{"id":227115,"date":"2023-06-14T13:10:41","date_gmt":"2023-06-14T17:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/?page_id=227115"},"modified":"2025-08-04T13:58:39","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T17:58:39","slug":"climate-change-and-health","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/education\/degrees-and-programs\/master-of-public-health-programs\/certificates\/mph-context-certificates\/climate-change-and-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate Change and Health"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>As part of Boston University\u2019s on-campus <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/education\/degrees-and-programs\/master-of-public-health-programs\/\">Master of Public Health (MPH) degree<\/a>, you have the option to add a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/education\/degrees-and-programs\/master-of-public-health-programs\/certificates\/mph-context-certificates\/\">Context Certificate<\/a> to your functional area of concentration, deepening your knowledge in an area or population of greatest interest to you.<\/h4>\n<h3>Climate Change and Health Context Certificate<\/h3>\n<p>Climate change\u2014impacting water supply, air, food, and infectious\/vector-borne diseases\u2014has been identified as 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.<\/p>\n<p>This 12-credit context certificate provides students 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 and communication for climate mitigation and adaptation.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Upon graduation, students will be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify the primary exposures relevant to climate change and its impacts on human health.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Discuss key public health activities for climate change\u2013related exposures, including extreme heat, wildfires, drought, storms, and other extreme weather events; and infectious and vector-borne diseases.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Critically assess the primary communications regarding climate and health, including academic literature, public reports and white papers, and news media.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Sample Course Titles<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Climate Change and Public Health<\/li>\n<li>Climate Change and Health Equity<\/li>\n<li>Incorporating Health to Design Healthy and Sustainable Climate Solutions<\/li>\n<li>Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Public Health<\/li>\n<li>Risk Assessment Methods<\/li>\n<li>Managing Disasters and Complex Humanitarian Emergencies<\/li>\n<li>Public Health Response to Emergencies in the United States<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Sample Practicum<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0Developed public-facing material, including infographics, in collaboration with the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) about wildfire impacts on pregnant persons.<\/li>\n<li>Assisted HEET, a local non-profit, in building an equitable rollout strategy for geothermal networks in the greater Boston area.<\/li>\n<li>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 \u201cHey Mama!\u201d, the BMC pregnancy guidance webpage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/sph\/programs\/mph\/climate-change-and-health\/\" class=\"button btn-arrow\" target=\"_blank\" >View the BU Bulletin for Course Requirements<\/a>\n<h3>Certificate Director<\/h3>\n<div class=\"row\"><\/p>\n<p><div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n\n\t<div class=\"profile-listing-container single-profile-format\">\n\t\t<ul class=\"profile-listing profile-format-single\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"sph-profile-basic-card\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/profile\/jonathan-buonocore\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sph-profile-basic-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sph-profile-basic-image\"><figure class=\"profile-photo profile-single-photo\"><img width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2022\/08\/Jonathan-Buonocore-1-636x636.jpg\" alt=\"Jonathan Buonocore\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sph-profile-basic-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sph-profile-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sph-profile-name\" data-name=\"Jonathan J Buonocore\"><span class=\"sph-profile-name-full\">Jonathan J Buonocore<\/span>, <span class=\"sph-profile-name-degrees\"> SCD<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h6 class=\"sph-profile-main-position\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sph-profile-main-position\"><span class=\"sph-profile-position-title\"> Assistant Professor<\/span><span class=\"sph-profile-position-department\"><span>, <\/span>Environmental Health<\/span> <span class=\"sph-profile-position-institution\"> <span>- <\/span>Boston University School of Public Health<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div><!--\/.profile-listing-->\n\n<br \/>\n<\/div><div class=\"col-sm-6\">\u201cClimate 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.\u201d<\/div><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<h3>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h3>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">How many credits do I need for the CCH Certificate, and what course options do I have (CCH Roadmap)?<\/h6><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<p>The CCH Certificate is a 12-credit context certificate.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/08\/MPH-Climate-Change-and-Health-Context-Certificate-Roadmap_Fall-2025-Spring-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MPH Climate Change and Health Certificate Roadmap Fall 2025 &amp; Spring 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/sph\/files\/2024\/09\/MPH-Climate-Change-and-Health-Certificate-Roadmap_Fall-2024-Spring-2025_v3.pdf\">MPH Climate Change and Health Certificate Roadmap Fall 2024 &amp; Spring 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/sph\/files\/2024\/08\/MPH-Climate-Change-and-Health-Certificate-Roadmap_Fall-2023_final-2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MPH Climate Change and Health Context Certificate Roadmap, Matriculation Year: Fall 2023 and Spring 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The CCH Certificate Roadmap describes the requirements of the Climate Change and Health Certificate, as well as places these requirements in the context of the overall MPH program requirements. <em>Each Roadmap is linked to a specific matriculation year, so please reference the Roadmap for the semester\/year you matriculated.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>The second page of the Roadmap includes information about when courses in the certificate program are typically offered. Please note that we cannot guarantee that a specific course will run during a specific semester. Also, this Roadmap will not be updated if courses are cancelled, so be sure to check the MyBU Student Portal for course availability information.<\/li>\n<li>Students that matriculated previous to Fall 2023 should access the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/students\/advising-and-registration\/program-requirements\/\">Bulletin Archives<\/a> for the year they matriculated to view their certificate requirements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">When are courses in the certificate typically offered?<\/h6><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>See the MPH Climate Change and Health Context Certificate Roadmap for your matriculation year to find information about when courses are typically offered.