knowledge relevant for careers in policy, environmental management, urban planning, and related fields.  3 Course cr
Th 1pm-3:50pm

ENV 834b, Environmental Economics and Policy

This is a course in environmental and natural resource economics and policy. It covers both general methodological principles and specific applications. Rather than serving as a standard course in environmental and natural resource economics, the material is tailored specifically to master’s students pursuing professional degrees in environmental management. The course therefore has a focus on environmental problem solving in the real world. Topics covered include, but are not limited to, evaluation of environmental policies (e.g., standards, taxes, cap-and-trade); cost-benefit analysis and its critiques; nonmarket valuation (ecosystem services, revealed and stated preferences); discounting and macroeconomic perspectives on climate change; management of nonrenewable resources (oil, minerals, etc.); management of renewable resources (forests, fisheries, etc.); land and biodiversity conservation; the relationship between development, trade, and the environment; strategic incentives for international environmental agreements; and environmental behavioral economics. Prerequisite: ENV 512 or equivalent.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 835a and ENV 835Eb, Seminar on Land Use Planning

Land use control exercised by state and local governments determines where development occurs on the American landscape, the preservation of natural resources, the emission of greenhouse gases, the conservation of energy, and the shape and livability of cities and towns. The exercise of legal authority to plan and regulate the development and conservation of privately owned land plays a key role in meeting the needs of the nation’s growing population for equitable housing, energy, and nonresidential development as well as ensuring that critical environmental functions are protected from the adverse impacts of land development. This course explores the multifaceted discipline of land use and urban planning and their associated ecological implications. Numerous land use strategies are discussed, including identifying and defining climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, including affordable housing, community revitalization, energy development and siting, equitable community engagement, transit-oriented development, building and neighborhood energy conservation, distressed building remediation, jobs and housing balance, coastal resiliency, and biological carbon sequestration. The course also explores how recent events impact these planning issues. The focus is on exposing students to the basics of land use and urban planning, especially in the United States but also internationally, and serving as an introduction for a YSE curricular concentration in land use. The majority of classes highlight guest speakers who are professionals involved in sustainable development, land conservation, smart growth, renewable energy, and climate change management. Some synchronized classes are held online to accommodate guest speakers around the country and outside of the US.  1½ Course cr per term
Th 1pm-2:20pm

ENV 835Eb, Seminar on Land Use Planning

Land use control exercised by state and local governments determines where development occurs on the American landscape, the preservation of natural resources, the emission of greenhouse gases, the conservation of energy, and the shape and livability of cities and towns. The exercise of legal authority to plan and regulate the development and conservation of privately owned land plays a key role in meeting the needs of the nation’s growing population for equitable housing, energy, and nonresidential development as well as ensuring that critical environmental functions are protected from the adverse impacts of land development. This course explores the multifaceted discipline of land use and urban planning and their associated ecological implications. Numerous land use strategies are discussed, including identifying and defining climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, including affordable housing, community revitalization, energy development and siting, equitable community engagement, transit-oriented development, building and neighborhood energy conservation, distressed building remediation, jobs and housing balance, coastal resiliency, and biological carbon sequestration. The course also explores how recent events impact these planning issues. The focus is on exposing students to the basics of land use and urban planning, especially in the United States but also internationally, and serving as an introduction for a YSE curricular concentration in land use. Guest speakers are professionals involved in sustainable development, land conservation, smart growth, renewable energy, and climate change management.  1½ Course cr
HTBA

ENV 836a / ANTH 6841a / HIST 8160a / PLSC 7790 / SOCY 7170a, Agrarian Societies: Culture, Society, History, and Development  Louisa Lombard and Marcela Echeverri Munoz

An interdisciplinary examination of agrarian societies, contemporary and historical, Western and non-Western. Major analytical perspectives from anthropology, economics, history, political science, and environmental studies are used to develop a meaning-centered and historically grounded account of the transformations of rural society. Team-taught.  3 Course cr
W 1:30pm-3:20pm

