Disaster & Emergency Management (BDEM)
in
Note:
York is the first university in Canada to offer both a bachelor and a master’s degree program in this field.
Flooding, terrorism,
global warming and hurricanes are all disasters and emergencies that can be
effectively managed – and, in some cases even mitigated – through good planning
and response. The recent earthquake in Haiti, the H1N1 pandemic and
memories of 9/11 are reminders of the pressing need for qualified and trained professionals
in the field.
Disaster & Emergency Management is the discipline of dealing with and
avoiding risks. In this exciting and rapidly expanding field you’ll explore key
concepts, methodologies and technologies used by emergency management professionals
while honing your analytical and critical skills. You’ll also gain a
comprehensive understanding of how emergency management intersects with other
disciplines such as psychology and sociology. Discover strategies to help save
lives and property, reduce damage and speed a community’s recovery from natural
and human-induced disasters and emergencies.
You'll examine a diverse range of topics including business continuity planning, emergency management communications, disaster risk management, ethics and terrorism. In addition to this, you will learn to apply key concepts, methodologies and technologies used by emergency management professionals to complex real-life challenges.
This program prepares you to synthesize large amounts of complex information and make sound decisions in challenging and often difficult circumstances. As a graduate you will be equipped with the skills for a career in emergency preparedness, public safety or consultancy work for a range of opportunities from positions in federal and provincial governments to large multinational companies and non-governmental organizations like the Red Cross/Red Crescent, World Bank, Oxfam or UNICEF.
What makes this program unique:
- Upon graduating, you’ll join one of the fastest growing industries in North America.
- You have the option of continuing your education within the disaster and emergency field with York’s MA in Disaster & Emergency Management — the only graduate program of its kind in Ontario and one of only two in Canada.
- You’ll have the opportunity to join The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), a non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the goals of saving lives and protecting property during emergencies and disasters.
- Take advantage of experiential learning opportunities and interact with leading professionals who will provide you with a deeper insight into the field. You'll have the option to complete a field experience that will help to foster a greater understanding of the complexities and realities emergency management professionals face.
- You are also encouraged to take advantage of the regular events held by the School of Disaster & Emergency Management. These include conferences and symposiums held throughout the school year to help you apply your education to real-life situations.