Graduate Faculty

701-231-8657

Chris Biga, Ph.D.
Washington State University, 2006
Research Interests:

Environmental Sociology, Social Psychology, Sociology of Aging

Gary A. Goreham, Ph.D.
South Dakota State University, 1985
Research Interests:
Rural Sociology, Community Assessment and Development , Research Methods, Environment/Natural Resources

Daniel J. Klenow, Ph.D.
University of Notre Dame, 1977
Research Interests:
Special Populations,
Research Methods, Sociology of Disaster, Emergency Management Theory and Methodology

Timothy J. Kloberdanz, Ph.D.
Indiana University, 1986
Research Interests:
Expressive Culture and Folklore, Anthropological Theory, Indians of the Plains, Peoples of Europe, Ethnicity

Richard W. Rathge, Ph.D.
Michigan State University, 1981
Research Interests:
Demography, Applied Sociology, Rural Sociology, Research Methods

Joy Sather-Wagstaff, Ph.D. University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, 2007
Research Interests:
Disaster and Culture, Recovery and Commemorative

Dong Keun (D.K.) Yoon, Ph.D.
Cornell University, 2007
Research Interests:
Planning, Emergency Management, Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

George A. Youngs, Ph.D.
University of Iowa, 1981
Research Interests:
Social Psychology, Research Methods, Sociology of Disasters, Emergency Management

 

Program Description

The Emergency Management program is multidisciplinary and is geared both to the academic disaster research curricula and the applied aspects of emergency management. The program is built on a core of social science courses to help students approach the study of disasters and emergency management from a social science perspective. Additionally, the program draws from other disciplines that enhance the development of processes and techniques to prevent disasters and to manage emergencies. The master's and doctoral degree programs in emergency management are organized around the three following areas: core courses, disaster phase courses, and disaster area studies. Core courses include methods, statistics, and theory. Disaster phase courses cover preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. Disaster area studies include the following subtopics: social and behavioral sciences, disaster types, the emergency manager, and the public and private sector responses to emergencies.

Admissions Requirements

Students can be admitted to our graduate program with either a baccalaureate degree (for admission to the master's program) or with an approved master's degree (for admission to the doctoral program). For admission in full standing to the master's program, students will be required to have a GPA of 3.2 or higher in their undergraduate major and take, the GRE . Applicants must submit their undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts. Students should have adequate background preparation or demonstrated potential in the field of emergency management.

For admission to the doctoral program in full standing, students must satisfy the admission requirements for the master's degree and have a masters degree in emergency management or a related field. Students entering the program with a master's degree will be required to complete a minimum of 60 credits.

Financial Assistance

Both teaching and research assistantships are available contingent on departmental and faculty research funds. Applicants will be considered based on scholarship and potential to undertake advanced study. Requests for assistantship require a completed Graduate School application, official transcripts, and three letters of reference. The department accepts applications for all semesters, including summer.

Degree Requirements for M.S. Degree

Successful completion of a master's degree in emergency management will involve completion of all of the required course work plus a research-based master's thesis. The total required credits is 36.

The requirements for the master's degree in emergency management are as follows:

All students must

1. Core: Complete all courses (12 credits)
   SOC 723: Social Theory
   SOC 700: Qualitative Methods or SOC 701: Quantitative Methods
   EMGT 720: Emergency Management Theory
   EMGT 653: Emergency Management Law and Regulation
   
   
2. Disaster Phases: Complete at least one course from each of the following four Disaster Stages (12 credits). Courses should be taken in the order listed. Courses taken at the undergraduate level (400) cannot be retaken at the graduate level (600).
   
   
1. Preparedness
   EMGT 611: Community Disaster Preparedness
   EMGT 712: Hazards Risk Assessment Theory and Practice
   
   
2. Mitigation
   EMGT 613: Building Disaster Resilient Communities
   EMGT 721: Hazard Mitigation Theory and Practice
   
   
3. Response
   EMGT 631: Disaster Response Operations and Leadership
   EMGT 732: Disaster Response Theory and Practice
   
   
4. Recovery
   EMGT 683: Holistic Disaster Recovery
   EMGT 782: Damage Recovery Theory and Practice
   
   
3. Disaster Area Studies - Social and Behavioral Sciences: Select one course from each area (6 credits). Courses taken at the undergraduate level (400) cannot be retaken at the graduate level (600).
   
