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MASTER OF DISASTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
The Master of Disaster and Emergency Management (MDEM) is the
only graduate program of its kind in Ontario and one of only two in
Canada. It is designed to meet the crical need for professionals
with advanced level knowledge and skills in this excing and im-
portant eld. The program will appeal to those currently working in
the eld looking to assume posions of increasing responsibility as
well as those aspiring to become Disaster & Emergency Manage-
ment professionals. Studying on either a full-me or part-me basis,
you will develop the knowledge and skills to prevent, migate, pre-
pare for, respond to and recover from local, naonal and interna-
onal disasters and emergencies. The program is interdisciplinary
drawing on the strengths of faculty from across York University to
oer a wide range of experse in areas like environmental risks and
management, natural hazards, business connuity, public health,
humanitarian law, public safety and security, crisis management,
war and complex emergencies.
STUDENT HANDBOOK
20116/2017
Master of Disaster and Emergency Management (MDEM)..............................................................................................2
Degree Requirements.......................................................................................................................................................2
Degree by MRP.................................................................................................................................................................3
Degree by course work……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4
Oponal /Elecve course…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4
Praccum…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6
Dues and responsibilies................................................................................................................................................6
Finances............................................................................................................................................................................6
New Students...................................................................................................................................................................7
Future Career Opportunies............................................................................................................................................8
Associaons, Cercaons, Conferences and More........................................................................................................8
Faculty........................................................................................................................... ..................................................10
Administrave Sta……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………12
Contacts…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….12
Annual Overnight Exercise…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13
Frequently Asked Quesons (FAQs) ................................................................................................................................13
Upcoming PhD Program ..................................................................................................................................................14
ANNEX 1 – MRP Proposal Template/Sample................................................................ ……………………………………………….15
ANNEX 2 – Student Commitment Form.................................................................... ……………………………………………….16
ANNEX 3 – Brief Course Descripon................................................................................................................................17
ANNEX 4 – Course Schedule.............................................................................................................................................18
LIST OF CONTENT
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Master of Disaster and Emergency Management (MDEM) Opons:
To complete the program there are two opons available:
Major Research Paper stream (24 course credits, the equivalent to 8 courses, worth 3 credits each + the Major Research Paper which is
worth 6 credits).
Course work stream (30 course credits, the equivalent to 10 courses worth 3 credits each)
************************************************************************************************************
If you are planning on doing an MRP please note that you must take a research methods course in both the fall and winter terms. If you are
planning a course-based degree then you may choose which methods course you wish to take, which can be in any term.
MAJOR RESEARCH PAPER (MRP) STREAM COURSE WORK STREAM
Total number of
8 courses (24 credits) 10 courses (30 credits)
Other require- MRP (80-100 pages) (6 credits) -------
Required courses
DEMS 5020 – Disasters: Concepts & Causes
DEMS 5030 – Social & Behavioural Dimen-
sions of Disasters
DEMS 5051 – Research Design & Qualita-
ve Methods
DEMS 5052 – Quantave Research Meth-
ods
DEMS 5020– Disasters: Concepts &
Causes
DEMS 5030 – Social & Behavioural
Dimensions of Disasters
EITHER DEMS 5051 – Research Design
& Qualitave Methods
OR DEMS 5052 – Quantave Re-
search Methods
Dierences between the two streams
***The program is oered on a full-me and part-me basis. The recommended me to compleon is 4
terms for full-me students and 8 terms for part-me students***
Degree Requirements
Courses:
Students must successfully complete 24 course credits including the following:
Core required courses: 6 credits
DEMS 5020 3.0: Disasters: Concepts and Causes/Same as Environmental Studies 6401 3.0
DEMS 5030 3.0: Social and Behavioural Dimensions of Disasters
Six addional credits in research methods:
DEMS 5051 3.0: Research Design and Qualitave Research Methods AND
DEMS 5052 3.0: Quantave Research Methods
In consultaon with the student’s supervisor, alternave 6 credits research methods course(s) from other graduate pro-
grams in the Faculty of Graduate Studies may be acceptable.
Twelve addional credits selected in consultaon with the student’s advisor, six of which must be from courses within the
MDEM program. Other courses may be selected, in consultaon with the student’s advisor, from appropriate graduate
courses oered across the university based on student’s eld of specializaon including the following listed below. Normally
these courses are from one of ve broadly dened areas of study, as listed in the secon master’s degree by course work
below. Other very important program requirement: parcipaon in at least one of the program’s annual simulaon exercis-
es.
Master’s Degree by Major Research Paper
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Major Research Paper (MRP): Candidates for the Master of Disaster & Emergency Management may be granted approval to write a major
research paper on an approved topic. Topics can either be a crical evaluaon and synthesis of the current state of knowledge and research
within a dened area of study or may focus on a specic research topic in depth. Papers must comprise original material of scholarly nature,
demonstrate that the student is capable of independent research and crical analysis and be of publishable quality. The major research paper
should be between 80-100 pages. Please see Annex 1 for a template for the structure of the MRP proposal and MRP tle page. The paper will
be supervised by a full member of the graduate program and graded on a pass/fail basis by a commiee composed of the student’s supervisor
and one other faculty member (a second reader) who has not been involved in the major research paper process.
**If you choose to do an MRP and the work requires human parcipaon, you will be required to follow research ethics procedures detailed
here: hp://gradstudies.yorku.ca/current-students/thesis-dissertaon/research-ethics/
***As part of the research ethics process, you should complete the TCPS 2 Tutorial available here: hp://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/eng/
educaon/tutorial-didacciel/
MASTER’S DEGREE BY COURSE WORK
The program is oered on a full-me and part-me basis. The recommended me to compleon is 4 terms for full-me students
and 8 terms for part-me students.
