Disaster and Emergency Management Program Learning Outcomes


  • Apply a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to the DEM field of study and practice.
  • Examine and situate one’s own personal beliefs.
  • Demonstrate openness to ideas and actions. 
  • Evaluate evidence, its sources, meanings and intentions.


  • Articulate ideas and arguments effectively in oral and written formats.
  • Demonstrate competence in interpersonal and intercultural communication skills.
  • Critically analyze the influence of new, emergent and collaborative technologies on the DEM field of practice.


  • Illustrate the use and limitations of knowledge and theory in the field to professional DEM practice.
  • Identify and explain the core concepts and constructs of research.


  • Analyze historic and contemporary evolution of how societies have come to understand the relationships between hazards and disasters.
  • Differentiate, assess and apply the theoretical foundations of disaster and emergency management as an evolving field of study and practice.
  • Examine key factors (e.g. social, political, economic) that impact how hazards and disasters are perceived, experienced and acted on or managed.
  • Identify and assess the barriers and opportunities for applying theory to practice.
  • Explain and analyze the historic and contemporary norms, values, principles, and policy and legal frameworks guiding disaster and emergency management practice in domestic and international contexts.
  • Compare and analyze the connections and relationships among disaster and emergency management, disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, and climate change adaptation activities.
  • Identify and analyze a range of models (e.g. decision making) and frameworks for enhancing resilience, reducing risk and managing disasters in local, regional and international contexts.
  • Identify and explain the implications of stress for self, disaster and emergency management professionals, other stakeholders and populations.

Professional Skills & Practices

  • Identify stakeholders relevant to DEM activities and develop collaborative processes that account for various interests, needs, capacities and capabilities.
  • Facilitate group processes, taking into account the influence of personal styles and interpersonal dynamics on decision-making and group interactions.
  • Employ outcome-based planning that incorporates shared values, long-term orientation and strategic perspectives.
  • Select or develop a range of disaster management strategies that:
    1. integrate an analysis of risk and resilience;
    2. account for variance across and within population groups and contexts;
    3. incorporate monitoring and evaluation.
  • Analyze, monitor and evaluate complex DEM problems and situations.
  • Facilitate and/or lead decision-making and adaptive planning in anticipation of and in response to rapidly changing, uncertain and complex environments.
  • Analyze and integrate ethical implications in decision- making and planning processes.