POST GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT

CURRICULUM

Program Structure

Semester 01 of the diploma program consists of 15 credits comprised of 2 foundation courses (4 credits), 2 core courses (6 credits), 1 elective course (3 credits) and 1 field study (2 credits). At this level, field-oriented and applied aspects of disaster management will be emphasized. In Semester 02, students will be required to complete another 15 credits comprised of 2 foundation courses (4 credits), 2 core courses (6 credits), 1 elective course (3 credits) and 1 field study (2 credits). At this level, a wider choice of electives will be offered to take into account advancement of knowledge of the students. A greater emphasis on theoretical aspects will be given in comparison to the previous semester. If the program is extended to a master’s degree, a student will be required to complete another 15 credits comprised of 2 core courses (6 credits) and a dissertation (9 credits) under the supervision of a suitable advisor. At the master’s level, the student will obtain a solid grasp of both theoretical and field-oriented aspects of the subject, as well as develop capacity for independent thinking. For students who are assessed to require them, non-credit preparatory courses will be provided.

Course Contents

The contents of the course will be comprised of three main components: lectures/seminars, field studies and individual student projects. A panel of experts from various disciplines will present lectures and conduct seminars. Field visits will be arranged to relevant disaster-prone areas and disaster management projects and students will prepare reports as part of the field studies courses. Each student will undertake independent study projects during both semesters (more complex and detailed Semester 02), under the guidance of a relevant tutor, to be presented and submitted as terminal assignments. 

The course contents will relate to three main aspects: 
1. Pre-disaster preparedness and vulnerability reduction. 
2. Post-disaster response, relief and rehabilitation. 
3. Disaster mitigation and long-term development (Pre-disaster + Post-disaster). 

These aspects will be presented and reviewed from the perspectives of various disciplines in the form of foundation courses, core courses, field studies, electives and individual student projects. Because this program will be run in Bangladesh, which is a particularly disaster-prone region, most of the course contents will be based on experience and information relating to this context. A wide variety of case studies on disasters and disaster management particularly from Bangladesh will comprise the course contents.

Schedule

At the diploma level, for each 15-week semester there will be 13 contact hours per week @ 3 hours per day for 3 days a week and 4 hours on another day. Classes will be held in the evening for the convenience of active professionals for whom this course is primarily targeted. For the field study, contact hours will be based on field visits. Possibility for part-time enrollment might also be considered. For students undertaking dissertation at the master’s level, the schedule will consist of personal tutorials with supervisor, attending core courses and working outside class.

Courses Offered

The following list shows courses that will be offered. Course numbers and descriptions are provided in the next section.

Preparatory Courses
                                                           Credits Equivalent
1. Foundation Course in English Language               3
2. Basic Course in Computing                                1.5 

Foundation Courses (Each course carries 2 credits and is compulsory)

1. Introduction to Hazards and Disasters
2. Fundamentals of Disaster Risk Management
3. Organizational and Policy Context of Disaster Risk Management
4. Research and Analytical Methods

Core Courses (Each course carries 3 credits and is compulsory)

1. Disaster Response and Recovery Strategies
2. Disaster Preparedness and Vulnerability Reduction
3. Assessment of Risk, Vulnerability and Capacity 
4. Independent Study in Disaster Management I
5. Independent Study in Disaster Management II
6. Dissertation Seminars

Elective Courses (Each course carries 3 credits and at least 2 elective courses must be completed. A student may focus on a specific field of interest by selecting the relevant elective courses)

1. Riverine Disaster Risk Management
2. Cyclone and Tornado Preparedness and Rehabilitation
3. Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction
4. Community Based Approaches to Disaster Management
5. GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques in Disaster Management.
6. Building Design and Construction in Disaster-Prone Areas
7. Urbanization and Disasters
8. Risk Communication, Training and Public Awareness
9. Gender Issues in Disaster Management
10. Disaster Risk Reduction and Development Planning

Dissertation

All students continuing to the master’s level are required to complete a dissertation (maximum 20,000 words, minimum 15,000 words) on a topic related to disaster management and agreed with their supervisor(s). The core course ‘Dissertation Seminars’ will have to be taken during this stage to supplement dissertation writing skills and techniques. The dissertation will have to be presented and defended at a committee composed of at least two faculty members and one external examiner.