Courses
Students must successfully complete 30 course credits including the following:
Core required courses: 6 credits
DEMS 5020 3.0: Disasters: Concepts and Causes / Same as Environmental Studies 6401 3.0
DEMS 5030 3.0: Social and Behavioural Dimensions of Disasters
3 addional credits in research methods from either:
DEMS 5051 3.0: Research Design and Qualitave Research Methods OR
DEMS 5052 3.0: Quantave Research Methods
In consultaon with the student's supervisor, an alternave 3 credits research methods course from other graduate programs in
the Faculty of Graduate Studies may be acceptable.
21 addional credits: 12 (minimum) of which must be from courses within the MDEM program. Other courses may be selected,
in consultaon with the student's advisor, from appropriate graduate courses oered across the university based on the stu-
dent's eld of specializaon including the following listed below.
Oponal/Elecve Courses
The courses we have listed below that you can take within other graduate programs are only recommended courses, you can
choose other ones if you wish. Please see Annex 2 for DEMS course descripons. Also, note that some of the courses listed below
from other facules are not oered every term. Please refer to the graduate course schedule to look up class dates / mes. Nor-
mally these courses are from one of ve broadly dened (unocially) areas of study:
1) Natural, Technological and Human–induced Disasters
GS/DEMS 5010 3.00: Advanced Disaster and Emergency Management
GS/DEMS 5040 3.00: Natural Disasters
GS/DEMS 5053 3.00: Topics in Business Connuity
GS/DEMS 5060 3.00: Terrorism Studies 1
GS/DEMS 5070 3.00: Terrorism Studies 2
GS/DEMS 5081 3.00: Applied Topics in Disaster and Emergency Management
GS/DEMS 5082 3.00: Medical and Public Health Issues for Non-Medical Personnel
GS/DEMS 5710 3.00: Crical Infrastructure Protecon
GS/DEMS 5080 6.00: Disaster and Emergency Management Praccum
2) Public Safety and Security
GS/DEMS 5080 6.00: Disaster and Emergency Management Praccum
GS/DEMS 5081 3.00: Applied Topics in Disaster and Emergency Management
GS/DEMS 5082 3.00: Medical and Public Health Issues for Non-Medical Personnel
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GS/DEMS 5710 3.00: Crical Infrastructure Protecon
GS/DEMS 5060 3.00: Terrorism Studies 1
GS/DEMS 5070 3.00: Terrorism Studies 2
ES/ENVS 5068//GS/CMCT 5306 3.00: Global Jusce and Humanitarian Internaonalism
GS/DEMS 6070 3.00: Disasters and Ethics
3) Environmental Issues
GS/DEMS 5040 3.00 Natural Disasters
ES/ENVS 6156 3.00 Crical Theory of Internaonal Development
ES/ENVS 6175 3.00 Global Environmental Polics
ES/ENVS 6149 // GS/CMCT 6120 3.00 Culture and the Environment
ES/ENVS 5103 3.00 Nature and Society
ES/ENVS 5061 3.00 Environmental Law & Jusce
ES/ENVS 5016 3.00 Protected Area Management
GS/SOCI 6315 3.00 Cultural Polics of Environment and Development II: Environmental Issues
4) Technology
GS/DEMS 5010 3.00 Advanced Disaster and Emergency Management
GS/ESS 5420 3.00 Advanced Geospaal Informaon Technology
GS/GEOG 5050 3.00 Geographical Informaon Systems and Spaal Analysis
GS/GEOG 5015 3.00 Remote Sensing & Image Processing for Geographical Analysis and Environmental Monitoring
5) Risk, Vulnerability and Capacity
GS/DEMS 5010 3.00 Advanced Disaster and Emergency Management
GS/DEMS 5053 3.00 Topics in Business Connuity
ES/ENVS 5124 3.00 Development Studies
ES/ENVS 6137 3.00 Women, Development and Globalizaon
GS/POLS 5245 3.00 Gender and Internaonal Relaons
GS/GEOG 5209 3.00 Masters Seminar in Crical Human Geography
GS/ADMS 6800 3.00 Global Mindsets and People Management
GS/SOCI 6310 3.00 Environmental Sociology
ES/ENVS 6165 3.00 Land Use Planning Law
ES/ENVS 6179 3.00 Climate Change: Science and Policy
Instute for Social Research (ISR)
The Instute for Social Research (ISR) oers a number of short courses on topics including social research and stascs. These,
although not for credit, can aid with studies in the MDEM program and help students improve their research skills.
Website: hp://www.isr.yorku.ca/
Also, you can take up to two courses outside of our program or in another Ontario University. You can do a course search for courses in
other graduate programs on the York website or on the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) website where all the graduate programs are
listed (hp://gradstudies.yorku.ca/current-students/regulaons/courses-grading/). You will need permission to take graduate level
courses outside of the York MDEM program or within another university in Ontario; the forms to be used are aached and are to be
submied to the Graduate Program Assistant (GPA).
Form for taking a course in another Graduate Program at York: hp://gradstudies.yorku.ca/les/2014/08/course-program-other.pdf
Form for courses in another Ontario University: hp://gradstudies.yorku.ca/les/2014/06/ovgs-applicaon.pdf
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The Praccum
Through the MDEM program, the Emergency Management Praccum course (GS/DEMS 5080 6.00) allows students to gain a praccal
element in the eld. You must enrol in it for your rst Winter term by subming the Student Commitment Form (Annex 2) if interest-
ed in taking it but you do not normally start the placement unl the Summer. In order to complete the course and gain 6 credits, a
total number of 220 hours must be fullled at the placement. The distribuon of hours per week / days is decided between the em-
ployer and the student.
Depending on which areas students are most interested, there are a number of sectors in which students can seek placements. Exam-
ples of organizaons that have taken on students from the MDEM program in the past:
> The Canadian Red Cross > Fire Services > MTS Allstream
> The City of Brampton > Meyers Norris Penny > Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
An advantage of taking the Internship course in addion to building networks is that in some situaons, placement organizaons may
wish to hire their intern once their degree is complete.
York Internaonal Internship Program
The YIIP provides both York undergraduate and graduate students a non-credit opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to an
internaonal work environment and enhance their job-related skills in an internaonal and intercultural seng. York University oers
funding for successful internaonal internship applicants.
