BSc (Hons) Disaster and Emergency Management

Disaster management professionals play a critical role in lessening the impact of human and environmental catastrophes. Astute practitioners, they work with numerous partners to quickly and accurately assess situations and the communities affected, advising on all aspects of recovery, as well as future prevention or management strategies.Local, regional, national and international organisations are all involved in mounting a humanitarian response to disasters; each will have a prepared disaster management plan covering prevention, preparedness, relief and recovery. Additionally, in the UK, most major public and private organisations – educational establishments, the National Health Service (NHS), emergency services, local and central government, HM Armed Forces – have a crisis management or major incident plan, covering appropriate risk assessment and emergency responses. They all need professionals to manage these plans and, more importantly, execute them when required.Coventry University was the first UK University to offer courses in disaster management and has an excellent reputation with the leading professional organisations for the provision of academic undergraduate courses in the areas of disaster and emergency management. This course builds on our illustrious heritage and is fully reviewed and updated for entry from 2020 onwards.Multidisciplinary in nature, this course draws on aspects of technology, physical science, engineering, sociology and human geography. We also place considerable emphasis on the acquisition of practical skills – from table-top or virtual emergency response scenarios, to laboratory exercises and field-based management of disaster, both in the UK (with Outreach Rescue) and overseas through two mandatory international field trip modules*. You will have the opportunity to examine theory and practice in a range of countries, benchmarking approaches in the UK with, for example, those in mainland Europe, Asia and North America, together with relevant international legislation.*Mandatory field trips are partially subsidised by the Centre for Global Engagement, and may be subject to additional costs and meeting appropriate visa requirements.**Key Course Benefits*** Consistently excellent track record in employability (visit Unistats for further details)* Opportunity to take part in training exercises in Coventry University’s advanced Crisis Simulation Centre to develop your skills in responding to emergencies in ‘real-time’.* The opportunity to develop and hone your field operations skills; in North Wales in your first year (costs covered in course fees) and through an international field trip in your second and final years (subject to additional costs and meeting appropriate visa requirements.)* Strong portfolio of industry-related research.* Taught by staff with industry experience in international disaster preparedness and response, many are active in setting standards for disaster management nationally and one is a member of The Emergency Planning Society’s Education Committee.* First UK University to teach disaster management degrees with an extensive alumni network active in industry.* Example organisations our students have worked with during their optional professional placement year include Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, RedR India, Oxfam GB, Halcrow Group Ltd, All Hands, Lloyds Register, the Catholic Overseas Development Agency (CAFOD), and Local Authority Emergency Planning Units.