MSc in Emergency Management

Course details

Crises and disasters, both local and international, continue to make headline news. Consider the Asian Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, or the human initiated disasters, such as 9/11 and the Madrid and London bombings, or biologically based disasters, including SARS and bird flu. Closer to home, horrific traffic disasters, natural disasters such as storms and floods, and recent epidemics, such as the foot and mouth outbreak, have had a huge impact on people's lives.

These types of disaster will continue to prompt new ways to prepare and respond to such crises, with the goal of ensuring business continuity and post-disaster recovery.

The DCU M.Sc. in Emergency Management is the first programme of its kind in Ireland. It has been endorsed by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, The Emergency Planning Society (Republic of Ireland Branch) and Pharmachemical Ireland as being suitable for improving the emergency management skills of individuals in both the public and private sectors.

Aims and Objectives:

Knowledge - Breadth

systematic understanding of the theory, concepts and methods at the forefront of knowledge pertaining to Emergency Management, which includes, for example, the frameworks, concepts, methods, tools and techniques used in the field of emergency management.

Knowledge - Kind

the ability to put structure on unstructured, problematic social situations, carry out further research into specific areas of interest, and make more informed decisions; the ability to assess risks and mitigate against social, technical and physical hazards; the ability to communicate information about an emergency or crisis to stakeholders.

Skill - Range

the ability to prepare for, respond to and recover after and learn from an emergency or crisis situation; the ability to carry out independent research on a theoretical topic, consolidate their results in the form of a report, and present these results to colleagues in a formal verbal presentation.

Skill - Selectivity

the ability to appraise emergency sector issues from a number of dimensions; the ability to exercise judgement in the choice of formal tools and techniques from the emergency management literature.

Competence - Context

the ability to critically evaluate problems and alternative solutions in a variety of undefined and unfamiliar contexts; the ability to draw upon the specific emergency management tools and techniques to address both specific and imprecise problems; the ability to justify and be accountable for the proposed solutions; the ability to communicate clearly to professional, research or lay audience; the ability to use advanced skills to conduct, implement and communicate research.

Competence - Role

the ability to lead and initiate professional and/or research activity independently or as part of an emergency management team; the ability to take a leading role in the future development of emergency organisations or emergency units within organisations.

Competence - Learning to Learn

an ability to evaluate their own learning and take responsibility for their continuing academic and professional development; an awareness of the need to update or deepen their knowledge/skill set and an ability to conduct further training through research, academic or professional training; an ability to independently acquire further expertise and to ensure that the use of this expertise complies with the ethical standards of the profession.

Competence Insight

an ability to monitor social political legislative technical and environmental change relevant to emergency and in time act to improve society's ability to mitigate prepare for respond to and recover after and learn from such events an understanding of and an ability to reflect on the importance of the emergency management professionals role in society and how this role may be used to effect change where appropriate an appreciation of the nature of emergency organizations permanent and ad hoc and the impact of emergency or crisis on human participants an understanding of the need to communicate effectively within this environment an understanding of the need for the highest ethical standards of practice an understanding that as part of a team it is important to consider the opinions of other members and to put in place a plan design process

Programme Structure:

This two year, part-time programme is delivered by block release over two consecutive days per month (usually Thursday and Friday or Friday and Saturday).

Assessment is by competency test, continuous assessment (including project work), terminal examination, or a combination of these elements.

While the programme is designed for you to achieve a Masters qualification, covering 90 credits, there is an exit route at Graduate Diploma level (60 credits) and certificate level (30 credits).

Indicative Modules include:

• Leadership and change
• Emergency Management Theory and Practice
• Systematic Emergency Management
• Crisis Communications
• Change Management
• Business Continuity

Why DCU:

DCU is Ireland's Univertisy of Enterprise with an industry engagement strategy which benefits out students in many ways including:

• Learning from academic experts with high level industry relevant experience ensuring you graduate with the most up-to-date knowledge to theory and practice.

• Exposure to leading international experts and thought leaders during the programme.

• Working on a range of projects, applying theory and giving you the practical skills and experience demanded by employers today.
• Heavy emphasis on applied learning.
• The Programme has been endorsed by the National Directorate for Fire & Emergency and Crisis Management.

• Staff and participants bring considerable professional expertise to the programme, thus allowing for interesting class discussion and peer learning.

Career Prospects:

With the ever increasing emphasis on emergency management, there will be important roles for talented and qualified individuals. You will find work in all areas of the public and private sector where there are risks of disaster or crises. These include local government, pharmaceutical firms, transport companies and businesses in the energy and security fields.