Program handbook

Description

With the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters and other crises around the world, the need for professionals with expertise in disaster risk and reduction has never been greater. A Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience degree equips graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to make a positive difference in their communities and beyond.

Typically between 1-2 years full time (or part time equivalent) to complete, students will learn to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with natural and human-made disasters. Through the development of skills in disaster management, risk analysis, emergency preparedness, and community resilience, graduates may go on to work in a variety of fields, including emergency management, public health, environmental protection, and international development.

The Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience degree can be a great choice for anyone looking to make a meaningful impact in their community and help build a more resilient future.


Program learning outcomes

On successful completion of the program students will have:

  • Applied a range of analytical and problem-solving skills to deal with issues in the practice of disaster risk reduction and management, accommodating the precepts of the United Nations Frameworks including the UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  • Analysed legislative, policy and procedural influences upon disaster risk reduction actions in the context of public, private and not-for-profit sector organisations, accommodating the precepts of the United Nations Frameworks.
  • Developed resilient organisational strategies in the context of disaster risk reduction and management, accommodating the precepts of the United Nations Frameworks. Critically reviewed the level of participation of with Indigenous peoples and how Indigenous-led collaboration and initiatives can contribute to disaster resilience.
  • Critically analysed relevant national and international standards, and legislative requirements around engagement with Indigenous peoples and cultures, with the aim of embodying best cultural practices.
  • Conducted and employed research skills appropriate to a disaster risk and resilience context.

Details

Information correct as atMay 18, 2024 7:54 pm
Program code50010
AQF level

Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework)

Locations and UAC codes
Mode of delivery
  • Face to Face
  • Online
Duration
  • Australian students - 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent.
  • International students - 2 years full-time.
Term typeSemesters and Trimesters
Fees
Relevant University rules and policies

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Admission information

Admission requirements

Entry and structural progression within the Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience is outlined below.

Students who have completed an:

  • AQF 7 (Bachelors) or have an AQF 6 (Associate degree or Advanced Diploma) award with at least one year of relevant industry experience, will be required to complete 160 units of courses.
  • AQF 8 (Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Honours degree) or have an AQF 7 award with at least one year of relevant industry experience, can complete the 120 unit pathway.
  • AQF 9 (Masters) or higher award, or have an AQF 8 award with at least one year of relevant industry experience, or have an AQF 7 award with at least five years of relevant industry experience can complete the 80 unit pathway.

Students who have commenced the Graduate Certificate of Disaster Risk and Resilience are eligible to transfer to the Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience upon successful completion of 75% of their Graduate Certificate coursework.

English Language Requirements

All Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the University’s English proficiency requirement. Further information regarding English language proficiency requirements can be found at the English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy here.

  • IELTS Overall Minimum: 6.5
  • IELTS Sub Test Minimum: 6

Credit transfer

If you wish to apply for credit for studies completed at another institution, or if you are changing programs within the University and wish to transfer your credit to the new program, visit the University's credit website for more information on applying for credit.


Academic requirements for program completion

Total units required

160 units

Program duration

2 years full-time or part-time equivalent up to 6 years maximum.

Program requirements

Program requirements and the volume of learning for the Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience are dependent on the student's prior academic qualifications.

1. For entry with a 3 year Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7) or with an AQF 6 (Associate degree) award with at least one year of relevant industry experience, the volume of learning is 160 units:

  • 60 units of Core courses
  • 90 units of Directed courses
  • 10 units of Electives

2. For entry with an AQF Level 8 level Qualification (Honours degree, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma) or with an AQF 7  award with at least one year of relevant industry experience, the volume of learning is 120 units:

  • 60 units of Core courses
  • 50 units of Directed courses
  • 10 units of Electives

3. For entry with an AQF Level 9 level Qualification (Masters), or higher level award, or with an AQF 8 award with at least one year of relevant industry experience, or with an AQF 7  award with at least five years of relevant industry experience, the volume of learning is 80 units:

  • 60 units of Core courses
  • 10 units of Directed courses
  • 10 units of Electives

Program planner

Current students program planner

Current students can plan their program using Program Planner.

Program Planner

Prospective student degree planner

If you're a prospective student considering studying this degree take a look at My Degree Planner to see what your study journey will look like.

Program structure

Students can plan their program using Program Planner. It is recommended students review the program handbook in conjunction with using Program Planner.

