Delivered fully online, this MSc course in Disaster Management & Resilience can be studied over approximately 1 or 2 Years to suit your requirements.  This provides you with flexibility, especially if you are already in full-time employment or have other commitments.   We have specifically designed the course to aid professionals working in the field already and for those wishing to embark in such a career who have transferable or existing knowledge, skills, or qualifications.  

We provide a focus on bringing together core theories with the real-world requirements of delivering disaster management, emergency management, and societal resilience to allow you to develop your expertise.  We use real-world case studies and policies from a wide range of international disasters and frameworks for comparison and consideration allowing you to discover, challenge and discuss issues which affect resilience.   You will develop skills in using evidence to provide a firm foundation for your ideas and arguments allow you to communicate these effectively.

Using these skill we will delve behind how and why things are done in disaster and resilience management, giving special attention to why different aspects are undertaken the way that they are, and whether there are lessons to be learnt to improve work towards disaster risk reduction, prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.

This is an opportunity for you to develop master’s level education in the concepts, theories and academic skills surrounding disaster management and resilience.  Including areas of societal resilience, vulnerability, risk reduction, disruption to the functioning of community/society and recovery, along with an understanding of how these are relevant, and can be applied, to professional practice.

Our team is experienced in and passionate about disaster, emergency and resilience management and we look forward to discussing the opportunities ahead in building a resilient society for current and future disaster risks, and in developing our profession to meet these challenges.

• All of our modules are specifically designed and focussed on disaster, emergency and resilience management. We do not use or combined modules from other courses.
• All module leaders are experienced and knowledgeable in Disaster, Emergency and Resilience ensuring your content and discussions can delve deeply into key issues.
• Our course content is designed to allow you to build on your existing experience within or related to Disaster/Emergency Management allow you to extend your knowledge and understanding.
• We provide a safe environment to examine, discuss, and challenge established practices and theories.
• We will guide you towards discovering new insights allowing you to adapt and advance your understanding and apply this within the workplace.
• We will help you to use evidence to facilitate decision making and to make a real difference in the workplace and Disaster Management.

The learning activities will include a mixture of recorded sessions, guided reading, and topical discussions.

If studying full-time, you will usually study 6 modules per year and you will study 2 modules at a time, plus the dissertation. If studying part-time, you will usually study 3 modules per year, alongside the dissertation in the second year. 

Each module delivery last approximately 8 weeks, with each week consisting of a recorded subject session of about an hour.  Each of these is supported by guided reading, wider independent reading, and a discussion topic.  The module is completed through the submission of a single assignment which will usually be an essay (although one module is assessed through the delivery of a recorded presentation), and which is usually submitted a few weeks after the module content has completed. 

You will be supported by a personal tutor, as well as your module leader, and programme leader who you can engage with through our virtual learning environment.  During your dissertation module you will be able to attend monthly online drop-in sessions.  You will also be assigned a research supervisor who is there to support you as you undertake your dissertation research.

You will also have full access to our Learning Centres which provide access to wide range of online information sources, including eBooks, e-Journals, and subject databases.  Learning Centres also provide students with academic skills support via the Skills for Learning programme.  Students can access skills workshops, skills resources, or ask for one-to-one help on a range of skills such as academic writing and referencing.

The University also has a host of other services to support you, so please take a look at the Student Support website: www.wlv.ac.uk/current-students/student-support/ . If you have any other questions whilst studying, or need help or advice then ASK@WLV team is also there for you: www.wlv.ac.uk/current-students/askwlv/.

The course is offered full-time (12-15 months) and part-time (24-27 months).  

Those starting the MSc but only completing three or six modules at postgraduate certificate and/or diploma level can step off the MSc course and be awarded at the level they have completed up to.

You may also use the recognition of prior learning process to credit relevant previously achieved Level 7 credits towards a portion of the course.

Modules will be delivered fully online with pre-recorded delivery, guided reading and discussions within the virtual learning environment, plus individual tutorial sessions.  A significant amount of self-directed study will also form a major part of the course.  

Postgraduate Certificate Modules

7EP021 Foundations & Frameworks

This module provides an examination of the framework, legislation and guidance which forms the foundation of disaster/emergency management and resilience, exposing key lessons which can be applied into the field from countries around the world. You will also examine the principles of disaster and emergency management, discovering some of the complexities these present especially in the deployment of effective policy.

This module will also provide for the development of academic skills such as writing, referencing, reading, searching the literature, and thinking critically and creatively. This will enable you to obtain the most from your studies, enable you to engage in mastering subjects across the field, and demonstrate your knowledge and understanding through learning activities and assignments.

7EP022 Disaster : Understanding, Insight & Learning

This module will develop your key understanding and insight concerning emergencies/disasters, the foundational models and theories that underpin them, and the complexities and barriers concerning the learning and monitoring that should take place during and following such incidents.

7EP023 Communication, Information & Resilience

This module will enable you to gain insight into some of the complex issues associated with the management of information, communications, and decision making in Disaster/Emergency and Resilience Management. You will consider the issues in relation to the needs of communities and responders.

The implications of communication and information sources, reliability, and practical issues will be discussed, and the module will also allow you to develop your own communication and presentation skills.