Website: hp://yorkinternaonal.yorku.ca/intern-abroad/
Dues and Responsibilies
> Graduate Assistant (GA)
A spend may be paid to a full–me degree candidate for various types of acvity. The dues of a graduate assistant may include par-
cipaon in a praccum, as an apprence in a laboratory or applied seng, library work for the department or for a research group
(normally in cases where it is possible for students to make small but construcve contribuons to group research projects), adminis-
trave, clerical and research work. Students may apply for GA posions through the normal posng process as idened in the CUPE
3903 Unit 3 Collecve Agreement. GA funding will be in addion to the Fellowship and available to students who are not working
more than 10 hours per week on campus.
> Research Assistant (RA)
RAs are graduate students registered as full-me who receive nancial assistance from or through York University for research or aca-
demic acvies which are predominantly for the purposes of advancing the students’ progress towards fullment of their program
and degree requirements. They are not aliated with CUPE 3903.
For informaon on your funding model, visit: hp://gradstudies.yorku.ca/graduate-funding-model/
Finances
The MDEM program fees are paid per term; therefore the number of courses students take will not be a factor in the fees per term.
The fees do vary, however, depending on whether students are domesc or internaonal, and between full me and part me stu-
dents. The table below summarizes the fees for September 2016, although please note that fees may vary from term-to-term/year-to
-year.
This informaon can be viewed in more detail at the following website:
hp://gradstudies.yorku.ca/current-students/
Status /
Program
Domestic International
1 Term 2 Terms 1 Term (Masters) 1 Term (PhD)
Part-time $922.83 $1,845.66 $3,262.82 $3,125.32
Full-time $1,845.68 $3,691.36 $6,525.67 $6,250.67
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Scholarships are usually given out to students with outstanding academic achievements; bursaries, awards and loans focus more
on nancial assistance on the basis of students’ need. There are dierent criteria for eligibility in terms of awards, loans, bursaries
and scholarships. Students are encouraged to look through these criteria and apply for these accordingly. For more informaon on
awards, scholarships and bursaries, visit hp://gradstudies.yorku.ca/current-students/student-nances/funding-awards/
Please note that when applying for any nancial scholarships or assistance, there are deadlines associated with these. Students are
therefore encouraged to read up on the eligibility criteria and deadlines early on through the term to best prepare themselves for
when to submit informaon. Furthermore, York University oers nancial advising for students simply seeking advice on how to
handle their nances in terms of fees. There is online help as well as a number of informaonal brochures available under the
“Financial Advising” secon at the above link.
New Students
A computer lab, DB 2004 (Victor Philip Dahdaleh Building), is dedicated to MDEM students. When there are no classes being held in
that lab, students can use the lab at any me and it can only be accessed using an access card distributed to each MDEM student.
The access cards can be picked up from the oce of the Graduate Program Assistant (GPA) in 209 Atkinson.
Students have the opon to add a graduate diploma to their MDEM degree and complete both simultaneously; the link aached
below displays all the diploma opons. Students would have to choose a diploma related to their eld of interest. If interested in
any of these, students can contact the department that holds the diploma to see what the registraon requirements are. The diplo-
mas are not part of the MDEM degree therefore the administrave aspects for these diplomas will need to be organized with the
respecve faculty.
Examples of possible diplomas:
Internaonal and Security Studies, Refugee and Migraon Studies, Health Services Financial Management, Non-prot Manage-
ment, Praccal Ethics, Rehabilitaon Services, Geographic Informaon Systems & Remote Sensing, Urban Studies.
Website: hp://futurestudents.yorku.ca/graduate/programs
Below is some useful informaon that you should familiarize yourself with:
Faculty of Gradate Studies (use this site to familiarize yourself with important dates and external scholarship deadlines as well as
academic requirements/regulaons to maintain or graduate programs: hp://gradstudies.yorku.ca/
York e-mail/passport York: hp://gradstudies.yorku.ca/current-students/student-services/compung/
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
CUPE 3903 is the York chapter of CUPE, a naonal union represenng workers in areas including health care, educaon, social ser-
vices, transportaon and more. CUPE has over 2200 local branches. For more informaon about the specic benets you are en-
tled to through the GA-ship, please refer to the CUPE 3903 website: 3903.cupe.ca or contact someone from the CUPE oce, also
listed on the website.
YU card: This card can be used to access the library/prinng and other areas at York: hp://yucard.info.yorku.ca/
Free prinng for graduate students: hp://compung.yorku.ca/students/prinng/prinng-allocaon-for-registered-graduate-
students/
Map of Keele Campus: hp://maps.info.yorku.ca/keele-campus/
The Wring Centre oers individual instrucon in all aspects of wring: hp://gradstudies.yorku.ca/current-students/enhancing-
your-experience/wring-centre/
York University Libraries: www.library.yorku.ca/web/
Your liaison librarian for this program is Peter Duerr, pdu[email protected], 416-736-2100 x88810
For more informaon visit hp://www.library.yorku.ca/web/about-us/contact-us/liaison-librarians/liaison-informaon-for-faculty-
graduate-students/
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Future Career Opportunies
Students graduang from the MDEM program have a wide spectrum of areas in which they could seek employment including:
>Private sector companies
>Public sector managers (dierent levels)
>Not-for-prot organizaons (NGOs)
>Local, provincial or federal government emergency response program managers / planners
>Canadian Military
>Fireghters
>RCMP, provincial, municipal police force
>Ambulance, paramedic and health sector
>Risk Management and Business Connuity
>Insurance and Disaster Recovery
>Internaonal Humanitarian Assistance
Associaons, Cercaons, Conferences and More
ASSOCIATIONS
Disaster and Emergency Management Students Associaon (DEMSA): hps://www.facebook.com/groups/133163330079052/
DEMSA consists of a group of students in the MDEM program at York University whom connect through social media sites like
LinkedIn and Facebook to stay up to date on current DEM topics and occasionally host events. New students in the MDEM program
are encouraged to join DEMSA. If you sign up for Facebook you can become a member and join the discussions.
