
People, Equity, and the Environment Specialization
The purpose of this specialization is to give today's professional environmental managers a range of theoretical, conceptual, and methodological skills necessary for understanding how to critique, improve and implement models of environmental management that address historically engrained challenges.
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For the reasons above, this specialization expands beyond ahistorical and technical training by focusing students on historical processes, power dynamics and changing societal values. We believe that any solution to global environmental problems must consider issues of social equity and human well-being, in addition to environmental sustainability.
Note that a capstone course used to fulfill the MEM capstone requirement cannot also be used toward fulfilling an MEM Specialization requirement; a capstone course taken once cannot be used to fulfill multiple requirements. Learn more about YSE capstone courses by visiting the MEM Capstone page.
Program Courses
Core
Two core courses required. Choose one course from Group A and one course from Group B.
Those students who matriculated to the program prior to Fall 2021 may follow the requirement for their entering class of 2 required core courses: ENV 826 & ENV 759.
Group A
Course | Fall 2022 | Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 | Spring 2024 |
ENV 759 Power, Knowledge, and the Environment: Social Science |
Dove M 1:00-3:50 |
Dove | ||
ENV 839 Power in Conservation |
Carpenter Tu 1:00-3:50 |
Carpenter |
Group B
Course | Fall 2022 | Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 | Spring 2024 |
ENV 631 Poverty, Environment and Inequality |
Taylor | |||
ENV 642 Environmental Justice/Climate Justice |
Torres Tu,Th 4:00-5:20 |
Torres |
Elective
Students must take 3 courses from the "Social Sciences and Humanities" and at least 1 course from the "Ecological Sciences"
Social Science Perspectives
Humanities: History, Religion and Ethics
Course | Fall 2022 | Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 | Spring 2024 |
ENV 637 A Toolkit for Communicating Environmental Science |
Mooney M 9:00-11:50 |
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ENV 651 Seminar in the Biosphere: History, Development, and Consequences |
Berlyn Tu,Th 1:00-2:20 |
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ENV 746 Conservation Ethics |
Schmitz M,W 9:00-10:20 |
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ENV 775 Federal Indian Law |
Torres Tu,Th 2:10-3:35 |
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ENV 959 Clinic in Climate Justice, Climate Policy, the Law, and Public Health |
Bozzi Th 1:00-2:50 |
Bozzi Tu 3:00-4:50 |
Faculty Tentative |
Tentative |
ENV 970 Environmental Protection Clinic Policy and Advocacy (Follows Law School Calendar) |
Kysar Tu 12:10-2:00 |
Kysar Tu 12:10-2:00 |
Kysar | Kysar |
Ecological and Conservation Science
Course | Fall 2022 | Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 | Spring 2024 |
ENV 563 Yale Forest Forum Series: What Makes a High-Quality Forest Carbon Credit? |
Bradford Th 11:30-12:50 |
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ENV 602 Ecosystems and Landscapes |
Bradford Tu,Th 1:00-2:20 |
Bradford | ||
ENV 630 The Physical Science of Climate Change |
Raymond Tu,Th 10:30-11:50 |
Raymond | ||
ENV 659 The Practice of Silviculture: Principles in Applied Forest Ecology (Friday field trips) |
Ashton M,W 8:30-10:20 |
Tentative | ||
ENV 660 Forest Ecology & Dynamics |
Duguid Tu,Th 9:00-10:15 |
Duguid | ||
ENV 677 Ecological Restoration |
Duguid | |||
ENV 715 Case Studies in Water Management: Rural-Urban Linkages |
Anisfeld W 1:00-3:50 |
Anisfeld | ||
ENV 725 Water, Energy, and Food Interconnections in a Changing Climate |
Saiers M,W 2:30-3:50 |

Learning Community
There is a corresponding “Learning Community” for each specialization, where anyone interested in the topic can find related news, spotlights, colleagues, and events.
Faculty Coordinator
