Courses

A supervised reading course on a topic for which there is no current course offering. Permission of the Graduate Program Director is required.

A supervised reading course on a topic for which there is no current course offering. Permission of the Graduate Program Director is required.

This course examines natural disasters from an interdisciplinary point of view, particularly considering why there seem to be more natural disasters, and how and why decisions made by people create vulnerable communities.

Examines social and behavioural dimensions of human interactions before, during and after emergencies and disasters, including behavioural myths and realities; linkages between individuals, families, groups, organizations, community social systems, and various levels of government; social vulnerability and the disproportionate impact of disasters upon various societal groups, etc. This is a required core course for the proposed Master of Arts in Disaster and Emergency Management.

Provides students with an introduction to philosophical bases of research design as well as a practical introduction to qualitative methods. Students will gain an understanding of the paradigmatic foundations of research, how to design and evaluate qualitative research and experiment with a range of qualitative methods (i.e., interview, focus groups, observation, archival analysis).

Students are provided with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of various quantitative research methods and their applications in disaster and emergency management. Using statistical methods, students will learn to analyze data and formulate hypotheses and conceptual relationships.

Business continuity or disaster recovery is about disaster and emergency management at businesses. This course focuses on selected business continuity (disaster recovery) planning and management topics and case studies in private and non-private businesses. Student will discuss different theoretical, methodological, technical and practical aspects of business continuity (disaster recovery) and review several business continuity (disaster recovery) planning and management cases. The topics, strategically sequenced to build context, introduce students to the most significant and relevant areas in business continuity (disaster recovery) planning and management today.

The purpose of this course is to give the student, a background to, and, overview of: terrorism in the 21st Century. It will serve to give students, in the program, an understanding of this element of the threat spectrum. It will further sensitize them to the potential dangers and probabilities that grow out of this area of critical concern.

Placements in the field provide students with the opportunity to apply theories of disaster and emergency management in a variety of organizations within the private, public and non-governmental organization sectors. Prerequisites: GS/DEMS 5020 3.00 Co-requisite: GS/DEMS 5030 3.00.

This course addresses how the principles and theories of Emergency & Disaster Management are applied in healthcare settings such as paramedicine, hospitals, and public health in both Canadian and international contexts.

Examines ethical theory as it applies to issues and uncertainties associated with disasters and emergencies. Students develop an understanding of the ethical decision-making process and moral reasoning. They have the opportunity to explore the moral imperatives associated with emergency management in a variety of contexts, both locally and globally. The emphasis of the course is on applied ethics and the development of moral competence in response to issues, and implications for socially responsive environmental and disaster management.

The purpose of the major research paper develops the student's ability to do research beyond a normal course paper. In its style, length, and quality, the major research paper takes the form of a publishable academic article of around 80 to 100 pages. The major research paper is supervised by a faculty member of the Disaster & Emergency Management program.

The purpose of the major research paper develops the student's ability to do research beyond a normal course paper. In its style, length, and quality, the major research paper takes the form of a publishable academic article of around 80 to 100 pages. The major research paper is supervised by a faculty member of the Disaster & Emergency Management program.

Students will develop an understanding of theories, approaches, methods, and issues in comprehensive emergency management through a deep reading of seminal literature and debates in the field. Case studies from within and beyond Canada will be discussed, considering aspects of risk, vulnerability and resilience. Contrasting disciplinary perspectives on the critical studies of disaster will be analyzed and compared. This is a required course for students in the DEM doctoral program. In Critical Theory and Practice in DEM 1, we focus on Risk, Vulnerability, and Resilience. Disasters and emergencies have long been understood through three meta-narratives: risk, vulnerability, and resilience. In this course, we explore in depth each approach to understanding, preparing for, and responding to disasters. Material covered includes risk, vulnerability, resilience, and disaster theory; risk governance and the construction of risk in society; and introduction to types of hazards. Students will apply these concepts to real-world scenarios and contemporary events. This course is a pre-requisite of GS/DEMS 7701 3.00 Critical Theory and Practice in DEM 2: Research and Practice in Disaster and Emergency Management

Students will develop an understanding of theories, approaches, methods, and issues in comprehensive emergency management through a deep reading of seminal literature and debates in the field. Case studies from within and beyond Canada will be discussed, considering aspects of risk, vulnerability and resilience. Contrasting disciplinary perspectives on the critical studies of disaster will be analyzed and compared. This is a required course for students in the DEM doctoral program. Disasters and emergencies attract a wide variety of attention from practitioners, academics, governments, and the public. In this course, we explore the different disciplinary approaches to academic research on disasters (including sociology, anthropology, philosophy, science and technology studies, systems theory, decision-making, and public administration) and the practitioner experiences in the field (including government, nongovernmental, and private sector roles). The part of the course is based on deep-dive visits by experts from each field, with an emphasis on critical reflection between the issues raised by each perspective. Pre-requisite: GS/DEMS 7700 3.00

Provides students with an introduction to philosophical bases of research design as well as a practical introduction to qualitative methods. Students will gain an understanding of the paradigmatic foundations of research, how to design and evaluate qualitative research and experiment with a range of qualitative methods (i.e., interview, focus groups, observation, archival analysis).

Students are provided with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of various quantitative research methods and their applications in disaster and emergency management. Using statistical methods, students will learn to analyze data and formulate hypotheses and conceptual relationships.