UNITAR Online Catalogue
CIFAL Miami - Master's in Disaster Management
People
CIFAL Miami, Florida International University
Background
The graduate degree program has been developed in response to the growing recognition and need for graduate-level education in disaster management. Drawing on faculty from across FIU's nationally recognized colleges and programs as well as disaster practitioners with international and national preparedness and response disaster experience, the program's curriculum is interdisciplinary in nature and scope and designed to develop and improve the skills of disaster practitioners and those interested in entering the exciting field of disaster management.
Event Objectives
1. Master Disaster Management Systems o Compare national and international frameworks for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, including vulnerability assessments and hazard mitigation planning. 2. Design and Implement Preparedness Plans o Develop robust emergency preparedness strategies and business continuity plans adaptable to diverse governance contexts. 3. Manage Response & Recovery Operations o Apply standards for disaster response and recovery, including crisis communications, humanitarian coordination, and post-disaster health readiness. 4. Enhance Crisis Communications o Communicate effectively during emergencies, engage with media, and coordinate public messaging across institutions. 5. Integrate Public Health and Environmental Health o Address the health impacts of disasters through risk management, emergency health readiness, and environmental hazard analysis. 6. Strengthen Humanitarian Assistance Capacity o Coordinate international humanitarian aid and emergency assistance frameworks, focusing on civil-military cooperation and population needs. 7. Apply Field Operations Expertise o Execute full-scale disaster simulations covering site assessments, shelter planning, WASH logistics, security, food distribution, and real-world field coordination. 8. Cultivate Analytical & Strategic Skills o Equip graduates with the ability to analyze complex scenarios, develop integrated disaster solutions, and apply strategic decision making under pressure. 9. Achieve Professional Recognition Meet 95% of the requirements for FEMA’s IAEM Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credential and support pathways towards Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) designation.
Learning Objectives
1. Master Disaster Management Systems o Compare national and international frameworks for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, including vulnerability assessments and hazard mitigation planning. 2. Design and Implement Preparedness Plans o Develop robust emergency preparedness strategies and business continuity plans adaptable to diverse governance contexts. 3. Manage Response & Recovery Operations o Apply standards for disaster response and recovery, including crisis communications, humanitarian coordination, and post-disaster health readiness. 4. Enhance Crisis Communications o Communicate effectively during emergencies, engage with media, and coordinate public messaging across institutions. 5. Integrate Public Health and Environmental Health o Address the health impacts of disasters through risk management, emergency health readiness, and environmental hazard analysis. 6. Strengthen Humanitarian Assistance Capacity o Coordinate international humanitarian aid and emergency assistance frameworks, focusing on civil-military cooperation and population needs. 7. Apply Field Operations Expertise o Execute full-scale disaster simulations covering site assessments, shelter planning, WASH logistics, security, food distribution, and real-world field coordination. 8. Cultivate Analytical & Strategic Skills o Equip graduates with the ability to analyze complex scenarios, develop integrated disaster solutions, and apply strategic decision making under pressure. 9. Achieve Professional Recognition Meet 95% of the requirements for FEMA’s IAEM Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credential and support pathways towards Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) designation.
Content and Structure
The graduate degree program has been designed to be completed within a year and will cover national and international disaster management. Offered on the Modesto Maidique Campus (Saturdays only), as well as fully online format, students will be required to complete two courses every eight weeks until all coursework is completed. The graduate degree program consists of the following ten courses: • Comparative Disaster Management Systems • Disaster Preparedness and Planning Methodologies • Disaster Response and Recovery • Introduction to Vulnerability Analysis and Hazard Mitigation • Crisis Communications • Special Topics in Disaster Studies • Foundations in Humanitarian Assistance and Coordination • Disaster Health Readiness • Environmental Disasters and Human Health • Disaster Field Operations
Methodology
• 100% Online Delivery • Designed for working professionals and international students • Includes asynchronous coursework (flexible access) and occasional live virtual sessions • Includes a 3-day in-person field operations simulation held annually at FIU’s campus in Miami (required for all students)
Targeted Audience
• Emergency Management Professionals Individuals working in disaster response, emergency planning, and crisis management seeking advanced training and credentials. • Public Sector Officials Government employees at the local, state, federal, or international levels involved in public safety, health, and emergency preparedness. • Humanitarian and NGO Workers Staff from international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and recovery operations. • Military and Security Personnel Members of the armed forces, civil defense, or homeland security with responsibilities in disaster response or humanitarian logistics. • Health and Public Health Professionals Practitioners and administrators dealing with emergency health services, epidemiology, or post-disaster health system resilience. • Urban Planners and Infrastructure Managers Professionals responsible for urban risk planning, continuity of operations, and critical infrastructure protection. • Academics and Researchers Scholars and students interested in disaster science, climate risk, and humanitarian studies.