ENV 840a / GLBL 7170, Climate Change Policy and Perspectives

This course examines the scientific, economic, legal, political, institutional, and historic underpinnings of climate change and the related policy challenge of developing the energy system needed to support a prosperous and sustainable modern society. Particular attention is given to analyzing the existing framework of treaties, law, regulations, and policy—and the incentives they have created—which have done little over the past several decades to change the world’s trajectory with regard to the build-up of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. What would a twenty-first-century policy framework that is designed to deliver a sustainable energy future and a successful response to climate change look like? How would such a framework address issues of equity? How might incentives be structured to engage the business community and deliver the innovation needed in many domains? While designed as a lecture course, class sessions are highly interactive. Self-scheduled examination.  3 Course cr
MW 1pm-2:20pm

ENV 850a, International Organizations and Conferences

This course focuses on the historic, present, and future roles of international environmental conferences. Through guest speakers, assigned readings, and discussions, students explore conferences including IUCN’s World Conservation Congress, the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity, UNFCCC’s climate change conference, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Students, along with visiting alumni and guest speakers, discuss the roles and impacts of the various conferences in international environmental decision-making and the future of international conferences in a post-COVID world. The course also assesses the potential for improved equity, justice, and inclusion in international conferences, organizations, and their secretariats. Students attending fall conferences (in person or virtually) develop work plans to be completed during the conference under the guidance of their host delegations and the instructor.  3 Course cr
MW 9am-10:20am

ENV 878a, Climate and Society: Past to Present

Seminar on the major traditions of thought and debate regarding climate, climate change, and society, drawing largely on the social sciences and humanities. Section I, overview of the course. Section II, disaster: the social origins of disastrous events; and the attribution of societal “collapse” to extreme climatic events. Section III, causality: the revelatory character of climatic perturbation; politics and the history of efforts to control weather/climate; and nineteenth–twentieth-century theories of environmental determinism. Section IV, history and culture: the ancient tradition of explaining differences among people in terms of differences in climate; and cross-cultural differences in views of climate.  Section V, knowledge: the study of folk knowledge of climate; and local views of climatic perturbation and change. Section VI, politics: knowledge, humor, and symbolism in North-South climate debates. The goal of the course is to examine the embedded historical, cultural, and political drivers of current climate change debates and discourses. This course can be applied towards Yale College distributional requirements in Social Science and Writing. The course is open to both graduate and undergraduate students. Enrollment capped.  3 Course cr
Th 1:30pm-3:20pm

ENV 884a, Industrial Ecology

Industrial ecology studies (1) the flows of materials and energy in industrial and consumer activities, (2) the effects of these flows on the environment, and (3) the influences of economic, political, regulatory, and social factors on the flow, use, and transformation of resources. The goals of the course are to define and describe industrial ecology; to demonstrate the relationships among production, consumption, sustainability, and industrial ecology in diverse settings, from firms to cities to international trade flows; to show how industrial ecology serves as a framework for the consideration of environmental and sustainability-related aspects of science, technology, and policy; and to define and describe tools, applications, and implications of industrial ecology.  3 Course cr
TTh 10:30am-11:50am

ENV 894a, Green Building: Issues and Perspectives

Our built environment shapes the planet, our communities, and each of us. Green buildings seek to minimize environmental impacts, strengthen the fabric of our cities and towns, and make our work and our homes more productive and fulfilling. This course is an applied course, exploring both the technical and the social-business-political aspects of buildings. Topics range from building science (hygrothermal  performance of building enclosures) to indoor environmental quality; from product certifications to resilience (robust buildings and communities in the face of disasters and extended service outages). The purpose of the course is to build a solid background in the processes and issues related to green buildings, equipping students with practical knowledge about the built environment. Extensive use is made of resources from BuildingGreen, Inc., one of the leading information companies supporting green building and green building professionals. The course takes a “joint-discovery” approach with substantial emphasis on research and group project work, some fieldwork, and online individual testing. There are too many topics within green building to cover in one term, so the course is broken down into two sections. The first six weeks focus on the following topics, led by the instructor and/or an expert guest lecturer: building science, materials, indoor environmental quality, rating programs and systems, resilience, systems integration. The second half of the course focuses on selected topics driven by students and their particular interest/academic focus. The class meets once a week, with the instructor available to students that same day. Enrollment limited to twenty.  3 Course cr
T 2:30pm-5:20pm