Disaster and Emergency Program (DEM)
DEM is a moodle group which shares informaon regarding job and other important issues for students from DEM faculty. Almost
all past and present students are a member. To join please go to: hps://learn.yorku.ca/moodle/course/view.php?id=199 and en-
roll yourself using this enrollment key: bama_dem_laps
Canadian Risk and Hazards Network (CRHNet): www.crhnet.ca/
The CRHNet is a not-for-prot organizaon which focuses on disaster risk reducon and emergency management in Canada. The
network creates a space for academics and praconers in the eld to share knowledge and resources in order to facilitate policy
formulaon and adopon of best pracces within Canada. The CRHNet also hosts an annual symposium.
Internaonal Associaon of Emergency Managers (IAEM): hp://www.iaem.com/home.cfm
The IAEM, which has more than 5,000 members worldwide, is an internaonal non-prot organizaon of emergency management
professionals. Membership includes local, state and federal emergency managers, homeland security ocials, educaonal, mili-
tary, private, non-governmental and volunteer praconers. The vision of the IAEM is to be recognized as a premier internaonal
organizaon of emergency management professionals. Their mission is to serve its members by providing informaon, networking
and professional opportunies, and to advance the emergency management profession.
Ontario Associaon of Emergency Managers (OAEM): hp://www.oaem.ca/
The OAEM promote, support and enhance the profession of emergency management in Ontario. With nearly 500 members, OAEM
is the largest and most successful emergency manager’s professional associaon in Canada. Its success is the result of its network-
ing, training and professional development programs. The OAEM launched OAEM-Online to provide enhanced services to its mem-
bers. OAEM-Online will enable OAEM to deliver exisng and new programs to its members using state of the art networking and
collaboraon tools.
Disaster Recovery Instute (DRI): hp://www.dri.ca/
The DRI provide internaonal recognized training and educaon services, cercaon and standards for Canada’s business con-
nuity planning/disaster recovery profession.
Disaster Recovery Informaon Exchange (DRIE): hp://www.drie.org/
The DRIE is a non-prot associaon of professionals dedicated to the exchange of informaon on all aspects of planning for an
emergency or a disrupon to normal operaons. DRIE's goal is to provide an accessible, informal, open forum for the exchange of
informaon and knowledge related to the many variaons of emergency preparedness.
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CERTIFICATIONS
Cered Emergency Manager (CEM)
The Internaonal Associaon of Emergency Managers created the cercaon program for emergency managers to raise and
maintain professional standards; it is a program to cerfy achievements within the profession. Any emergency management
professional who meets requirements is welcome to parcipate. Explore www.iaem.com for details.
Incident Management System (IMS): hp://training.emergencymanagementontario.ca/TPOnline/TPOnline.dll/
EMO_Public_Courses
IMS cercaons are oered in a series of courses including introductory (IMS-100), basic (IMS-200), intermediate (IMS-300)
and advanced (IMS-400) levels. These are recommended for emergency managers and are oered through the Oce of the Fire
Marshall, or might be available through York University as well. Please contact sta in the MDEM program for further infor-
maon. hps://training.emergencymanagementontario.ca/TPOnline/TPOnline.dll/EMO_Public_Course/
COURSENO=COUR2011070415145004500149
Basic Emergency Management (BEM)
BEM is a provincial training which provides an overview of emergency management in Ontario and helps students gain under-
standing in taccal and strategic components of migaon / prevenon, preparedness, response and recovery. This cercaon
is also oered by the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety & Correconal Services, and may be available through York Univer-
sity. Please contact sta in the MDEM program for further informaon.
Associate Business Connuity Professional (ABCP): hps://www.drii.org/cercaon/abcp.php
ABCP cercaon supports entry-level prociency with some knowledge in business connuity planning, but who have not yet
acquired a great deal of experience in the eld. Starng your career path in Business Connuity Management through ABCP cer-
caon demonstrates to your peers, colleagues and management that professionalism within the industry is your goal.
DISASTER DATABASES
Internaonal Database (EM-DAT): hp://www.emdat.be/
The EM-DAT contains essenal core data on the occurrence and eects of over 18,000 mass disasters in the world from 1900 to
present. The database is compiled from various sources, including UN agencies, non-governmental organisaons, insurance
companies, research instutes and press agencies.
The Canadian Disaster Database (CDD): hp://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/cndn-dsstr-dtbs/index-eng.aspx
The CDD contains detailed disaster informaon on more than 1000 natural, technological and conict events (excluding war)
that have happened since 1900 at home or abroad and that have directly aected Canadians.
ANNUAL CONFERENCES
World Conference on Disaster Management (WCDM): hp://www.wcdm.org/
WCDM is the largest conference of its kind in North America. It takes place in Toronto every summer. Volunteer opportunies
for students are available to enhance your experience, exposure, and networking.
IAEM Annual Conference: hp://www.iaem.com/page.cfm?p=events/annual-conference
The IAEM hosts an annual conference where current trends and knowledge is shared. This conference aracts high-prole
speakers and creates a collaborave environment for professionals.
CRHNet Annual Symposium: hp://crhnet.ca/
CRHNet Annual Symposiums are held at venues across Canada for all concerned regions and communies to get an opportunity
to take part in the Network and its acvies. The symposium structure will allow you the opportunity to parcipate in the
growth of a professional community in Canada devoted to risk reducon.
The Global Plaorm on Disaster Risk Reducon (GPDRR): hp://www.unisdr.org/we/coordinate/global-plaorm
It is a global biennial event, established in 2007, which is hosted by a dierent country each me. The event is managed by the
UN Internaonal Strategy for Disaster Reducon, and at this conference, informaon is exchanged on ways to improve imple-
menng disaster risk reducon pracces.
