Certificate in Food Systems, the Environment and Public Health

Why study food systems?

Some of society’s most significant public health challenges are rooted in food systems—climate change, resource scarcity, environmental contamination, food insecurity and hunger, obesity, and environmental exposures to workers and communities.

Students earning the Certificate in Food Systems, the Environment and Public Health will learn to apply a systems-based approach to understanding, studying, and addressing the critical role of food systems in public health and global environmental change.

What makes the certificate unique?

As a first-of-its-kind program at the #1-ranked school of public health, the Certificate in Food Systems, the Environment and Public Health provides specialized training in food systems grounded in public health research and practice.

Each student designs their own curriculum from an assortment of online and onsite courses taught by faculty from various departments across the School who are leading experts in their fields. Some courses incorporate field trips and experiential learning. Courses combine live, recorded, and interactive sessions, many from guest speakers working across the spectrum of food systems, including agriculture, advocacy, policy, and community food systems. The certificate curriculum can be customized to meet the needs of full-time and part-time students.

For students across the School, CLF hosts a variety of optional networking and enrichment activities.

Specific program requirements and admissions information can be found on the JHU Catalog page.

Who is the certificate for?

The certificate is designed for Johns Hopkins University graduate students and professionals (non-degree students) who want to deepen their understanding of the critical role of food systems in public health and global environmental change and apply evidence-based approaches to advance change through research, policy, and practice.

How should I apply?

There are separate processes for JHU graduate students and non-degree seekers. Please follow the admissions instructions in the JHU Catalog.

Whom should I contact with questions?

The certificate program contact is Phil McNab.

Who Studied Food Systems with CLF?

“I suddenly saw the food system as one problem, repeated over and over: fewer players, less diversity. Fewer famers, bigger farms. Fewer crops, higher yields.” —Audrey Tran Lam

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Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future