Training

Social Change and Climate Change. A course offering in the Master’s in Public Health program at GWU, this course introduces students to the social dimensions of climate change, offering students an opportunity to become well-versed in climate drivers and mitigation; impacts, vulnerability and adaptation; and communication and social change. We explore how psychological, social structural, normative, institutional, and behavioral factors function in these domains, seeing how they influence the causes of, consequences of, and solutions for climate change. Synchronous sessions are spent engaging in planned group exercises and group presentations. Additionally, we dig deeply into the readings, to gain deepl knowledge of the science base both for what climate change is as well as how human societies can most effectively act to address it.

 

Course Learning Objectives. Upon completion of the course, students are be able to:
  • Describe the health impacts of climate change
  • Outline the domestic and international policies on climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Identify disparities in who is causing, suffering from, and responding to climate change
  • Discuss the economic, social, and political factors shaping action on climate change
  • Illustrate human perceptions of and psychological coping with climate change
  • Communicate about climate change issues to multiple audiences with evidence-based strategies