ENV 900a, Doctoral Student Seminar and Responsible Conduct of Research

This course provides the foundation for doctoral study at the School of the Environment. Students learn what it means to do scholarly research as well as become adept with philosophy of science and research methodology and proposal writing, as a basis for exploring diverse approaches to formulating and addressing research questions. Students work with their advisers to put these concepts and principles into practice to develop the basis for their dissertation research (including building bibliography, identifying and crafting research questions, formulating research hypotheses, and drafting a research proposal). Students further learn about funding opportunities and procedures for submitting grants. The course also covers professional ethics and responsible conduct of research, including ethical approaches to inquiry and measurement, data acquisition and management, authorship and publication, peer review, conflicts of interest, mentoring, collaborative research, and animal and human subjects research. Finally, the course explores ethical ways to advocate for the application of scholarly knowledge in the interest of environmental problem solving. Weekly assigned readings support concepts and issues addressed in class. Students present their embryonic research ideas in class and use feedback from the group to further develop their ideas.  3 Course cr
W 1pm-3:50pm

ENV 902a, Environmental Anthropology Colloquy

A biweekly seminar for Dove doctoral advisees and students in the combined YSE/Anthropology doctoral program. Presentation and discussion of grant proposals, dissertation prospectuses, and dissertation chapters; trial runs of conference presentations and job talks; discussion of comprehensive exams, grantsmanship, fieldwork, data analysis, writing and publishing, and the job search; and collaborative writing and publishing projects.  3 Course cr
F 1pm-4pm

ENV 951b, Strategic Environmental Communication

Strategic communication is a powerful means of achieving an organization’s mission, especially when informed by insights into human behavior and social systems. By the end of this course, students are able to develop communication strategies and apply insights from the social and behavioral sciences to improve the effectiveness of their communication campaigns. Enrollment limited to twelve.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 953b, Sustainable Business Capstone Consulting Clinic

The intended outcome of this course is to provide you with a ‘capstone’ experience; consulting to an organization in its early formative years, confronting real-life challenges at the intersections of starting-up, business strategy, and environmental sustainability; all with regular contact with the Founder/Founding team of an entrepreneurial venture started by recent alumni or current student Founders. The course is designed for you to apply tools and insights gained in this and other courses to a defined project; creating deliverables that will be useful to the entrepreneurs leading their organization. It is designed to help prepare anyone who wishes to become a consultant after graduation; though it is also intended to be useful for those that intend to engage with consultants in their careers post-Yale and may be considering becoming an entrepreneur themselves. In short, there is hopefully something in it for many of you! Enrollment by Application.  3 Course cr
TTh 1pm-2:20pm

ENV 954a, Management Plans for Protected Areas

A seminar that comprises the documentation of land use history and zoning, mapping and interpretation, and the collection and analysis of socioeconomic, biological, and physical information for the construction of management plans. Plans are constructed for private smallholders within the Quiet Corner Initiative partnership managed by the Yale School Forests. In the past, plans have been completed for the Nature Conservancy; Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations; town land trusts; city parks and woodlands of New Haven, New York, and Boston; and the Appalachian Mountain Club. Ten days fieldwork. Enrollment limited to twenty. Must also register for ENV 957, Field Skills in Land Stewardship. Prerequisite: ENV 659 or permission of the instructor.  3 Course cr
MW 1pm-2:20pm

ENV 955a or b, Seminar in Research Analysis and Communication in Forest Ecology

A seminar for students in their second year working on research projects. Students start by working through the peer-review publication process. They identify the scope and scale of the appropriate journal for their work. They then work on their projects, which comprise data and projects in applied forest ecology. Discussions involve rationale and hypothesis testing for a project, data analysis techniques, and reporting and interpretation of results. It is expected that manuscripts developed in the course are worthy of publication and that oral presentations are of a caliber for subject-area conferences and meetings. Extensive training in writing and presenting work is provided. 1 credit option is available for incoming students only. Must be taken for 3 credits to count as a capstone course. Limited to twelve.
  Prerequisite: ENV 659 or permission of the instructor.  3 Course cr
HTBA

