Disaster & Emergency Management
York's Master of Disaster & Emergency Management (MDEM) is the only graduate program of its kind in Ontario and one of only two in Canada. The program equips students with the skills and competencies required to prepare for, mitigate, respond to and recover from local, national and international disasters and emergencies.
Intended for those with an academic background or work experience in the field, the program builds on the foundational knowledge students bring to their studies while helping them to develop the leadership skills and knowledge needed for mid to senior level emergency managers.
Online bridging course exists for students without a background in Disaster & Emergency Management to acquire this foundational knowledge before beginning the program.
Studying on either a full-time or part-time basis in a flexible program that will allow you to pursue your own area of special interest, you will learn from an impressive group of academics with expertise in areas like environmental risks and management, natural hazards, business continuity planning, public health, humanitarian law, crisis management, war and complex emergencies.
Degrees Offered
Master of Disaster & Emergency Management (MDEM)
Program Length (Full-time)
4 term(s)
Program Component(s)
- Major research paper
- OR Course work only
Minimum Required GPA
B+
Fall Entry
- Full-time
- Part-time
Deadline - Fall (All Applicants)
2025-02-15English Proficiency Requirement
| Minimum TOEFL (Paper-based) | 600 |
| Minimum TOEFL (Internet-based) | 100 |
| IELTS (Academic Module) | 7.5 |
| YUELI | Academic Program Level 9 with Distinction |
| YUELI Graduate Studies Preparation Program (GSPP) | Graduate with distinction |
| CAEL | Overall score of 70, no component score less than 60 |
| Minimum CPE Score | C |
| Minimum CAE Score | B |
| Duolingo | 140 |
| PTE Academic | 76 |
PhD
Additional Admission Requirements
Number of Recommendation(s)
- 2 recommendation(s)
Other Requirements
- Statement of interest (approx. 500 words)
- Sample of written work
- Resumé or CV
- Candidates must possess or be willing to secure introductory knowledge of emergency management
Applicants who meet the admission requirements but do not have sufficient background in disaster and emergency management or have not taken relevant academic courses in disaster and emergency management are admitted to the program conditional to the passing of an introductory Disaster & Emergency Management course run by our program. This is an online course that is offered through the York University's School of Continuing Education. The course is normally offered between June to August and has an enrolment fee of approx $1000. Students should obtain at least a B- (70%) to pass this course. Applicants who cannot meet this requirement will not be admitted to the program.
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