Master of Arts / Master of Science in Disaster Management

Description

View Prospectus

Disaster management is emerging globally as a field of study that deals with a range of risks and vulnerabilities that `societies, nations, and communities have to understand and learn to cope with. The expansion of the scope of the term disaster beyond its original definition, referring solely to natural hazards, has generated debates and discussions around the way cultures and societies

understand the notion of a disaster. Vulnerabilities of the poor and marginalized have come to be recognized as the key to understanding the disproportionate impact of disasters in the developing world. Thus, JTSDS adopts a perspective where disaster risk reduction, especially in developing societies, is understood as an integral part of development, especially in the context of climate change. Disaster risk reduction, disaster response and post-disaster recovery also need to be examined from the standpoint of social and environmental justice, equity and social inclusion. Disaster studies, as an evolving discipline, provides extensive scope for research and exploration of its diverse facets. Though disaster management began largely as a field of study in the practitioner’s domain, disaster studies is now a discipline that combines theoretical perspectives and understanding with a range of skills and techniques that have become increasingly sophisticated. The Master’s Program in Disaster Management is offered by the Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies (JTSDS) as a full-time taught program with courses that traverse multidisciplinary domains of the social construction of disasters, current developments in policy and action, and the science and technology in the study of disasters. It also makes conscious linkages of disasters with issues of sustainability, sustainable development and climate change.

The Master’s program in Disaster Management, aims at enhancing knowledge, skills and perspectives on disasters. While enabling an understanding of disasters from the vantage point of science and technology in prediction, prevention, mitigation and response, the program also fosters a critical appreciation of current approaches to development, disaster risk reduction, response and recovery, in relation to disasters. It seeks to locate these approaches within the framework of an understanding of the questions of development, especially through an analysis of globalisation, transboundary governance, state and civil society dynamics, and conflicts of different kinds.

The program flows from foundation, core, elective and skill-based courses offering a interdisciplinary thrust. It endeavors to cultivate appropriate values, a strong multidisciplinary knowledge base, and skills essential for research and intervention in disasters. Students will have the opportunity to develop specialized expertise in areas of their choice through field work, internship and dissertation. Thus, this two-year program includes intensive contact classes, research, supervised field practicum and internship. A twenty-credit dissertation is a compulsory component of the Master’s program.

The program also offers a multi-level entry–exit option where a student coming for the Master’s degree can exit by obtaining a Certificate in Disaster Management on completion of the stipulated requirements of the first semester. Students who wish to continue through with the next semester would obtain a Diploma (on completion of two semesters) towards the end of the first year and a Master’s (four semesters) degree towards the end of two years. Alternatively, a master’s student, on completion of the

Certificate/Diploma program, could come back after a break (not exceeding 4 years from the date of

admission to the program), and join in for the third/fourth semester and complete the Master’s program.

As an emerging field, the need for qualified personnel within disaster management and disaster studies is high. Students who graduate with this degree will find opportunities in the disaster risk reduction and disaster management programs of the developmental sectors, in government and non-government organisations, and consultancy firms. They could also pursue research, training and teaching careers in disaster studies and allied disciplines.

Objectives of the Programme

• To create a cadre of professionals with multidisciplinary knowledge, skills and perspectives related to disasters.
• To enable a broader understanding of disasters related to issues of development and environmental sustainability with an analysis of current debates around these areas.
• To enable a critical reflection around disasters and their intersection with science and technology in prediction, mitigation and response.
• To create a cadre of professionals with the ability to engage in vulnerability analysis and participate in governance and policy processes for disaster risk reduction and resilience building at various levels.
• To cultivate appropriate values, engage in research and enhance the knowledge base in disaster studies

Programme Outcomes

Disasters and climate change induced extreme events have become an everyday reality, and hence, the academic program continuously engages with the changing context of risk and uncertainty to achieve the following program outcomes:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the academic field of disaster studies and its allied disciplines such as emergency/crisis management, climate change, and sustainability.
• Possess procedural knowledge that creates a cadre of professionals for academia, corporate, government, community, social movements, international/national/local organisations and institutions.
• Demonstrate skills required for active engagement with the current and emerging disaster management sectors starting from the grassroots to the global scale.
• Demonstrates knowledge, understanding and skills required for identifying emerging problems, challenges and issues pertaining to disasters and their management that transcend disciplinary boundaries.
• Able to conceptualize pertinent research on disaster and its management using various approaches/methodologies, draw data from a wide range of sources/tools, analyse and interpret appropriately, and formulate evidence-informed solutions and arguments.
• Address one’s learning needs related to emerging knowledge frontiers in disaster by using appropriate research, development and professional materials.
• Demonstrate relevant generic skills and global competencies such as: problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, interpersonal relations, professional and ethical integrity project management, community engagement, capacity building, negotiating sectoral challenges, and contextualising policy and praxis.
• Honour diversity and inclusion in all endeavors by upholding values of rights and dignity of all individuals and groups.

Semesterwise Courses:

** This course will be treated as Extra Credit.

Note:The curriculum structure is tentative and subject to change.

Fee Structure:

 *Institute reserves the rights to revise the Fees Structure of programme if necessary.

APPLY NOW