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Core

Complete the following core courses to fulfil the requirements of this program.

CodeTitleTerm / Location Units
ARBE6615Disaster Risk and Resilience Principles
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Online)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
ARBE6616Community-led Resilience and Leadership
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
ARBE6617Disaster Resilience Economics and Business Resilience
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
ARBE6618Disaster Governance and International Frameworks
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
ARBE6619Methods for Evidence-Based Decisions in DisastersNot currently offered10 units
ARBE6620Disaster Risk and Resilience Capstone Project
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Online)
10 units

Course List

Choose up to 90 units (dependent on admission pathway) from the following courses

CodeTitleTerm / Location Units
ABOR6004Community Development
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
ENVS6001Biodiversity, Conservation Science and Management
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
ENVS6510Environmental Legislation and Policy
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
ENVS6525Sustainability and Ecosystem Health
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
ENVS6530Environmental Management
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
ENVS6545Impact Assessment and Climate Change Policy
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
GEOG6130Geographies of Development
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
GEOS6161Spatial Science
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
GEOS6350Advanced Remote Sensing Data and Applications
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
GSBS6001Managing Under Uncertainty
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Singapore) (Singapore)
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (NAIHES)
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Online)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Singapore) (Singapore)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (NAIHES)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Newcastle City Precinct)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Sydney CBD)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Singapore) (Singapore)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
GSBS6007Managing Human Resources in International Organisations
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Singapore) (Singapore)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Singapore) (Singapore)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Newcastle City Precinct)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
GSBS6012Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Online)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Newcastle City Precinct)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
GSBS6040Human Resource Management
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Newcastle City Precinct)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Online)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Singapore) (Singapore)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Newcastle City Precinct)
10 units
GSBS6190Human Resource and Organisational Development
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Newcastle City Precinct)
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Online)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (NAIHES)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
GSBS6484Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Online)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Singapore) (Singapore)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (NAIHES)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Newcastle City Precinct)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Sydney CBD)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Singapore) (Singapore)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
INFO6001Database Management 1
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (NAIHES)
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Online)
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Sydney CBD)
10 units
INFO6090Business Intelligence for the Enterprise
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (NAIHES)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
INFT6060The Digital Economy
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Trimester 1 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
INFT6201Big Data
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (NAIHES)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Online)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Sydney CBD)
10 units
INFT6304Project Planning and Management
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (NAIHES)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Online)
  • Trimester 2 - 2024 (Sydney CBD)
10 units
LAWS6020Environmental Law
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Newcastle City Precinct)
10 units
LAWS6038Law and Economics of Climate Change
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
PSYC6130Understanding People in Organisations
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (NAIHES)
  • Trimester 3 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
SOCA6190Gender and Social ChangeNot currently offered10 units
SOCA6240Project Design and Evaluation
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
SOCA6571Development and Social Change
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
20 units
SOCA6590Environmental Justice
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
STAT6001Data Wrangling and Visualisation
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
STAT6160Data Analytics for Business Intelligence
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Sydney CBD)
10 units

Electives

Electives 10 unit requirement

Complete 10 units of electives to fulfil the requirements of the program. Electives can be used to extend and complement your core studies with more courses in the same field of study, or from areas that might be of interest to you. Electives can be chosen from all postgraduate courses available at the University that do not have any other conditions (such as a course requisite) applied to them.

10 units

Additional information

Through the Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre, students can access a free suite of NUPrep preparation courses as well as Academic Learning Support.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can draw on the assistance and support provided by the Indigenous Student Support and Development service through the Wollotuka institute.


International students

All International Students enrolled in the program will be provided with an orientation to familiarise them with the rules, expectations, facilities and services offered by the University. Please visit our International Students website to find out more about the support services available to international students.


Additional support

AccessAbility provides advice and reasonable adjustments to Students with a medical or health condition or disability. If you require adjustments to undertake your program, contact the Student Support Advisors - AccessAbility before semester or early in the semester. They will work with the College or School to ensure that this happens in a timely manner.Please note: All students must fulfil the inherent requirements of the programs and courses they are undertaking. While reasonable adjustments can be made, these adjustments cannot compromise academic integrity. It is the student's responsibility to check all the requirements of courses, and consider the effects of any medical condition or disability on their ability to complete course requirements. More information is available online.