Climate Change and Health.
As part of Boston University’s on-campus Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, you have the option to add a Context Certificate to your functional area of concentration, deepening your knowledge in an area or population of greatest interest to you.
Climate Change and Health Context Certificate
Climate change will dramatically impact water supply, air, food, and infectious/vector-borne diseases, water pollution, and risk of natural disaster and extreme weather. The Lancet Commissions states that climate change is one of the biggest global health threats of the 21st century. Health effects of climate change may occur directly, (due to changes in temperature, precipitation, and/or the occurrence of tropical cyclones, heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires,) or indirectly, (through social responses to climate change, such as displacement of populations following hurricanes and associated flooding or prolonged drought). Additionally, climate change is an environmental justice issue, both because of disproportionate exposures to climate change in lower-income communities and communities of color and because those most impacted are least likely to contribute to or benefit from the anthropogenic activities that lead to a changing climate.
This 12-credit context certificate provides students with professional, career-oriented tools for understanding and evaluating the mechanisms and health effects of climate change, the risks associated with exposure, and the importance of equitable solutions and communication for climate mitigation and adaptation.
Students will analyze primary environmental data, learn methods for assessing exposure to climate hazards, and be introduced to scholars and residents from disproportionately impacted communities and important concepts of climate mitigation and adaptation.
Upon graduation, students will be able to:
- Identify the primary exposures relevant to climate change and its impacts on human health.
- Utilize appropriate methodologies to study climate change, including timescale and etiology of exposure response, interventions to reduce health impacts of climate and their effectiveness, and epidemiologic study designs specific to climate and health.
- Discuss key public health activities for climate change–related exposures, including extreme heat, wildfires, drought, storms, and other extreme weather events; and infectious and vector-borne diseases.
- Identify the major causes of health disparities associated with climate change exposures and health outcomes and the interactive nature of systemic issues of race and socioeconomic status with climate exposures.
- Critically assess the primary communications regarding climate and health, including academic literature, public reports and white papers, and news media.
Sample Course Titles
- Climate Change and Public Health
- Incorporating Health to Design Healthy and Sustainable Climate Solutions
- Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Public Health
- Risk Assessment Methods
- Managing Disasters and Complex Humanitarian Emergencies
- Public Health Response to Emergencies in the United States
Sample Practicum
- Developed public-facing material, including infographics, in collaboration with the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) about wildfire impacts on pregnant persons.
- Assisted HEET, a local non-profit, in building an equitable rollout strategy for geothermal networks in the greater Boston area.
- Performed data analysis and put together communications materials to help a non-profit advocate for healthy electricity generation rollout.
- Presented on findings related to heat exposure and fertility, particularly the relationship between increased heat and lower sperm motility, using data from PRESTO. The student also worked on a systematic review on heat and fertility and worked in collaboration with the BMC OBGYN Department to include information about heat exposure on “Hey Mama!”, the BMC pregnancy guidance webpage.
View the BU Bulletin for Course Requirements
Certificate Director
“Climate change is one of the biggest global health threats of the 21st century. Mitigation of and adaptation to climate change will require solutions that span disciplines, and practitioners that can bring together skills from across the spectrum of public health work. This is such an exciting time to be a part of the Climate Change and Health community at BUSPH. Students who complete this certificate will be prepared with state-of-the-art practice tools for understanding and evaluating the mechanisms and health effects of climate change, the risks associated with exposure, and the importance of equitable solutions.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How many credits do I need for the CCH Certificate, and what course options do I have (CCH Roadmap)?
When are courses in the certificate typically offered?
Which Bulletin should I use if I matriculated several years prior?
As the document of authority for all students, the Bulletin is your guide to the departments, programs, policies, and courses at BU. Requirements listed here take precedence over information found elsewhere.
Your Bulletin is linked to the year that you matriculated into the MPH program. Find any previous academic year’s Bulletin in the BU archive.
What other certificates pair well with the CCH context certificate?
The CCH certificate is intended to be fully flexible and accommodate students from all functional certificates to join. For example, students in Epidemiology and Biostatistics may be interested in applying their analytical skills to the pressing challenge of climate change. Given the global importance of climate change and the need to evaluate climate intervention strategies, the CCH certificate pairs well with the Global Health Program Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation functional certificate. Similarly, as many marginalized communities are facing the effects of climate change with the need to empower those communities to affect change, the Community Assessment, Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation functional certificate pairs well with the CCH certificate. Environmental Health and Justice and CCH have multiple analytical and application areas in common, and there are multiple course pathways that students can follow to meet the requirements of both certificates.
There is the potential for 4 credits overlap between certificates.
Specifically in the 42-credit MPH program (for those that matriculated in Summer 2026 and later only), it is helpful for your functional and context certificates to have 2-4 credits of overlap. If your functional and context certificates do not have 2-4 credits of overlap, you may need more than 42 credits to complete the degree.
Please reach out to the Academic Program Administrator (Christine Copacino, copacino@bu.edu) for more details on how you might be able to add the CCH certificate to your program of study.
How do I stay in the know about CCH Certificate activities and announcements?
The Department of Environmental Health issues a weekly newsletter, the EH Blast, including information pertaining to CCH such as announcements, upcoming events, certificate information, job and practicum opportunities, and much more. Declared students will receive this email.
The BUSPH Center for Climate and Health also has a monthly newsletter. Fill out this form to be added to the email list.
How else can I get involved in climate and health on campus?
There are many activities happening at the intersection of climate change and health at BUSPH and across the wider BU campuses! The BUSPH Center for Climate and Health is a hub of ongoing research and community building activities and our CAFÉ Research Coordinating Center often hires students for practica and internships. Additionally, the Department of Environmental Health hosts the Gijs van Seventer Environmental Health Seminar series, held weekly on Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semesters, from 1-1:50pm, where climate and health is a frequent topic of discussion.
Who can I talk to if I have more questions about the Climate Change and Health certificate?
There are a few mechanisms by which to receive support in the certificate, including the following:
The Academic Program Administrator for the CCH Certificate is Christine Copacino, MEd. She is available to help you plan your courses in accordance with degree requirements, understand the School’s educational policies and procedures, and connect to resources within BUSPH. Please reach out to her with any questions about courses, credit requirements, faculty, and programming within this certificate (copacino@bu.edu).
Christine also hosts virtual office hours weekly, typically on Thursdays from 1-2pm. Please reach out to Christine for the Zoom link, or to schedule an appointment if you are unable to make this time.
Certificate Director
Jonathan J Buonocore, ScD
Virtual office hours with the Professor Buonocore, are available by appointment. You can reach him via email (jjbuono@bu.edu).
Registrar
Graduate Student Life
For more information about MPH degree requirements and admissions, request information to learn more.