   
1. Social Structure, Social Institutions, and Social Processes
   EMGT 681: Disaster Analysis
   SOC 605: Community Development
   SOC 626: Sociology of Medicine
   SOC 641: Sociology of Death
   SOC 631: Environmental Sociology
   
   
2. Social and Cultural Context of Disasters
   SOC 610: Social Inequality
   SOC 643: International Disasters
   SOC 645: Special Populations & Disasters
   ANTH 658: Indians of the Great Plains
   ANTH 661: Germans from Russia
   ANTH 662: Cultural Ecology
   
   
4. Disaster Area Studies - The Public and Private Sector: Select one course (3 credits)
   EMGT 661: Business Continuity & Crisis Management
   EMGT 663: Voluntary Agency Disaster Services
   COMM 683: Organizational Communication I
   BUSN 630: Legal and Social Environment of Business
   
   
5. Practicum: (6 credits)
   EMGT 795: Emergency Management Practicum
   
   
6. Thesis (6 credits)

TOTAL = 45 credits

Degree Requirements for Doctor of Philosophy Degree

The Ph.D. is awarded in recognition of significant depth of understanding and scholarly achievement in emergency management. The recipient must complete all of the required course work (see Ph.D. requirements below), pass written comprehensive exams, complete a significant research project for the dissertation, and successfully defend this research in an oral examination. The student's progress will be reviewed by a supervisory committee that is responsible for reviewing the student's plan of study, written comprehensive examinations, dissertation proposal, and dissertation defense. The composition of the supervisory committee will meet the requirements established by The Graduate School. The program will require a minimum of 90 credits or 60 credits beyond the master's degree. The master's degree must be completed before pursuing the doctoral degree.

The structure of the doctoral program follows the same logic as that used for the master's degree. The courses are organized around the four disaster stages and the various disaster studies subfields. As part of disaster area studies, students will be required to complete two cognates, one in sociology and one in a second field approved by the student's supervisory committee. These cognates require a minimum of 12 credits each. The dissertation will be worth 15 credits.

All students must

1. Core: Complete all courses (18 credits)
   SOC 723: Social Theory
   SOC 700: Qualitative Methods
   SOC 701: Quantitative Methods
   EMGT 720: Emergency Management Theory
   EMGT 730: Advanced Research Methods
   EMGT 653: Emergency Management Law and Regulations
   
   
2. Disaster Phases: Complete at least two courses from two of the following four Disaster Stages and one course from each of the remaining two Disaster Stages (18 credits). Courses should be taken in the order listed. Courses taken at the undergraduate level (400) cannot be retaken at the graduate level (600).
   
   
   1. Preparedness
      EMGT 611: Community Disaster Preparedness
      EMGT 712: Hazards Risk Assessment Theory and Practice
      GEOG 656: Geographic Information Systems
      
      
   2. Mitigation
      EMGT 613: Building Disaster Resilient Communities
      EMGT 721: Hazard Mitigation Theory and Practice
      POLS 653: Environmental Policy and Politics
      
      
   3. Response
      EMGT 631: Disaster Response Operations and Leadership
      EMGT 732: Disaster Response Theory and Practice
      COMM 785: Advanced Crisis Communication
      
      
   4. Recovery
      EMGT 683: Holistic Disaster Recovery
      EMGT 782: Damage Recovery Theory and Practice
      ECS 760: Environmental Impact Assessment
      
      
3. Disaster Area Studies - Social and Behavioral Sciences: Select three courses from each area (18 credits). Courses taken at the undergraduate level (400) cannot be retaken at the graduate level (600).
   
   
   1. Social Structure, Social Institutions, and Social Processes
      EMGT 681: Disaster Analysis
      SOC 605: Community Development
      SOC 626: Sociology of Medicine
      SOC 641: Sociology of Death
      SOC 631: Environmental Sociology
      
      
   2. Social and Cultural Context of Disasters
      SOC 610: Social Inequality
      SOC 643: International Disasters
      SOC 645: Special Populations & Disasters
      ANTH 658: Indians of the Great Plains
      ANTH 661: Germans from Russia
      ANTH 662: Cultural Ecology
      
      
4. Disaster Area Studies - The Public and Private Sector: Select one course (3 credits)
   EMGT 661: Business Continuity & Crisis Management
   EMGT 663: Voluntary Agency Disaster Services
   COMM 683: Organizational Communication I
   BUSN 630: Legal and Social Environment of Business
   
   
5. Practicum: (9 credits)
   EMGT 795: Emergency Management Practicum
   
   
6. Electives: (9 credits)
   Courses may include didactic courses, seminars, independent study and/or field research.
   
   
7. Thesis (6 credits)
   
   
8. Dissertation (15 credits)

TOTAL = 96 credits

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Courses Offered

Anthropology

 

658 Indians of the Plains 3

An ethnographic/ethnohistorical survey of major Indian tribes in the Great American Plains region from ancient times to the present.

661 Germans from Russia 3

This course traces the cultural and historical background of an important ethnic group in the Great American Plains region: German-speaking immigrants from Russia.

662 Cultural Ecology

Analysis of the systematic relationship between human populations and their ecological surroundings. Prereq: Any Anth course.

Business

 

630 Legal and Social Environment of Business 3

Study of legal and regulatory environment in which business firms operate as well as the social environment. Includes business ethics and social responsibility issues.

Communication

 

683 Organizational Communication I 3

Exploration of the theory of management communication practices in organizations. Emphasis on the formal structure and interpersonal aspects of supervisor-subordinate relations. Cross-listed with Busn.

