Course Description
This course will focus on global disaster risk reduction principles and their impact on American emergency management systems and planning. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
- ENG 102: English Composition 2
- Background in public safety or obtained permission from the instructor to take this course
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
Define Disaster risk reduction and access how risk reduction is tied to the traditional four-part disaster/hazard cycle.
Identify and assess the four contexts of sustainable development and the related global-regional considerations.
Describe the nature of Risk within the context of disaster research and its related link to the concepts of Hazard and Vulnerability.
Conduct an Assessment of the four recognized Vulnerability factors and explain their interaction with each other in assessing community vulnerability.
- Conduct an assessment of the emerging trends in global hazards and vulnerability.
- Assess the process of global risk management and explain the process of global risk assessment and its importance to American emergency management policy.
Identify and access the effectiveness of international examples of the various national frameworks utilized to integrate disaster risk reduction principles into national emergency management planning and policy.
- Identify and assess the international examples of the various local frameworks utilized to integrate disaster risk reduction principles into local and national emergency management planning and policy.
Describe the importance of local communities, non-governmental organizations and volunteers in disaster risk reduction efforts.
Explain the relevance of information compilation and exchange.
- Explain the role of disaster management education, training and research in disaster risk reduction efforts.
- Describe the five forms of public awareness of disaster risk and why public awareness is a vital element of disaster risk reduction.
Describe the five primary disaster reduction applications available once risk assessment and institutional capabilities are put in place.
- Prepare a Disaster Risk Reduction Report for the student’s own community.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Online Quizzes | 30% |
Discussion Board | 30% |
Final Research Paper | 40% |
Total | 100% |
Required Text
- This course uses Open Educational Resources (OER). OER are openly licensed, educational resources that can be used for teaching, learning and research. OER may consist of a variety of resources such as textbooks, videos and software that are no cost for students.
- Textbook used for the course:
- United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (2004). Living with Risk: A Global Review of Disaster Reduction Initiatives - Volume 1. ISBN-10: 9211010640
- Download Volume 1 only (Note: Volume 1 is 457 pages, 30 MB download)
Course Schedule
| Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1-6 | Class 1:
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2 | 7, 8, 9 | Class 2:
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3 | 10, 11, 12 | Class 3:
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4 | 13 | Class 4:
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5 | 14 | Class 5:
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.