About the Online Strategic Climate Communication Advanced Certificate
Despite the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change, public understanding and action are often hindered by misinformation, political polarization, and complex media environments. The Advanced Certificate in Strategic Climate Communication equips students with the scientific knowledge and applied communication skills needed to bridge this gap by effectively conveying climate science and policy implications to diverse audiences. The program integrates foundational climate science with a range of communication methods, culminating in a capstone project that produces a real-world, public-facing deliverable.
Coursework provides a grounding in climate systems and environmental change, while communication courses build skills in storytelling, journalism, policy writing, digital culture, and leadership dialogue. This advanced certificate consists of six courses, including a required capstone course that synthesizes these elements through a substantive communication project tailored to a specific audience.
Strategic Climate Communication Advanced Certificate Requirements
- The Advanced Certificate in Strategic Climate Communication is a 6-course, 6 c.u.* credit program of study taught by University of Pennsylvania faculty.
- To earn a certificate, students complete the six courses offered, including a required capstone course.
Flexible Course Schedule and Tuition
Penn LPS Online courses in the Advanced Certificate in Strategic Climate Communication are offered in accelerated 8-week terms and full terms. Courses in the online certificate program are largely asynchronous with some optional synchronous sessions to be scheduled by the instructors. All Penn LPS Online courses are taught at the undergraduate level by Penn instructors.
You have the option to enroll in individual courses without committing to the entire online certificate, enjoying the flexibility and expertise offered by Penn LPS Online to suit your schedule and interests. Visit the Cost of Attendance page for course tuition and fee rates.
Penn LPS Online also offers a 4-course Certificate in Climate Science.
The Advanced Certificate in Strategic Climate Communication prepares you to:
- Build strong foundational knowledge of climate and environmental science through scientifically accurate understanding of climate systems, environmental processes, climate change drivers, and the evidence underlying scientific consensus
- Develop the ability to communicate complex climate information clearly and effectively by translating scientific concepts into accessible, compelling messages tailored to diverse audiences, including the public, policymakers, and professionals
- Strengthen skills for identifying and countering misinformation and disinformation by recognizing inaccurate or misleading climate content and responding with evidence-based strategies grounded in communication research and scientific literacy
- Cultivate proficiency in multiple communication formats and media through creating climate communication products using written, visual, oral, and digital modalities—including data storytelling, journalism, presentations, social media, and multimedia formats
- Provide applied, real-world experience through a culminating capstone project, enabling students to synthesize scientific understanding and communication strategy by designing and producing a substantive public-facing project that can support academic, professional, or civic engagement goals
Online Strategic Climate Communication Courses
Certificate students who complete six of the online courses listed below, including CLCH 4100: Climate Communication Capstone, earn an Advanced Certificate in Strategic Climate Communication.
Science courses (choose 3)
- CLCH 1600: Oceanography
- CLCH 2100: Introduction to Disaster Management
- CLCH 2200: Atmospheric Science
- CLCH 2300: Climate Change
- CLCH 3100: Global Environmental Issues
Communication courses (choose 2)
- PROW 2000: Writing with Data
- PROW 2010: Designing Effective Presentations
- PROW 2030: Writing for Public Audiences: The Op-Ed and the White Paper
- PROW 3010: The Power of Storytelling
- PROW 4000: Writing for Social Media
- CRWR 3700: Journalism Workshop
- DIGC 1200: Digital Literacy and Cultural Change
- DIGC 3200: Designing Critical Futures
- DIGC 3600: Applications of Digital Culture
- LEAD 1010: Leadership Theory, Practice, and Purpose
- DISG 1000: Centering Dialogue as a Leadership Strategy
Final capstone course (required to earn certificate)
- CLCH 4100: Climate Communication Capstone
Courses are subject to change.
Meet the Faculty
- Faculty Director, Penn LPS Online Advanced Certificate in Strategic Climate Communication
- Presidential Distinguished Professor of Earth and Environmental Science and Director of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media (PCSSM)
Careers Related to Strategic Climate Communication
The Advanced Certificate in Strategic Climate Communication is designed for adult learners and early- to mid-career professionals who need to communicate climate science, environmental impacts, and sustainability strategies to broad public, organizational, or policy audiences. This includes professionals working in:
- Environmental organizations
- Sustainability offices
- Nonprofits
- Community advocacy groups
- Education
- Journalism
- Public information offices
- Government and policy professions
- Corporate sustainability
- Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
- Communications
*Academic credit is defined by the University of Pennsylvania as a course unit (c.u.). A course unit (c.u.) is a general measure of academic work over a period of time, typically a term (semester or summer). A c.u. (or a fraction of a c.u.) represents different types of academic work across different types of academic programs and is the basic unit of progress toward a degree. One c.u. is usually converted to a four-semester-hour course.
