Curriculum and Requirements

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Curriculum and Requirements

Non-Thesis Option

The Master of Science in Disaster Science and Management (non-thesis option) requires 30 credits including 24 credits of graduate level coursework, 4 semesters of seminar (2 semesters at 1 credit per semester and 2 semesters as a listener), and 4 credits of practicum. The 24 credits of coursework for the Master of Science in Disaster Science and Management are specified in the student’s plan of study and must include the following:

Three core courses (9 credits):
DISA 650 – Introduction to Disasters/Historical Aspects of Disasters
POSC 656 – The Politics of Disaster/Public Policy Aspects of Disasters
DISA 651 – International Aspects of Disasters/Development/Comparative Analysis
Research/Methods/Analysis Course (3 credits):
EDUC 665 – Elementary Statistics, or
EDUC 850 – Qualitative Research in Education
(or if appropriate UAPP 815 Public Management Statistics, or UAPP 808 Qualitative Methods for Program Evaluation)
Public Policy and Organizational Decision-Making (3 credits):
UAPP 819 – Management Decision Making for Public and Non-Profit Sectors (3 credits), or
MAST 663 – Decision Tools for Policy Analysis (3 credits)
Seminars (2 credits):
DISA 680 - Disaster Science and Management Seminar (1 credit)
Taken two semesters for credit, additional semesters taken as a listener,
Internship (4 credits):
DISA 867- Practicum
A one credit course in the spring semester is followed by a 3 credit summer internship. Students could do internships with DEMA, FEMA, other DHS Offices, United Nations, USAID, etc. Study abroad is also strongly encouraged.
Elective Courses (9 credits).

 

Thesis Option

The Master of Science in Disaster Science and Management (thesis option) requires 30 credits including 24 credits of graduate level coursework, 4 semesters of seminar (2 semesters at 1 credit per semester and 2 semesters as a listener), 1 credit of practicum, and 6 credits of thesis. The 24 credits of coursework for the Master of Science in Disaster Science and Management are specified in the student’s plan of study and must include the following:

Three core courses (9 credits):
DISA 650 – Introduction to Disasters/Historical Aspects of Disasters
POSC 656 – The Politics of Disaster/Public Policy Aspects of Disasters
DISA 651 – International Aspects of Disasters/Development/Comparative Analysis
Research/Methods/Analysis Courses (6 credits):
EDUC 665 – Elementary Statistics (or if appropriate UAPP815 Public Management Statistics)
EDUC 850 – Qualitative Research in Education (or if appropriate UAPP 808 Qualitative Methods for Program Evaluation)
Public Policy and Organizational Decision-Making (3 credits):
UAPP 819 – Management Decision Making for Public and Non-Profit Sectors (3 credits), or
MAST 663 – Decision Tools for Policy Analysis (3 credits)
Seminars (2 credits):
DISA 680 - Disaster Science and Management Seminar (1 credit)
Taken four semesters – two semesters for credit, two semesters as a listener,
Internship (1 credit):
DISA 867- Practicum
Spring course is followed by the summer internship (no credit). Students could do internships with DEMA, FEMA, other DHS Offices, United Nations, USAID, etc. The practicum can also be substituted by a research project at DRC. Study abroad is also strongly encouraged.
Thesis (6 credits)

Elective Courses (3 credits).

 

Sample Plans of Study

Non-Thesis MS Option

Fall – Year 1
DISA 650 Introduction to Disasters (3)
EDUC 850 – Qualitative Research in Education (3)
 Elective I (3)
DISA 680 Seminar (1)
Spring – Year 1
POSC 656 The Politics of Disaster (3)
DISA 651 Int. Aspects of Disasters (3)
DISA 867 Practicum (1)
DISA 680 Seminar (1)
Summer
DISA 867 Practicum (3)
Fall Year 2
UAPP 819 – Management Decision Making (3)
Elective II (3)
Elective III (3)
DISA 680 Seminar (L)

Alternatative Plan of Study (Non-Thesis Option)

Fall
DISA 650 Introduction to Disasters (3)
EDUC 850 – Qualitative Research in Education (3)
Elective I (3)
DISA 680 Seminar (1)
UAPP 819 – Management Decision Making (3)
Spring
POSC 656 The Politics of Disaster (3)
DISA 651 Int. Aspects of Disasters (3)
DISA 867 Practicum (1)
DISA 680 Seminar (1)
Elective II (3)
Elective III (3)
Summer
DISA 867 Practicum (3)

L = Listener, Total 30 credits

MS Thesis Option

Fall – Year 1
DISA 650 Introduction to Disasters (3)
EDUC 850 – Qualitative Research in Education (3)
Elective I (3)
DISA 680 Seminar (1)
Spring – Year 1
POSC 656 The Politics of Disaster (3)
EDUC 665 – Elementary Statistics (3)
DISA 867 Practicum (1)
DISA 680 Seminar (1)
Summer
UNIV 554 Internship
Fall Year 2
UAPP 819 – Management Decision Making (3)
DISA 869 Thesis (3)
DISA 680 Seminar (L)
Spring – Year 2
DISA 651 Int. Aspects of Disasters (3)
DISA 869 Thesis (3)
DISA 680 Seminar (L)

L = Listener
Total 30 credits