The Internaonal Disaster and Risk Conference (IDRC): hp://www.idrc.info/
The IDRC hosts workshop style events throughout the conference, and is one of the 3 pillars of the Global Risk Forum (GRF) Da-
vos. The GRF Davos is an internaonal organizaon based in Davos, Switzerland dedicated to knowledge exchange on risk relat-
10
Faculty
FULL-TIME FACULTY
Dr. Ali Asgary joined York University’s Disaster & Emergency Management program in July 2005. Prior to joining
York University, he was assistant professor at the department of Applied Disaster and Emergency Studies at
Brandon University (Manitoba, Canada). Ali has in the past been the president of the Canadian Chapter of the
Internaonal Associaon of Emergency Managers (IAEM– Canada).
Experse: Urban Planning/Design. Business Connuity, GIS and IT Applicaons in DEM
Educaon: Ph.D., in Urban Design and Regional Planning, Newcastle Upon Tyne University; MA in Economics and
Development Planning, University of Tehran; BA in Economics, University of Tehran.
David Etkin is an associate professor of Disaster and Emergency Management at York University. Prior to that, he
worked for 28 years with the Meteorological Service of Canada in a variety of elds, including operaons and
research. He has been an associate member of the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Toronto since
1994, doing research on natural hazards, teaching and supervising graduate students. In 2003 he was awarded
the Environment Canada Award of Excellence. Prof. Etkin has parcipated in three internaonal hazard projects
and was one of only 2 non-Americans to assist with their 2nd naonal assessment of natural hazards. He has
been principal invesgator for a NATO short-term project on natural hazards and disasters and the Canadian
Assessment of Natural Hazards Project that resulted in the book 'An Assessment of Natural Hazards and Disas-
ters in Canada,' which he edited.
Experse: Disaster and Emergency Management, Risk Assessment, Climate Change, Natural Hazards
Educaon: M.Sc., York University; B.Ed., University of Toronto; B.Sc., University of Toronto.
Dr. Nirupama has been with the Disaster & Emergency Management Program since 2005 and was one of the
founder faculty members of the program. Dr. Nirupama has been acvely teaching and researching in disaster
risk management; business connuity; natural disasters; and mul-criteria decision making using fuzzy logic con-
cept. She is also a cered (DRI Canada) Associate Business Connuity Professional.
Experse: Natural Hazards, Disaster Risk Management, Business Connuity Planning, Mul-criteria Decision Sup-
port System, GIS/Remote Sensing
Educaon: Ph.D., Water Resources Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan; Master of Hydrology, Indian Instute of
Technology Roorkee, India; M.Sc., Stascs, Indian Instute of Technology Kanpur, India.
Dr. Kenneth McBey is a professor of Human Resources and Disaster & Emergency Management at York Universi-
ty. His research and teaching draw on his earlier career as an infantry ocer in the Canadian army, where he
rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and commanding ocer of the 48th Highlanders of Canada. Dr. McBey
has served as director of York University’s graduate and undergraduate Human Resources Management pro-
grams, and he was the founding faculty member of York's Disaster & Emergency Management program. He has
been a vising professor at the Aberdeen Business School and the Graduate Programs in Human Resources and
in Management at the University of Aberdeen, and Robert Gordon University, Scotland, the Australian Naonal
University, and the University of Otago, New Zealand. Professor McBey is acve in a wide variety of community
and voluntary associaons, and he serves on the boards of several not-for-prot organizaons.
Experse: Management & Leadership, Human Resources, Organizaonal Behaviour, Disaster and Emergency
Management
Educaon: Ph.D., Schulich School of Business, York University; MBA, Schulich School of Business, York University;
B.Ed., University of Toronto; BA in Polical Economy, University of Toronto.
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Walter Perchal has taught a broad range of courses at York University. He currently
serves as graduate and undergraduate faculty in the Disaster and Emergency Management programs. At the Uni-
versity, Walter established The Centre of Excellence in Security, Resilience and Intelligence at the Schulich Execu-
ve Educaon Centre, where he currently services at the Program Director. Over the course of his military ser-
vice he trained in various speciales including CBRNE. As a result of this, he served an observer / instructor for
the American “Red Dragon” exercises of the course of a number of years and commanded the Domesc Re-
sponse Unit. In his regular dues he became Commanding Ocer of The Royal Regiment of Can ada. Later he
was appointed Special Advisor to the Canadian Army Commander. Walter is on the board of directors for a
number of corporaons, and is the current Chair of both: The Disnguished Scholars of Canada and The Naonal
Defence Foundaon of Canada.
Experience: Internaonal Change, Naonal/Internaonal Security, Terrorism and Counter Terrorism
Ali Asgary
David Etkin
Niru Nirupama
Ken McBey
Walter Perchal
11
Dr. Mamuji is a new faculty member in the Disaster and Emergency Management program at York University. Prior to
joining York she was a policy advisor with Canada’s Department of Foreign Aairs, Trade & Development (DFATD) in
the Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Response Group, and was DFATD’s 2013-2014 Cadieux-Léger Fellow. She
has assisted in upgrading Canada’s Standard Operang Procedures for responses to natural disasters abroad and
researched the implicaons of open government and open data on foreign policy. Dr. Mamuji is a contribung
member of the Internaonal Instute of Administrave Sciences’ (IIAS) Project Group on Safety and Security.
Experse: humanitarian assistance; internaonal disaster response; coordinaon; public policy; public administraon; interde-
partmental collaboraon; Open Data
Educaon: Ph. D., Public Administraon, University of Oawa; M.A. Globalizaon Studies, McMaster University; B.Sc. (honours),
Human Biology and Bioethics, University of Toronto .
Dr. Jack L. Rozdilsky is an Associate Professor of Disaster and Emergency Management at York University in Toronto,
Canada. His work aempts to combine disaster-related scholarship with emergency management and homeland
security pracce. Prior to joining York University, Dr. Rozdilsky has engaged in research, teaching, and service acvi-
es while holding emergency management faculty posions at both the University of North Texas and Western Illi-
nois University. He has also worked as a hazard migaon planner and he has earned various DHS-FEMA profes-
sional cercaons. Dr. Rozdilsky’s post-disaster eld research experience began with exploring disaster recovery
from 1993 Mississippi River oods. He has since explored a variety of disaster-related circumstances, including the
Montserrat volcanic crisis, Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, tornado disasters, the Ferguson civil disturbances, and the 70th
anniversary of the rst use of the atomic bomb.
