Ph.D. in Disaster Science & Management Curriculum

Student must demonstrate expertise in below 4 core areas:

• ​Part I: Core Courses (24 credits): Take five courses as directed for 15 credits:
• ​Course 1: (Required)
• ​SOCI 672 -Disaster and Society
• Course 2: (Choose one) Equity, Justice, Disparities, or Vulnerability
• ​SPPA 667 – Environmental Justice in Disasters, or
• ​SOCI 671 – Disasters, Vulnerability & Development
• Course 3: (Choose one) – Public Health Sciences of Disaster
• ​ANTH 605 – Intro to Environment and Human Health
• ​Other approved course
• Course 4: Science and Engineering (Required)
• ​CIEG 641 – Risk Analysis
• Course 5: Science and Engineering (Required)
• ​CIEG 655 – Civil Infrastructure Systems
• Part II: Methods: Take three methods courses for 9 credits
• Choose Two courses from list A below
• ​SOCI 614 – Advanced Data Analysis
• ​SOCI 625 – Advanced Social Statistics
• ​SOCI 676 – Advanced Qualitative Methods
• ​CIEG 667 – Advanced Data Analysis – Advanced Quantitative Methods
• ​SPPA 704- Advanced Quantitative Methods
• ​SPPA 709-Advanced Topics in Economics for the Public and Non-Profit Sectors
• ​SPPA721-Data Science Tools for Evidence-based Policy
• ​SPPA722- Machine Learning for Public Policy
• ​SPPA 800 – Research Design and Data Analysis
• ​EDUC 812 – Regression and Structural Equation Modeling
• ​EDUC 874 – Multivariate Analysis
• ​EDUC 867 – Bayesian Analysis and Monte Carlo Simulation
• ​EDUC 867 – Educational Data Mining
• ​EDUC 873 – Multilevel Modeling
• ​EDUC 867 – Advanced Structural Equation Modelling
• Choose one course from list B below
• ​SOCI 605 – Data Collection and Analysis
• ​SOCI 606 – Qualitative Methodology
• ​SPPA 808 – Qualitative Research Methods
• ​EPID 621 – Methods in Field Epidemiology
• ​EPID 622 – Disaster Epidemiology Methods
• ​HLPR 632 – Health Science Data Analysis
• ​UAPP691- Quantitative Analysis in Public & Nonprofit Sectors.

Professional Development (0 credits)

Students are required to take SPPA681-Professional Development their first and second semester in the program. ​

Qualifier Preparation (1 credit)

Students are required to take DISA880 Qualifier Preparation in advance of the Qualifying Exam.

Electives (3 credits)

Electives are intended to enhance and broaden a students scholarly involvement in the program. Students in the doctoral degree program are allowed to take a maximum of 6 credits of independent study (DISA 866) and a maximum of 9 credits of research (DISA868). However, the combined number of credits from research and independent study courses may not exceed 12.

Students are required to work with their advisor during their first semester of study and develop a plan of study. The plan of study must first be approved by the advisor and then by the Program Committee by the end of the first semester of study for the Ph.D. View sample plans of study for students in the Ph.D. Disaster Science & Management program.

The objective of the DSEM Qualifying Examinations is to assess the student's ability to do interdisciplinary analysis, based on sound knowledge of core themes, good analytical methods, and the ability to structure and analyze disaster problems in a way that appropriately integrates the required knowledge, methods, and judgment. The levels of synthesis and evaluation to be demonstrated in these examinations go beyond those expected in most courses, although each students plan of study is aimed at developing and exercising this level of problem solving. After 18 credits of coursework have been graded, the student must pass a written and oral qualifying examination prepared by the Qualifier Exam Committee for the cohort of students seeking Ph.D. student candidacy. All core faculty are encouraged to participate in the oral exam. The qualifying examination must be passed before the student proceeds to candidacy.

Dissertation Proposal

A copy of the dissertation proposal must be available to Disaster Science & Management faculty at least one week prior to the proposal defense. A copy of the dissertation proposal must be delivered to the members of the dissertation committee at least two weeks in advance of the proposal defense.

Dissertation Defense

The format of the dissertation must adhere to guidelines specified in the University's Thesis and Dissertation Manual. The manual is available electronically at http://www.udel.edu/gradoffice/current/thesismanual.html or it may be purchased at the University Bookstore. A copy of the dissertation must be made available to Disaster Science & Management faculty at least two weeks prior to the proposal defense. The dissertation defense will be scheduled only after the advisor of the dissertation committee has determined that a defense is appropriate.

The dissertation defense will be open to the public, and invitations will be sent to all Disaster Science & Management faculty and students at least two weeks prior to the defense date. The candidate will present a summary of the completed research, and will then field questions from the committee, attending faculty, and invited guests. After all questions have been fielded, the dissertation committee will meet to decide whether the dissertation is accepted, rejected, or accepted pending revisions. Results of the meeting will then be presented to the student. The student may not receive more than one dissenting vote from members of the committee to receive a passing grade.

At least three academic years of graduate work are normally required for the Ph.D. degree. At least one continuous academic year must be devoted exclusively to full-time study (9 credit hours per semester) in the major field in residence at the University of Delaware. This residency requirement may be fulfilled using a fall and spring semester combination or a spring and fall semester combination, but summer or winter sessions do not meet the qualification. Course credit earned in a Masters program at the University of Delaware may be applied toward the doctoral degree residency requirement if the candidate is receiving both degrees from the University in the same major field.