Ph.D. Curriculum and Requirements

Curriculum and Requirements

The 42 credits of coursework for the Doctor of Science in Disaster Science and Management are specified in the individual planned program of study, and must include the following:

·         Courses from a thematic area (at least 9 credits):

• Organizations, management, and leadership
• Built and natural environment, and society 
• Vulnerability and resilience
• Policy and planning
• Simulation and modeling
• Health systems leadership: public health disaster planning and response

·         Research methods (qualitative or quantitative) (at least 6 credits):

• EDUC 665 – Elementary Statistics
• EDUC 850 – Qualitative Research in Education (or UAPP 808 Qualitative Methods for Program Evaluation)
• ECON877 - Advanced Benefit-Cost Analysis
• MAST664 - Decision Tools for Policy Analysis
• ORES601 - Survey Operations Research I
• ORES602 - Survey Operations Research II
• ORES603 - Simulation Modeling and Analysis
• ORES801 - Optimization Models and Methods
• ORES802 - Operations Research Applications
• POSC816 - Advanced Social Research for Political Science
• SOCI607 – Data Collection and Analysis
• STAT800 - Estimation and Statistical Inference I
• UAPP 815 – Public Management Statistics
• UAPP816 – Advanced Social Statistics
• UAPP 827 - Program and Project Analysis (cost-benefit analysis).

·         PhD Dissertation (9 Credits)

·         Seminar (3 credits)

 Students must register for and attend three semesters of seminar (DISA 680). Students are expected to participate in seminar as a listener for other semesters that they are on campus.

·         Electives (15 credits)

Electives are intended to enhance and broaden a student’s scholarly involvement in the program. Students in the doctoral degree program are allowed to take a maximum of 6 credits of independent study (DISA 866) and a maximum of 9 credits of research (DISA 868). However, the combined number of credits from research and independent study courses may not exceed 12.  

Plan of Study

Students are required to work with their advisor during their first semester of study and develop a plan of study. The plan of study must first be approved by the advisor and then by the Program Committee by the end of the first semester of study for the PhD.

Sample Plans of Study

Student Entering MS or PhD Directly from Undergraduate Program

Qualifying Exam

The objective of the DSEM Qualifying Examinations is to assess the student's ability to do interdisciplinary analysis, based on sound knowledge of core themes, good analytical methods, and the ability to structure and analyze disaster problems in a way that appropriately integrates the required knowledge, methods, and judgment. The levels of synthesis and evaluation to be demonstrated in these examinations go beyond those expected in most courses, although each student’s plan of study is aimed at developing and exercising this level of problem solving. After 18 credits of course work have been graded, the student must pass a written and oral qualifying examination prepared by the Qualifier Exam Committee for the cohort of students seeking Ph.D. student candidacy. All core faculty are encouraged to participate in the oral exam. The qualifying examination must be passed before the student proceeds to candidacy.

Dissertation Proposal

A copy of the dissertation proposal must be available to Disaster Science and Management faculty at least one week prior to the proposal defense. A copy of the dissertation proposal must be delivered to the members of the dissertation committee at least two weeks in advance of the proposal defense.

Dissertation Defense

The format of the dissertation must adhere to guidelines specified in the University's Thesis and Dissertation Manual. The manual is available electronically on the Web at http://www.udel.edu/gradoffice/current/thesismanual.html or it may be purchased at the University Bookstore. A copy of the dissertation must be made available to Disaster Science and Management faculty at least two weeks prior to the proposal defense. The dissertation defense will be scheduled only after the advisor of the dissertation committee has determined that a defense is appropriate.

The dissertation defense will be open to the public, and invitations will be sent to all Disaster Science and Management faculty and students at least two weeks prior to the defense date. The candidate will present a summary of the completed research, and will then field questions from the committee, attending faculty, and invited guests. After all questions have been fielded, the dissertation committee will meet to decide whether the dissertation is accepted, rejected, or accepted pending revisions. Results of the meeting will then be presented to the student. The student may not receive more than one dissenting vote from members of the committee to receive a passing grade.

Residency Requirement

At least three academic years of graduate work are normally required for the Ph.D. degree. At least one continuous academic year must be devoted exclusively to full-time study (9 credit hours per semester) in the major field in residence at the University of Delaware. This residency requirement may be fulfilled using a fall and spring semester combination or a spring and fall semester combination, but summer or winter sessions do not meet the qualification. Course credit earned in a Master’s program at the University of Delaware may be applied toward the doctoral degree residency requirement if the candidate is receiving both degrees from the University in the same major field.