What Is Civic Science Communication?
Civic Science Communication goes beyond explaining research. It’s about building genuine two-way relationships between science and society, helping scientists, communicators, policymakers, journalists, and communities work together around scientific issues and evidence-based decisions.
That means making research accessible, encouraging public participation, and ensuring that the people most affected by scientific issues have a voice in the conversation.
This certificate was designed with the Practice and Science of Civic Science Advisory Committee and built around five pillars: scaffolding for learning and impact; understanding science in context; designing for equity and inclusion; communicating for the future, and leading for systems change.
Who should enroll
The Graduate Certificate in Civic Science Communication is a four-course (16-credit), 100% online certificate program for individuals with a bachelor’s degree. It’s designed for people who already have expertise and want to communicate it more effectively.
Graduate students — Add practical communication and public engagement skills to your academic training before you enter the field.
Researchers and scientists — Learn to get your work beyond academic journals and into policy rooms, newsrooms, and public conversations.
Journalists and science writers — Deepen your understanding of science communication theory and sharpen your storytelling toolkit.
Nonprofit and government professionals — Develop strategies for communicating evidence and advancing science-informed decisions.
Anyone working at the intersection of science and society — If you need to communicate evidence to people who aren’t scientists, this program was designed for you.
Learn more in this video from Professor Fanuel Mundi (civic science scholar-journalist) and COM Dean Mariette DiChristina.
What Will You Learn?
The Graduate Certificate in Civic Science Communication covers the full journey from research to public engagement. You’ll build skills in storytelling, audience engagement, advocacy, digital communication, and community-centered communication strategies.
The program consists of four 7-week online courses in an asynchronous format that allows you to learn on your own schedule. Each course includes one live, synchronous group experience.
Once you complete these courses, you’ll receive a Boston University Graduate Certificate recognizing your specialized training.
Required Courses (4 courses in 7-week modules; up to 2 courses per semester):
How to prepare and share scientific information across journalistic, promotional, and persuasive formats, for lay audiences, policymakers, and other scientists. You’ll work with written, visual, and multimedia elements and leave with a portfolio of science communication pieces. This course gives program participants experience in preparing information to engage and connect with multiple audiences, including both journalistic and promotional/persuasive communication. 4 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the impact of journalistic and persuasive stories using written, visual, and multimedia elements.
- Share stories with a variety of audiences, cognizant of the complexities of the lived and learned experiences of those audiences.
- Gain experience in crafting science-based stories for promotional communication, including public relations and advertising that may help foster engagement and collaboration with lay populations, policy makers, and other scientists.
This course looks at how humans perceive information and, in turn, how best to actively engage those audiences. A heavy focus will be placed on interpersonal and mass communication theories, evidence, and applications, including examples of effective campaigns from the areas of health, risk, and science communication. 4 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand and be able to craft messages based on human communication theory and assessing evidence.
- Craft engagement strategies and messaging for a variety of audiences based on the particular nuances of the group.
- Learn how to ethically engage with diverse audiences to understand their needs.
- Learn to create dialogic, inclusive campaigns that not only inform, but also effectively change attitudes and activate behaviors.
- Gain a sense of how decisions are made so that they may influence at the right level and time with the right communication strategies.
We are surrounded by raw data from both primary and secondary sources. This course will focus on using this data to best share information with various audiences. A secondary component of this course will focus on making scientific information consumable by non-scientific audiences. 4 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Gain experience in identifying sources of data that are publicly available and will be able to use those data in conjunction with their own to be able to effectively communicate scientific ideas to a variety of audiences.
- Effectively present data in written, oral, and infographic form in ways that audiences are able to understand.
- Gain an understanding of the limitations of publicly available data, particularly in how historically excluded and marginalized communities’ voices are often missing from such data.
- Gain experience in transforming technical and scientific writing/material to formats that are widely understood by non-scientific audiences.
Advocacy today is much more than just disseminating information. It involves the ability to collaborate with and persuade journalists, various publics, and policymakers to make informed, fact-based decisions and changes to behavior. Case studies and discussions in communication management and advocacy leadership will be a significant part of the course. Participants will gain practical experience in media training and engagement, public presentation (in-person, virtual, and mediated), and reciprocal communication. 4 credits.
Learning Outcomes
- Gain experience in working with and through media to share information.
- Gain knowledge of issues in communication management and advocacy leadership, including counter-advocacy efforts.