785 Advanced Crisis Communication 3

Long-term and short-term issues for managing communication related to organizational crises are discussed in the states of pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis Prereq: Comm 700.

Emergency Management (EMGT)

 

611 Community Disaster Preparation 3

Nature and rationale for public awareness of potential hazards that communities face, preparedness for these hazards, and potential strategies to mitigate adverse consequences.

613 Building Disaster Resilient Communities 3

Role of emergency management programs in community resilience and sustainability; incorporation of preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery in community comprehensive and strategic planning.

614 Spatial Analysis in Emergency Management (currently going through Academic Affairs)

 

615 Rural Society and Emergency Management 3

Application of emergency management principles and procedures of disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery in the rural context.

631 Disaster Response Operations and Leadership 3

Principles and procedures related to emergency operations plans, warning, evacuation, search rescue, mass casualty care, sheltering, donations management, disaster declaration, and incident debriefing.

651 Floods, Blizzards, and Tornadoes 3

Role of emergency management in floods, blizzards, and tornadoes; response of local, state, and federal governments and agencies to these conditions.

653 Emergency Management Law and Regulation 3

Legal principles and ethical issues that impact emergency management services.

 

661 Business Continuity and Crisis Management 3

This course provides an overview of planning and management principles applicable to business or operational resumption following an emergency. The emphasis will be on minimizing the impact of a disaster on business operations.

663 Voluntary Agency Disaster Services 3

Examination of the roles played by local, state, national, and international voluntary agencies in emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.

664 Disaster and Culture 3 (on March Univ Senate Agenda)

 

683 Holistic Disaster Recovery 3

Examination of post-disaster policies and programs that protect the natural environment, improve disaster resistance, support diverse populations, improve economic conditions, and preserve community resources.

712 Hazards Risk Assessment Theory and Practice 3

Examination of natural and human-made disasters from a risk assessment perspective, and preparedness and control procedures for each of these types of disaster.

714 Hazardous Materials Regulation 3

Hazardous materials contingency planning and environmental regulations at the community, state, and federal levels.

720 Emergency Management Theory 3 (CHANGING DESCRIPTION)

This course will discuss the origin and evolution of emergency management, the relevance of theory in this applied setting, and theory in the advancement of knowledge of social disasters and the emergency management specialization.

721 Hazard Mitigation Theory and Practice 3

Examination of disaster mitigation theory and the rationale and context of mitigation procedures, programs, and planning.

730 Advanced Research Methods 3 (CHANGING DESCRIPTION)

This course will instruct students on applications and case studies of practical aspects of field research building upon traditional research topics as applied to disaster research. The course will analyze disaster case studies' research methodologies. Prereq: Soc 700, 701.

732 Disaster Response Theory and Practice 3

Examination of theory and practice in the relationships between incident command systems and emergency operating centers.

782 Damage Recovery Theory and Practice 3

Theory, principles, and procedures used in disaster damage assessment and in emergency supply and service dissemination.

790 Seminar: Professional Development 1

Seminar examines current topics in emergency management.

 

Geography

 

656 Geographic Information Systems 3

Introduction to basic concepts of geographic information systems and their applications to various special problems. Lectures and laboratories.

Political Science

 

696 Environmental Policy and Politics 3

 

Sociology

 

605 Community Development 3

Study of communities viewed as social systems. Includes political, economic, social, and economic factors affecting community growth and decline. Community development methods are addressed.

610 Social Inequality 3

Historical and contemporary theories of stratification, the effects of stratification on social institutions and individuals.

626 Sociology of Medicine 3

Analysis of the social aspects of illness, the profession of medicine, organization of medical care, health occupations, and related issues

639 Social Change 3

An investigation of the nature of social change and its effects on society.

641 Sociology of Death 3

Examination of research on social psychological and social organizational dimensions of death and dying. Additional topics include hospice movement, grief and bereavement, and communicating death news.

643 International Disasters 3

Impacts of natural and human-made disasters on industrialized and developing societies, relief and reconstruction post-disaster programs.

645 Special Populations in Disasters 3

Identification of special populations and their needs that arise in emergency or disaster situations both in industrialized and developing countries.

700 Qualitative Methods 3

Advanced analysis of the methods used in qualitative research projects, such as intensive interviewing, focus groups, and participant observation. Prereq: Soc 301.

701 Quantitative Methods 3

Advanced analysis of the methods used in quantitative research projects, such as survey design, experimental design, and evaluation research. Prereq: Stat 330 or 725, Soc 301.

723 Social Theory 3

Examines contemporary social theories and theory construction. Prereq: Soc 422/622.

The following variable credit courses are also offered:

 

790 Graduate Seminar 1-3

793 Individual Study/Tutorial 1-3

795 Field Experience 1-15

696/796 Special Topics 1-5

797 Master's Paper 1-3

798 Master's Thesis 1-15

799 Doctoral Dissertation 1-15