Experse: Comprehensive EM, Homeland security & terrorism, All hazards mgmt., post disaster eld research
Educaon: Ph.D. in Resource Development and Urban Studies, Michigan State U; MA in Environmental Studies, U Illinois at
Springeld; BS in Environmental Science and BS in Geology, Bradley University.
FULL-TIME FACULTY— School of Administrave Studies Kelly
Thomson is an Assistant Professor in the School of Administrave Studies, York University. She uses social construc-
vist frameworks and qualitave methods to analyze organizing processes in a variety of domains. She is engaged
in research examining how professionals, paents and their families organize health care and how adverse events
are reported. She also studies how entrepreneurs engage with other actors (e.g. regulators, nanciers, associaons)
to contest exisng structures and constute new ones as they create new opportunies, elds and industries. Final-
ly, she looks at processes of change in elds.
Experse: Sustainability Management, Organizaonal Theory, Social Movement Theory
Educaon: Health Care Coordinaon, Ph.D., Schulich/York University, MA, University of Manitoba, BA, McGill.
Kaz Higuchi worked with the Atmospheric Environment Service as a weather forecaster, which was followed by a
posion in Edmonton with the Arcc Weather Centre. Further to this, Kaz studied atmospheric physics at the Uni-
versity of Toronto, and worked with Environment Canada as a research scienst, focusing on global biochemical
cycle of carbon and climate modeling / data analysis and diagnoscs. Kaz became the head of the carbon cycle mod-
eling group in 2012 before joining an adjunct professorial posion with the Faculty of Environmental Studies and
Geography Department at York University. Kaz is also a member of the Instute for Research and Innovaon in Sus-
tainability and the Laboratory of Mathemacal Parallel Systems in the Department of Stascs and Mathemacs.
Experse: Climate Change, Complex Systems Research, Weather events and DR Strategies, Systems Thinking
Educaon: Ph.D., University of Toronto, M.Sc., University of Toronto, B.Sc., Carleton University.
James Kilgour is currently the Manager, Oce of Emergency Management for the City of Toronto. James brings ex-
perse from the government, private and non-prot sector where he has lead progressive posions in developing,
implemenng and maintaining EM and business connuity programs. He has responded to a number of pre-planned
large scale events as well as a number of local emergencies that involved mul-agencies and levels of government.
His emergency management interests include exercise design, risk assessment, standards and performance meas-
urement/management. James is a Community EM Coordinator (CEMC) and Cered Business Connuity Profession-
al (CBCP). James has been involved with the BDEM program since 2010 where he taught ADMS 2700 Fundamentals
of Emergency Management.
Experience: Community Emergency Management Program Management, BCP, Risk Assessments
Educaon: M.Sc., Disaster Management, Coventry University, BA Geography, UBC, Dip. Public Administraon, Western Univ
David Baumken is a professional consultant and a long-standing designated electricity expert of NATO's Industrial
Resources and Communicaons Services Group of Civil Emergency Planning and is currently developing naonal
energy resilience guidelines. He has 40 years of service with Hydro One and has extensive naonal and internaon-
al experience in developing regulaons, standards and guidelines for protecng and enhancing the resiliency of
North America's electricity system and was involved in numerous severe weather and technological emergencies.
Experse: Crical Infrastructure Protecon and Resilience, Emergency Risk Management, Business Connuity Plan-
ning, Emergency Response Simulaons, Government Statutes and Regulaons.
Educaon: M.DEM Disaster and Emergency Management, BA (Hons) Business Administraon, York University
Kelly Thomson
Aida Mamuji
James Kilgour
Jack Rozdilsky
Kaz Higuchi
PART TIME FACULTY
David Baumken
PART-TIME FACULTY
PART-TIME FACULTY
12
PART-TIME FACULTY
Lilia Malkin Dubins is an Emergency Physician currently working full-me in the Greater Toronto Area in On-
tario, and has pursued educaon in the areas of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine training, at McGill
University.
Educaon: MA in Disaster and Emergency Management, York University, M.D., University of Toronto, B.Sc., in
Human Biology, University of Toronto.
CONTACTS
Graduate Program Director
David Etkin
230 Atkinson
Phone: 416-736-2100x44016
E-mail: etkin@yorku.ca
Graduate Program Assisstant
Subra Shujaat
209 Atkinson
Phone: (416) 736-5744
E-mail: mdemgpa@yorku.ca
Lilia Malkin Dubins
GRADUATE PROGRAM ASSISTANT
Sabina completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology at York University in 2005 and then shortly aer
started working at York full-me in January of 2006. She has been Graduate program assistant for the
MDEM program since its start in 2007 and since then has taken on a second graduate program as well as
Master of Financial Accountability (MFAc). Sabina looks aer all of the administrave related aspects for
the program and works closely with faculty and students within the program on an ongoing basis to make
sure things are running smoothly on a day to day basis.
Sabina is currently on maternity leave unl December 2016.
GRADUATE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
GRADUATE PROGRAM ASSISTANT (temporary)
Subra has completed her Bachelor (B.Ed) and Master of Educaon (M.Ed). She is currently working as an
Acng Graduate Program Assistant for Master of Disaster and Emergency management (MDEM) and for
Master of Financial Accountability Program (MFAc). Subra is covering for Sabina Passarelli (Lackner), looking
aer the administrave related aspects for the program. She works closely with faculty and students within
the program on an ongoing basis.
Sabina Passarelli
Subra Shujaat
13
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Who is eligible to apply for the MDEM program?
Students with Undergraduate degrees from various dierent disciplines can apply. Please contact the program
advisor to nd out further details.
What is the duraon of the MDEM program?