- Gain practical experience in engaging community members in civic discussions and leading for systems change.
- Learn how to engage the media, policy makers, and community members in reciprocal communication about their work and work collaboratively with these groups to advance scientific knowledge
This completely changed my understanding of science communication, and made me deeply aware of the storytelling power of science, the importance of understanding audiences, and the critical role of digital tools. Narrative structure is essential – combining personal stories and real cases moves people in ways that simply piling on data doesn’t.
Certificate Student
Building Trust Through Civic Science
A movement has been building in science for about a decade. It centers on getting scientists out of their labs…
How the program works
Fully online and asynchronous — all four courses are delivered online in 7-week modules. No fixed class times. You set your schedule. This flexible format is designed for working professionals, graduate students, researchers, and communicators balancing coursework with other responsibilities.
Two semesters to complete – take up to two courses per semester across fall, spring, and summer. Courses can be taken in any order.
One live session per course — each course includes one synchronous group experience.
Enroll year-round — applications are accepted on a rolling basis. We recommend applying at least two weeks before your preferred course start date.
Tuition: $5,000 per course ($1,250 per credit), plus a $60 student services fee. Current BU graduate students (who pay block tuition – e.g. not by the course) pay no additional tuition.
Take individual courses — not ready for the full certificate? You can enroll in individual courses as a non-degree student.
Beyond the courses
You’ll gain more than just course credits. Throughout the program, you’ll have the chance to connect with researchers, journalists, science communicators, policymakers, and fellow students through optional events and professional development opportunities.
Cohort mixers and networking events — optional in-person and online gatherings with fellow students, faculty, and professionals in the civic science communication field.
Fireside chats with Civic Science Fellows — intimate conversations with experts in the field, covering career paths, current challenges, and the future of science communication.
SciCommers Mentor Chat Series — one-on-one and small-group virtual sessions with experienced science communicators through BU’s SciCommers program.
COM Science Communication Lecture Series — guest speakers from academia, journalism, and policy, plus workshops in media training, digital storytelling, and public speaking.
I loved how even though the course was online, we were able to interact with each other on the discussion topics. The different insights that my peers had helped me open my eyes towards perspectives and issues I otherwise would have missed.
Certificate student
How to apply
Ready to get started? Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and students may begin in fall, spring, or summer.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree (any field)
- No GRE required
- No letters of recommendation required
Application materials:
- Online application
- Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (must show bachelor’s degree conferral)
- Statement of purpose (500 to 750 words): outline your interest in civic science communication, your qualifications and motivations for pursuing this certificate, relevant experience (if any), career goals, and how you plan to use the skills you’ll develop.
Questions? Contact Dr. Amml Hussein at amml@bu.edu or COM Graduate Affairs at comgrad@bu.edu.
Option to enroll as a non-degree student: If you’re not ready to commit to the full certificate program, you can take individual courses as a non-degree student.
Common questions about the Graduate Certificate in Civic Science Communication
Do I need a science background to apply?
No. The program is designed for communicators, journalists, researchers, policymakers, and professionals from any field who work with scientific information. A bachelor’s degree is the only prerequisite.
How long does the program take?
Most students complete the certificate in two semesters – four courses across fall and spring, or spread across fall, spring, and summer. You can take up to two courses per semester.
Can I take individual courses without enrolling in the full certificate?
Yes. Individual courses are available to non-degree students. Contact COM Graduate Affairs for details (comgrad@bu.edu).
Is this program fully online?
Yes — all coursework is asynchronous and online. Each course includes one live synchronous session.
What does “civic” science communication mean?
It’s the distinction between simply explaining science and actively engaging communities in it. Civic science communication emphasizes equity, inclusion, and genuine dialogue – not just one-way information transfer. It treats communities as participants in scientific decision-making, not just audiences for scientific results.
What careers can this certificate support?
This certificate is designed for professionals who communicate scientific information in their work. Graduates may apply these skills in science communication, public engagement, science journalism, research communications, nonprofit advocacy, health communication, environmental communication, public affairs, and policy communication roles.
Also worth exploring
- MS in Journalism: For students who want to make science communication their primary career through journalism, reporting, and multimedia storytelling.
- MS in Strategic Integrated Communication (Online): A fully online master’s degree for working professionals in communications, marketing, and public relations.
- MS in Public Relations: For students focused on media relations, crisis communication, and advocacy.