BSc in International Disaster Management & Humanitarian Response

As demand grows around a strategic global response to the ever-changing and increasing risks, shocks and conflicts arising from natural and anthropogenic hazards, it is increasingly important that we build an understanding of the root causes of vulnerability to disasters and conflicts as a pathway to addressing such contemporary international problems.

BSc International Disaster Management and Humanitarian Response is a multidisciplinary course designed to enhance collaboration amongst natural and social sciences, medicine and the arts.

This course seeks to bridge the divide between development, disaster risk management, and peace and conflict studies.

As a student, you will explore these contemporary issues and challenges through a theoretical lens - both globally and locally in the UK.

Through the course, you can expect to build research expertise, knowledge and theoretical management skills in disaster preparedness, response and recovery in order to reduce negative impacts on health, social, economic and environmental spheres.

You will also focus on learning the causes and consequences of conflict as well as conflict resolution and peacebuilding - again from an international and local perspective.

You will find this multidisciplinary course unique as you will be taught by an interdisciplinary team of lecturers, including anthropologists, geographers, political scientists, historians and development scholars.

As such, your learning will be truly interdisciplinary and allow you to understand disaster management, humanitarianism and peacebuilding from a multi-disciplinary perspective and an integrated approach to the field.

You will also have the opportunity to take optional course units in disciplines such as Geography, Politics, Theology, Languages and Anthropology.

This will provide you with wide options to choose from whilst having a grounding in peace and conflict studies, humanitarianism and disaster management.

Flexible Honours may allow you to study an additional art, language or culture subject.

We also recognise there is great demand from employers in the humanitarian sector for languages.

Therefore, up to a third of your degree can be made up of studying languages, such as French, Arabic, German or Russian.

Alternatively, you can study for a joint honours degree combining Arabic, Chinese, French or Spanish.

Please note this course covers distressing and upsetting topics such as genocide, sexual violence and the impact of conflict on women and children.

Aims

• Provide a critical insight into destabilising events and develop an understanding and appreciation of disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response.
• Develop knowledge and understanding of key issues which inform the debates on disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response.
• Develop practical expertise in risk and vulnerability analyses, disaster preparedness and response and the integration of development and humanitarian action.
• Foster an informed attitude on ethical issues related to humanitarianism, including international actions taken by governments, and inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations in response to disasters of both natural and human origins.
• Develop strategic research methodologies and techniques, including data gathering, collation, analysis and dissemination of results in disaster risk management and humanitarian action contexts.

Our pioneering partnerships with national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) shape the real-world focus of our teaching, as well as offer strong industry links to key career destinations.

Your transferable and academic skills will appeal to employers including international organisations such as the United Nations and humanitarian NGOs such as The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

You'll also be well-equipped to enter a career in business and commerce, law, journalism, tourism management and teaching.

You'll also have the opportunity to pursue further study through our master's courses.