The full me program consists of 4 terms (16 months) and the part me program is 8 terms (32 months)
What are the other requirements for geng into the MDEM program?
The program requires a B+ average in your last 2 years on undergraduate study to be eligible to apply, but you
can sll apply to the program with a B average. Acceptance depends on the applicant pool. Students that are ad-
mied with no disaster & emergency management background or courses are required to partake in an online
course covering the content of three of our undergraduate DEM courses in the summer prior to starng the pro-
gram. Details regarding the online course are announced aer new admission oers are nalized. The applicaon
package requires a sample of wrien work that can be anything to demonstrate the student’s wring capabilies.
How are students chosen for the MDEM Program?
The MDEM program typically accepts 25-30 students once a year, with the program starng in September. Of
these the majority are domesc students, augmented by a few internaonal students. Please note there is no
guaranteed funding for internaonal students. If accepted into the program, internaonal students can apply for
scholarships externally.
Annual Disaster Over-Night Simulation Exercise
The annual over-night simulaon is a mandatory exercise for MDEM students. Students parcipate in a 12-hour exercise,
simulang an Emergency Operaon Center during a cous emergency event, Each student is randomly assigned a role
within the Emergency Operaon Center and carry out the tasks associated with that parcular role. Students are introduced
to the basic IMS structure that is used by emergency managers in Ontario. It is a good introducon to decision-making under
stressful situaons.
14
New Program Under Development:
PhD in Disaster and Emergency Management
The program is intended to be an academic program that integrates scholarly
acvity and professional pracce in DEM. It will provide a doctoral degree that
imparts knowledge, skills, and abilies necessary for senior DEM profession-
als, DEM faculty and researchers. The Curriculum will emphasize upon DEM as
a eld of study and profession, including in-depth knowledge of natural and
human-induced (e.g., technological, terrorism) disasters; human and physical
consequences of such events; and the means to migate, prevent, prepare
for, respond to and recover from the impact of such events. Graduates will
demonstrate prociency in Research Methods and Analysis; Disaster theory;
Crisis management; Hazard risk management; Risk analysis; Disaster and haz-
ards planning and preparedness; and Disaster risk reducon. The program will
impart the importance of values central to DEM, including professional ac-
countability, personal integrity, ethics, social responsibility, and cizen re-
sponsiveness.
15
ANNEX 1 – MRP Proposal Template/Sample
(Note: Running head (header) should contain: MDEM, Title, Your name)
MAJOR RESEARCH PAPER PROPOSAL
Your name
Master in Disaster & Emergency Management
York University
Date
Supervisor’s name
Title
General Subject
Example: Disaster and emergency management and planning in the First Naons communies of Ontario
Research topic/queson
Example: Are current emergency plans and procedures for the First Naon communies culturally appropriate?
Theorecal framework
Example: This research will use theorecal disaster models to idenfy the progression of people’s vulnerability, their root causes, and the pro-
gress made thus far in establishing emergency management for the First Naons in Ontario.
Juscaon
Example: Canadian history and interacon with First Naons are known to have created vulnerable living environments and dicult relaonships
over decades. Policy decisions have had a long history of disappointments and mistrust in the authority among the First Naons. There is also a
concern of dierenal processes and policy for the First Naons in comparison with all the residents of Ontario.
Method
Example: Literature review, historical informaon, and current Provincial and Federal documents and policy will be examined to understand the
issue at a deeper level. Interviews (about 10) with First Naons community members will be conducted. A qualitave analysis will be carried out
to extract themes and apply theorecal disaster models.
Sources
Example: Historical records; Government documents from the EMO and Indian and Northern Aairs Canada; Scholarly arcles in journals and
magazines.
Bibliography
Mile, D.S. (1999). Disasters by design : A reassessment of natural hazards in the united states. Washington DC, Joseph Henry Press, 281p. Wisner,
B., Blaikie, P., Cannon, T., Davis, I. (2004). At Risk: Natural hazards, people’s vulnerability and disasters, Routledge, 471p.
Work Plan – Example:
Descripon Date (mm/yy)
Literature review/survey
Interview quesonnaire submission for ethics approval
Selecon of parcipants and conducng interviews
Transcribing of interviews and analyzing the data
Final paper
16
ANNEX 2 – DEMS 5080 Disaster & Emergency Management Praccum
Student Commitment Form
(To be signed and submied to the course director)
I _______________________ (name of student) agree and commit to the following:
1. To keep the course director apprised of all my applicaons for praccums, and their outcomes.
2. To ensure that the host organizaon lls out and submits a Field Placement Request Form, unless otherwise indicated by the course director.
3. To complete and submit an Informaon Summary Sheet as soon as the placement begins.
4. To act in a professional manner at all mes, while at my host organizaon.
5. To inform the course director immediately, of any problems or issues that arise related to my placement.
6. Not to begin the placement unl the Agreement has been signed by both pares.
7. To carefully go through the course Moodle site, to read all the informaon on it, and to submit all assignments in a mely manner via Moo-
dle.
_________________________________ __________________
Signature Date
17
ANNEX 3 – Course Descripon (MDEM)
Oerings can be found at hps://w2prod.sis.yorku.ca/Apps/WebObjects/cdm under Course Descripons - Disaster and Emergen-
cy Management (DEMS).
GS/DEMS 5010 3.00 Advanced Disaster and Emergency Management
This course explores the applicaons of advanced theory, methods and technologies in disaster and emergency management. Disaster and
emergency management decision and planning methods and models, decision support systems, informaon systems and disaster databases,
geographic informaon systems, remote sensing, various disasters and emergency management soware and their applicaons are dis-
cussed.
GS/DEMS 5020 3.00 Disasters: Concepts and Causes
This course will focus on the risk to society from hazards and disasters, and how society adapts to those risks. Course content will not tend to
focus on the hazards themselves, but rather on disaster theory and the processes within society and the environment that creates vulnerabil-
ity. An interdisciplinary and mainly social science approach with a global perspecve will be taken, but with some emphasis on Canadian con-
tent. General topics will include (1) disaster data and theory, (2) paerns of risk, (3) processes that create vulnerability & resilience, (4) human
response and coping mechanisms, (5) impacts of disasters, and (6) case studies of disasters.
