The Environmental Health, Climate and Sustainability Program (EHCS) offers a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, a professional degree for individuals who want to practice in a public health setting. The EHCS program was created to address the shortage of public health professionals with the background to address emerging environmental health risks, including climate change and environmental injustice, as public health issues. The MPH degree requires students to take 46 credit hours, and complete practice and culminating experiences. Most students complete the MPH program in two years. Dual degree programs are also available (MPH/MD, MPH/DVM, MPH/MSW).

Climate change and environmental injustice are the twin policy and management challenges of our time. Minority, poor and vulnerable populations often bear the disproportionate burden of exposure to environmental hazards and climate threats. No solution will be successful without ensuring high vulnerability populations have the institutional, technical, and financial resources they need to foster community resilience.

Students are introduced to factors impacting environmental health, the science behind climate change, and sustainable solutions. They will assess the practices and policies which sustain environmental injustice and climate inequity. Students will learn how to measure and assess risks, impacts, population vulnerability, health disparities, and resilience; and master evidence-based approaches to manage risks in ways which are equitable and sustainable, and minimize impacts to the environment and public health.

Skills which students can acquire include climate adaptation planning, cumulative risk assessment, environmental and health impact assessment, environmental justice analysis, policy evaluation, geographic information systems and data analysis, urban planning, environmental monitoring, strategic planning, community-engaged research, and project and program management.

Students will be able to use the skills gained in this program to evaluate the impact of climate and environmental policies and practices on public health, social justice, and economic opportunity; propose sustainable solutions and strategies for climate adaptation and mitigation that promote environmental stewardship and community resilience; and advocate for more equitable policies and practices on behalf of disadvantaged and underserved communities. Graduates within our programs have gone on to work in government, industry, consulting, community-based organizations, universities, think tanks, and professional associations.

Faculty:

Katner, Adrienne	Associate Professor & Program Director
Brisolara, Kari	Professor & Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Diaz, James	Professor
Harrington, Daniel	Assistant Professor
Hu, Chih-yang	Associate Professor

Program contact:

Adrienne Katner, DEnv, MS
Program Director and Associate Professor
Phone: 504-568-5942; Email: akatn1@lsuhsc.edu

Admissions contact:

James Diaz, MD, DrPH
Professor
Phone: 504-568-6052; Email: jdiaz@lsuhsc.edu