ENV 956b, Strategies for Land Conservation

This is a professional seminar on private land conservation strategies and techniques, with particular emphasis on the legal, financial, and management tools used in the United States. The seminar is built around presentations by guest speakers from land conservation organizations. Speakers are assigned topics across the land conservation spectrum, from identification of target sites, through the acquisition process, to ongoing stewardship of the land after the deal is done. The tools used to protect land are discussed, including the basics of real estate law, conservation finance, and project/organization management. Students are required to undertake a clinical project with a local land conservation organization. Enrollment limited to twenty-five; preference to second-year students if limit reached.  3 Course cr
T 2:30pm-5:20pm

ENV 957a, Field Skills in Land Stewardship

An intensive technical and field ecology seminar that is taught in combination with ENV 954. In this course students learn field skills that contribute to the base set of information used in assessment, planning, prescription writing, and management of forest and open space. Students learn to identify plants; interpret surficial geology, soils, and hydrology; and read the land for use history. Assessments learned in a series of field exercises comprise forest health and invasive surveys, wildlife habitat evaluations, and soil surveys and wetland delineation. This culminates in understanding and developing a site classification. Lastly, students learn field inventory and sampling techniques in data collection for soils, geology, plants, and wildlife habitat.  3 Course cr
MW 1pm-2:20pm

ENV 959a, Clinic in Climate Justice and Public Health

In the course, interdisciplinary student teams carry out applied projects at the intersection of climate justice, law and public policy, and public health. Each team works with a partner organization (e.g., state agency, community organization, other nongovernmental organization) to study, design, and implement a project, typically through community-based participatory research practices. The course affords the opportunity to have a real-world impact by applying concepts and competencies learned in the classroom. This course should be of interest to graduate and professional students across the University and is open to Yale College juniors and seniors. In addition, this course is one of the options available to students to fulfill the practice requirement for the M.P.H. degree at YSPH and the capstone requirement for the M.E.M. degree at YSE. Students who plan to enroll must complete an application, which will be used to match each student with a clinic project. Check the course’s Canvas site or contact the instructor for more information. Prerequisite: EHS 547 or permission of the instructor. Not open to auditors.  3 Course cr
Th 1pm-2:50pm

ENV 962a, Public Lands and Tribal Natural Resources

This is a graduate-level course. This course has no prerequisites. Admission to the course requires an application. It is designed for students at the Yale School of the Environment, the Law School, the School of Management, and the Divinity School. The course is open to Yale College undergraduates and graduate students from elsewhere in Yale with the approval of the instructor. This course builds upon a foundation of understanding of Tribal resource management and federal Indian law, the trust duty and tribal sovereignty and focus on the depth of Tribal comanagement strategies and partnership building. The course utilizes the Bears Ears as a case study and discusses Tribal resources related topics including private philanthropy and conservation, forestry, water, multi-stakeholder activism, congressional relations, political considerations and outdoor retailers. We also investigate the relations between tribes, states, and private actors in this sector.  3 Course cr
W 9am-11:50am

ENV 966a, Sustainability Implementation: Change Management in Institutional Settings

Yale’s formal sustainability efforts are nearing the two-decade mark, with the Office of Sustainability established in 2005, but the work to make the campus more sustainable has been going on far longer. From sending food scraps to pig farmers in the 1800s, to responding to energy crises and crashes with infrastructure changes, to establishing early recycling programs in the 1980s, the University’s work has deep roots, if not always the comprehensive impact some would desire. This YSE Capstone course provides students with the opportunity to learn about this long history of effort to improve the University’s sustainability and engage in the real act of change management in current efforts on campus. Exploring change management theory and learning from many on campus experts, students work in groups, bringing a diversity of experiences and knowledge to the table to tackle real and wicked problems in our midst. In taking on these timely projects, students have the opportunity to tangibly impact Yale’s ongoing efforts to fully embrace sustainable operations while experiencing the friction, joy, disappointment, learning, and challenge that are all part of working to make real change happen.  3 Course cr
Th 9am-11:50am

