A degree with at least a B grade average in the 300 level and final year (full-time equivalent) courses
This 180-point degree is made up of: five compulsory courses (75 points), three optional courses (45 points - selected from an approved list of 400 (UC) and 600 (LU) level courses in which the student has specific interests) plus either a 60-point dissertation (DRRE 691 completed over summer) or a third semester of coursework (60 points).
IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no individual component less than 6.0
TOEFL iBT: Overall score of 80 (with at least 21 in writing)
Cambrige English: Advanced (CAE) and First (FCE): Overall score of 176, with no individual component less than 169
Pearson Test of English PTE: 58 overall score - with no communicative skill less than 50
Why talk about disaster and risk when many of the social, economic and physical challenges facing the modern world are beyond control? Whilst you can't predict the next disruption or tragedy, cities can manage responses to these scenarios and build the resilience of its people in the face of adversity. At the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in March 2015, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction was adopted and consequently, disaster reduction protocols are being developed around the world. Closer to home, Christchurch is one of the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities and the Canterbury region remains a focus of intense disaster recovery and urban renewal; Canterbury-based students are in a unique position to understand how it can become more disaster-resilient in the future by learning from recent events.
As a result future professionals engaged in disaster reduction will require a broad and well-founded understanding of the fundamental causes of disasters and of the conditions of both natural systems and human systems that allow disasters to occur. This will require appreciation of the ways in which natural systems can behave, of the systems that society has developed for regulating human behaviour, and of the behaviour of individuals and groups in response to unexpected shocks and stresses. There is thus a need for natural science, for social science, and for political and economic science, in the education of disaster reduction professionals.
Master of Disaster, Risk and Resilience (MDRR) students will gain:
• an understanding of the natural and societal causes of disasters
• the ability to analyse and critique strategies for disaster reduction
• experience in applying learning to specific disaster-reduction-related situations
• practice in formulating risk communication, risk reduction and resilience strategies and communicating concepts to a wide audience
• an understanding of methodologies to build resilience.
Joint delivery by two Canterbury tertiary institutions:
This master's will be collaboratively taught by members of Lincoln University’s Department of Environmental Management and the University of Canterbury’s Department of Geological Sciences. Both universities have experienced and learned much from the recent Canterbury earthquake sequence, and have been involved in national-level design of research programmes on Resilience to Nature’s Challenges. The programmes will allow students to access the complementary knowledge and expertise sets of each university, as well as increasing the scope of research projects. Currently UC has strong expertise in hazard processes, risk assessment, risk management and risk reduction, while Lincoln has strengths in environment, planning, socio-economic factors, community engagement, policy and resilience.
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DRRE 401 Introduction to Disaster Risk and Resilience (UC)
DRRE 403 Disaster Risk and Resilience Applications (UC)
DRRE 402 Natural Hazard Risk Assessment (UC)
ERST 604Advanced Urban, Regional and Resource Planning
ERST 609Advanced Risk and Resilience
MDDR graduates will have the appropriate skills, knowledge and values to be employed professionally in any organisation involved in disaster management, risk reduction and recovery.