Course Composition

Diploma: Semester 01

A) Foundation Courses (2 credits each):
    1. Introduction to Hazards and Disasters
    2. Fundamentals of Disaster Management

B) Core Courses (3 credits each):
    1. Disaster Response and Recovery Strategies
    2. Independent Study in Disaster Management I

C) Elective Courses (3 credits) (any one of the following)
   1. Riverine Disaster Management
   2. Cyclone and Tornado Preparedness and Rehabilitation
   3. Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction
   4. Community-Based Approaches to Disaster Management

D) Field Study I (2 credits)

Diploma: Semester 02

A) Foundation Courses (2 credits each):
    1. Organizational and Policy Context of Disaster Management
    2. Research and Analytical Methods

B) Core Courses (3 credits each):
    1. Disaster Preparedness and Vulnerability Reduction
    2. Independent Study in Disaster Management II

C) Elective Courses (3 credits) (any one of the following)
    1. GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques in Disaster Management
    2. Building Design and Construction in Disaster-Prone Areas
    3. Urbanization and Disasters
    4. Risk Communication, Training and Public Awareness
    5. Gender Issues in Disaster Management
    6. Disaster Risk Reduction and Development Planning

D) Field Study II (2 credits)

E) Preparatory Course (if required)

Master’s Program

A) Core Courses (3 credits each):
    1. Assessment of Risk, Vulnerability and Capacity
    2. Dissertation Seminars

B) Dissertation (9 credits) 

Teaching Methods

Most of the lectures and seminars will extensively utilize multi-media facilities and will seek to promote self-reflection, peer-group discussion and interaction with tutors. Unless where required specifically, one-way delivery mode will not be followed; student participation will be given high priority. Nonetheless, because of the variety of courses offered within the program, a corresponding level of diversity will be followed in the teaching methods, utilizing methods such as lectures, discussions, debating, role playing, case studies, workshops, individual projects, teamwork, research and analysis. Tutors of particular courses will select teaching methods appropriate to each course and its objectives. However, because this course is principally field-oriented, a significant proportion of learning will take place outside the classroom during field visits. The outcome of the course should be transferable skills that can be applied in practice. 

Faculty and Contacts

There is adequate expertise from diverse disciplines in Bangladesh on various specific subject areas within the disaster field and this will be the main source of teaching staff. The course will be taught, administered and managed by a faculty group from BRAC University and support staff from BRAC and BRAC University, assisted by part-time guest lecturers who are experts in different fields related to disaster management. Specialist faculty from other universities and from other countries will be enlisted. In line with the student composition and course contents, teaching staff will be gathered from a range of disciplines. In some courses with explicit multi-disciplinary contents, a team comprised of tutors from different disciplines will be teaching. 

Regional contacts, such as ADPC (Thailand), NSET (Nepal), IIT (Bombay and Roorkee) and NDMC (Delhi) will be utilized for visiting faculty, educational links, exchange-programs, collaborative projects and events. International contacts, such as WSSI (USA), Cranfield University (UK), CENDEP (UK), ITC (Netherlands), Charles Sturt University (Australia) and Swinbourne University (Australia) will also be sources of exchange and partnership.

Admission Criteria

The following criteria will be followed in admission of students to the course:

• Minimum a 3-year bachelor degree. Candidates with a bachelor degree of lesser duration will also be accepted if they have completed a relevant diploma or certificate course.

• Minimum 2nd division in SSC, HSC and minimum 2nd class or at least 2.00 CGPA in bachelor degree. Alternatively, O-level in five subjects and A-level in two subjects with a GPA of at least 2.0, according to BRAC University scale: A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2 and E=1; only one E is acceptable.

• Qualifying in a 100-mark admission test consisting of written test (80%) and interview (20%).

• Exception to the above admission requirements can be made in special cases for students with long practical experience in disaster management with approval of the Academic Council.

Degree Requirements

The following requirements will have to be fulfilled in accordance with each level of the course:

• For the diploma, completion of 4 foundation courses, 4 core courses, 2 elective courses and 2 field studies, totaling to 30 credits.

• At the master’s level, completion of 4 foundation courses, 6 core courses, 2 elective courses and a dissertation, totaling to 45 credits.

• Minimum CGPA of 2.0 in credit courses and a satisfactory (S) grade in dissertation.

• Agreeable behavior and conduct throughout the duration of the course.
  

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