GS/DEMS 5030 3.00 Social and Behavioural Dimensions of Disasters
This course examines social and behavioural dimensions of human interacons before, during and aer emergencies and disasters, including
behavioural myths and realies; linkages between individuals, families, groups, organizaons, community social systems, and various levels of
government; social vulnerability and the disproporonate impact of disasters upon various societal groups.
GS/DEMS 5040 3.00 Natural Disasters
This course focuses on natural processes including geological, hydrological, meteorological, and biophysical and how they impact people,
property, and the environment around the world. Students will learn the causes and physical dynamics of various natural hazards such as
earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, oods, extreme weather, climate change, and pandemics to name a few. Course credit exclusion: LE/ESSE
1410 6.00: Natural, Technological and Human-induced Disasters.
GS/DEMS 5051 3.00 Research Design and Qualitave Research Methods
This course provides students with an introducon to philosophical bases of research design as well as a praccal introducon to qualitave
methods. Students will gain an understanding of the paradigmac foundaons of research, how to design and evaluate qualitave research
and experiment with a range of qualitave methods (i.e., interview, focus groups, observaon, archival analysis).
GS/DEMS 5052 3.00 Research Design and Quantave Methods
Students are provided with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of various quantave research methods and their applicaons in
disaster and emergency management. Using stascal methods, students will learn to analyze data and formulate hypotheses and conceptual
relaonships.
GS/DEMS 5060 3.00 Terrorism Studies I
The purpose of this course is to give the student, a background to, and, overview of: terrorism in the 21st Century. It will serve to give stu-
dents, in the program, an understanding of this element of the threat spectrum. It will further sensize them to the potenal dangers and
probabilies that grow out of this area of crical concern.
GS/DEMS 5070 3.00 Terrorism Studies II
The purpose of this course is to give the students, in Part 2, the opportunity to explore: contemporary parcipants, capabilies and intenons,
and, probabilies, from a Canadian perspecve. This perspecve will ground the threat and its possible consequences in the Canadian con-
text.
GS/DEMS 5080 6.00 Emergency Management Praccum
Placements in the eld provide students with the opportunity to apply theories of disaster and emergency management in a variety of organi-
zaons within the private, public and NGO sectors.
GS/DEMS 5081 3.00 Topics in Applied Disaster Management
The course explores selected topics in applied disaster and emergency management, as they relate to the theorecal aspects of this subject
area.
GS/DEMS 5082 3.00 Medical and Public Health Issues for Non-Medical Personnel
This course addresses the common and important health issues that arise during both sudden and chronic emergencies, for vicms and re-
sponders.
GS/DEMS 5710 3.00 Crical Infrastructure Protecon
This course explores issues related to crical infrastructure protecon, including complexity, resilience, cricality and interdependencies, reg-
ulatory and legislave requirements, and doctrines. Threats include natural disasters and man-made events including criminal acts, terrorist
physical and cyber-aacks.
GS/DEMS 6070 3.00 Disasters and Ethics
This course examines ethical theory as it applies to issues and uncertaines associated with disasters and emergencies. Students will develop
an understanding of the ethical decision-making process and moral reasoning. They will explore the moral imperaves associated with emer-
gency management in a variety of contexts, both locally and globally. The emphasis is on applied ethics and the development of moral compe-
tence in response to issues, and implicaons for socially responsive environmental and disaster management.
18
FALL 2016
Unit Course Cr Course Title Day Hour Room Instructor
DEMS 5000 3 Directed Reading N/A N/A N/A Individual Faculty
DEMS 5020 3 Disaster Concepts and Causes R 14:30 R S202 David Etkin
DEMS 5030 3 Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Disasters T 14:30 ATK 109 Ken McBey
DEMS 5052 3 Research Design and Quantave Methods W 16:00 BC 230 Kaz Higuchi
DEMS 5053 3 Topics in Business Connuity W 19:00 BC 325 Ali Asgary
DEMS 5060 3 Terrorism Studies I M 11:30 MC 111 Jack Rozdilsky
DEMS 5082 3
Medical and Public Health Issues for Non-Medical Per-
sonnel
F 11:30 BC 325 Lilia Dubins
DEMS 5710 3 Crical Infrastructure Protecon T 11:30 VH 1152 David Baumken
DEMS 6999 6 Major Research Paper N/A N/A N/A Individual Faculty
WINTER 2017
DEMS 5000 3 Directed Reading N/A N/A N/A Individual Faculty
DEMS 5010 3 Advanced Disaster and Emergency Management R 19:00 BC 325 Ali Asgary
DEMS 5020 3 Disaster Concepts and Causes M 14:30 R N836A David Etkin
DEMS 5030 3 Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Disasters W 16:00 SC 219 David Etkin
DEMS 5051 3 Research Design and Qualitave Research Methods T 16:00 BC 323 Kelly Thomson
DEMS 5080 6 Disaster & Emergency Management Praccum N/A N/A N/A Niru Nirupama
DEMS 5081 3 Topics in Applied Disaster Management R 16:00 BC 323 James Kilgour
DEMS 6999 6 Major Research Paper N/A N/A N/A Individual Faculty
SUMMER 2017
DEMS 5000 3 Directed Reading N/A N/A N/A Individual Faculty
DEMS 5040 3 Natural Disasters (S1) T & R 18:00 TBC Niru Nirupama
DEMS 5080 6 Disaster & Emergency Management Praccum N/A N/A N/A Niru Nirupama
DEMS 6999 6 Major Research Paper N/A N/A N/A Individual Faculty
ANNEX 4 – Course Schedule 2016-17
19
Confident in the face of Disaster
Acknowledgements: Dr. Niru Nirupama with Graduate Assistants (so far), Harshita Mathur, Sarah Jacobs. Judith Jubril, and Lauren Hébert