Postgraduate Diploma Modules

7EP024 Research in Disaster/Emergency Management

The aim of this module is to provide you with knowledge of the research process and key concepts in order for you to be able to propose, conduct and write up the methodology for a research project within emergency management and/or resilience. You will develop key understanding concerning research design such as how to choose and justify a topic, how to write a research question, what methodology to use, how to collect and analyse data, and, of key importance, the consideration of ethical issues. As part of the assessment, you will design and produce a proposal for a research study to be carried out independently by you; mostly likely as part of your MSc Dissertation module.

7EP025 Societal Resilience

This module will enable you to gain insight into some of the complex issues associated with societal resilience.  You will gain different insights from different perspectives, contexts, and fields of study concerning resilience and disaster risk reduction strategies.

You will develop an understanding of the challenges and implications of resilience at a local, national, and global scale. 

7EP026 Contemporary & Future Issues 

During this module you will study the impacts of existing management and leadership within disaster/emergency management and explore what requirements might be necessary to adapt to a changing world. You will cover subject areas such as standards/competencies, hazard and threat developments, paradigms, and professionalism.

Specific consideration will be given to the future of disaster/emergency management using evidence to carefully examine and analyse the likely influences and changes required. 

MSc Dissertation Module

7EP027 Emergency Management & Resilience Dissertation

This module will allow you to deploy research principles to investigate a specific area within the field of Emergency Management & Resilience. The module has a single assessment component, and this consists of your written research Dissertation based on your research project, both of which you must undertake independently. This module may work differently to others you may have studied. All content in the module is open to you when you start the module. However, you should work your way through it to familiarise yourself with everything and participate in discussions about key aspects of the dissertation.

Emergencies and disasters continue to occur globally.  Organisations across the world need to continually manage their ability to respond to, and recover from, a variety of emergencies/disasters within the context of current, legislation, guidance, and policy.  This can present challenges at the local, national, and international levels.  

Each major organisation will have in place a range of emergency/contingency plans that rely on advanced skills in risk management, emergency planning, communications, multi-agency co-operation, project management and leadership.  Most organisations have emergency planning departments/roles and career opportunities exist for working in the field of emergency management at local, national, and international levels. This course will give you those advanced underpinning skills, principles and concepts and enable you to engage with strategic, national, and international guidelines.

Participating in academic study at all levels will encourage analysis and criticality and hence will improve the opportunity for promotion and advancement. Successful completion of an academic qualification will facilitate students in providing a justification for progression. Alternatively, this may be an opportunity for you to move into this area of work or seek more advanced research opportunities on completion of your studies.

This course is ideal for those looking for career advancement and those seeking to move into a disaster management, emergency planning, business continuity, or other resilience related career.  

The courses will allow you to enhance your professional credibility and employability; will develop your personal and professional practice; and provide you with knowledge and understanding of essential concepts, up-to-date research, and evolving practice.

The University of Wolverhampton has been delivering postgraduate provision for disaster, emergency, and resilience management since 2012.  Our courses are highly rated and extremely popular with practitioners in Disaster/Emergency management, or those aspiring to enter this area of work.

Overall, our graduates think differently about what, why and how they deliver disaster management.  They are able to use an evidence-based approach to deliver and advance Disaster, Emergency and Resilience Management for themselves, for their organisations, and for the benefit of society as a whole.

You will develop an advanced working knowledge of the principles, practice, concepts, and underpinning policy within Disaster Management & Resilience, based on established evidence, practice and research.

You will also develop valuable proficiencies in communication and critical thinking as well as a wide range of inter-personal, leadership, self-management, research, and project management skills.

On successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Use initiative and take responsibility in order to learn independently, solve problems in creative and innovative ways.
• Demonstrate a range of transferable academic and professional skills appropriate to a career in Disaster Management, Emergency Management, or other Resilience roles; such as critical analysis, presentation skills, appropriate use of academic conventions in the production and presentation of work, and coherently structured arguments supported by thorough evidence.
• Communicate effectively, with colleagues and a wider audience, in a variety of media.
• Develop a critical understanding of differing perspectives and theories incorporating the legal underpinning of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from a range of emergencies, disasters, or other such disruptive challenges.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive, critically aware, understanding of subject relevant legislation and other appropriate national and international policies and guidelines with the skills and knowledge required to implement these in a range of organisations.
• Develop advanced level skills in the critical appraisal of research and design, implement and evaluate a substantial piece of academic research in a selected area of Disaster Management, Emergency Management and/or Resilience.

We strive to make your time at the University of Wolverhampton a pleasurable experience and are proud of the support we provide to our students. We recognise that on occasions you may encounter challenges, especially if you are also employed in full or part-time work whilst you study. Flexibility to assist you is provided wherever possible and our Ask Team and Academic Coaches are also available to provide advice and guidance.

We understand that many students have concerns about improving their academic study skills.  We include resources and support to assist in developing study, writing, and research skills as part of the taught sessions, building confidence and ability in these areas and allowing you to complete your studies.

Our Library also provides online support and sessions related to developing your academic skills which focus on aspects of skills for academic success.

Please see this course on the main University website for more information, for details of costs, and to submit your application.