ENV 971b, Land Use Clinic

The Land Use Clinic gives students the opportunity to explore a variety of specific land use topics that are of current concern and relevance to the field, to the curriculum, and to society, including renewable energy, natural resources, rural-based land uses, watershed management, agriculture, and sustainable urban planning. In our rapidly changing political environment, strategies that focus on the local level are increasingly more important to achieving our global sustainability goals. Students work with the clinic professor and practitioners in the field to develop papers, research memoranda, and publications on a selected topic. The clinic professor and guest speakers conduct skill-based workshops focused on the tools and techniques needed to pursue a career in community land use planning. Some synchronized classes are held online to accommodate guest speakers around the country and outside of the U.S. The clinic includes a field trip over spring break and is available by application only.  3 Course cr
HTBA

ENV 975b, Field Craft: Writing Society, Science, and Nature

This course develops students' skills in writing and publishing, with a mandatory field trip at its core. Students complete a self-driven writing project aimed at publication, with work both before and after the trip. The course welcomes projects from any field, including but not limited to social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. The course fulfills the M.E.M. capstone but is open to all students. In prior years, students have published scholarly journals articles, op-eds in reputable news outlets (e.g. NYT in 2024), thesis chapters, book manuscripts, documentaries, podcasts, and creative non-fiction essays. The course emphasizes narrative craft for both scholarly and general public writing.  3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 979b, Climate Solutions Capstone: Subnational Actors

Recent scientific reports from the IPCC and the US National Climate Assessment on the impacts of global warming provide a stark warning of the future our planet faces unless we make dramatic and meaningful greenhouse gas reductions by 2030—approximately 50 percent reductions below 2010 levels. The scale and scope of the challenge will require concerted effort from across all parts of civil society. This client-based capstone course will explore how states, cities, companies, and/or institutions can meaningfully engage in decarbonization to address the climate crisis. Students work in teams with clients from the government, private, non-profit, and academic sectors. Clients are updated every year, but recent representative clients have included the State of Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, the City of Ithaca, the U.S. Climate Alliance, Sustainable CT, Yale University, a clean energy angel investor fund, and similar organizations. Students analyze, model, and/or implement decarbonization policies and programs in key sectors, including electricity, buildings, transportation, materials management, and/or carbon capture and sequestration. The course starts with introductory sessions on the climate crisis, as well as sessions on teamwork and consulting skills. Most classes are split between a seminar-style discussion led by one of our client/hosts on their innovative subnational decarbonization activities, and time for students to work on their projects, with opportunities for feedback and guidance from the instructor and each other. At the end of the term, the students present their findings and recommendations to their client/hosts and each other.    3 Course cr
9am-12:30pm

ENV 982b, Green Engineering and Sustainable Design  Julie Zimmerman

Study of green engineering, focusing on key approaches to advancing sustainability through engineering design. Topics include current design, manufacturing, and disposal processes; toxicity and benign alternatives; policy implications; pollution prevention and source reduction; separations and disassembly; material and energy efficiencies and flows; systems analysis; biomimicry; and life cycle design, management, and analysis.  3 Course cr
MW 1pm-2:15pm

ENV 001a, Self to System

Students work to gain the tools needed to thoughtfully design and maximize an impactful path through YSE, Yale University, and to their careers and lives beyond Yale. Students work through their own personal motivations and variety of lived experience. This MOD is designed to help students appreciate themselves and those around them and prepare them to maximize their time at YSE.  0 Course cr
HTBA

ENV 002a, Science to Solutions

Students work to understand different strategies for knowing how to collect primary data; how to evaluate evidence; how to generate, visualize, and communicate alternative solutions; and how to iterate, monitor, and adaptively manage solutions. Students then opt into one of two pathways: A New Haven experience or Yale-Myers Forest experience.  0 Course cr
HTBA