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/08\/MPH-Climate-Change-and-Health-Context-Certificate-Roadmap_Fall-2025-Spring-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MPH Climate Change and Health Certificate Roadmap Fall 2025 &amp; Spring 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/sph\/files\/2024\/09\/MPH-Climate-Change-and-Health-Certificate-Roadmap_Fall-2024-Spring-2025_v3.pdf\">MPH Climate Change and Health Certificate Roadmap Fall 2024 &amp; Spring 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/sph\/files\/2024\/08\/MPH-Climate-Change-and-Health-Certificate-Roadmap_Fall-2023_final-2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MPH Climate Change and Health Context Certificate Roadmap, Matriculation Year: Fall 2023 and Spring 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Which course Bulletin should I use if I matriculated several years prior?<\/h6><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">Students should access the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/bulletin\/archive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BU Bulletin Archive<\/a> for the year they matriculated to view their program and certificate requirements.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">I\u2019m interested in climate and health but am not sure which course(s) to take. What are the key differences between EH720, EH722, and EH727?<\/h6><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>EH720<\/strong> \u2013 Climate Change and Public Health largely focuses on the mechanisms through which climate change affects health. Students will learn details of basic climate science, and how the main hazards of climate change can affect health, such as sea level rise, wildfires, and extreme heat. Students will also learn strategies for how societies can adapt to climate change and mitigate climate change.<\/p>\n<p><strong>EH 722<\/strong> \u2013 Climate Change and Health Equity largely focuses on how climate change can exacerbate existing inequities in health, how and why certain populations are more vulnerable to health impacts due to climate change, and how these health inequities and impacts of climate change can be reduced.<\/p>\n<p><strong>EH 727<\/strong> \u2013 Incorporating Health to Design Healthy and Sustainable Climate Solutions largely focuses on how to design strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and otherwise mitigate climate change in a way that is both healthy and sustainable. Students will learn how to evaluate health benefits of climate policies and how other climate mitigation strategies can benefit health through improving air quality and other pathways.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">What other certificates pair well with the CCH context certificate?<\/h6><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>There is the potential for 4 credits overlap between certificates. Please reach out to the Academic Program Administrator (Christine Copacino, <a href=\"mailto:copacino@bu.edu\">copacino@bu.edu<\/a>) for more details on how you might be able to add the CCH certificate to your program of study.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">How do I stay in the know about CCH Certificate activities and announcements?<\/h6><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/climateandhealth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BUSPH Center for Climate and Health<\/a> also has a monthly newsletter. <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSesDqCVaMzSDJoYguRIudt3iZdcBmjcFwxWnaAhU5BrVKO10Q\/viewform\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fill out this form<\/a> to be added to the email list.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">How else can I get involved in climate and health on campus?<\/h6><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><span>There are many activities happening at the intersection of climate change and health at BUSPH and across the wider BU campuses! The <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/climateandhealth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BUSPH Center for Climate and Health<\/a> is a hub of ongoing research and community building activities and our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.climatehealthcafe.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CAF\u00c9 Research Coordinating Center<\/a> often hires students for practica and internships. Additionally, the Department of Environmental Health hosts the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/departments\/environmental-health\/ehseminars\/\">Gijs van Seventer Environmental Health Seminar<\/a> series, held weekly on Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semesters, from 1-1:50pm.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Who can I talk to if I have more questions about the Climate Change and Health certificate?<\/h6><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>There are a few mechanisms by which to receive support in the certificate, including the following:<\/p>\n<p>The Academic Program Administrator for the CCH Certificate is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/profile\/christine-copacino\/\">Christine Copacino<\/a>, MEd. She is available to help you plan your courses in accordance with degree requirements, understand the School\u2019s 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 (<a href=\"mailto:copacino@bu.edu\">copacino@bu.edu<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Christine also hosts weekly virtual office hours, 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.<\/p>\n<p>Certificate Director<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/profile\/jonathan-buonocore\/\">Jonathan J Buonocore<\/a>, ScD<\/p>\n<p>Virtual office hours with the Certificate Director, Jonathan Buonocore, are available by appointment. You can reach him via email (<a href=\"mailto:jjbuono@bu.edu\">jjbuono@bu.edu<\/a>).<\/p>\n<a href=\"\/sph\/students\/advising-and-registration\/registrar-contact\/\" class=\"button btn-arrow\" >Registrar<\/a>\n<p><a href=\"\/sph\/students\/student-services\/graduate-student-life-team\/\" class=\"button btn-arrow\" >Graduate Student Life<\/a><br \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<h4>For more information about MPH degree requirements and admissions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/admissions\/request-information\/\">request information to learn more<\/a>.<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As part of Boston University\u2019s 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\u2014impacting water supply, air, food, and infectious\/vector-borne diseases\u2014has [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8472,"featured_media":0,"parent":239263,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"bu-publication":[],"profile_tax":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/227115"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8472"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=227115"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/227115\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":256450,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/227115\/revisions\/256450"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/239263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=227115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=227115"},{"taxonomy":"profile_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/profile_tax?post=227115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}