Natural Hazards & Disasters

Catalog description

This course examines the intersection of human activities with natural and physical processes and patterns in the context of natural hazards and disasters. The course will begin with foundational concepts of emergency management, including mitigation, response, recovery, preparedness, risk perception, and communication. Following an overview of key emergency management principles, the course examines a variety of geologic (earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, landslides) and atmospheric (thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, winter weather) hazards in terms of their physical processes, patterns, prediction, and impacts. Concepts of risk and vulnerability are emphasized as a means to understand interactions between humans and extreme natural processes. Ultimately, students learn how both communities and individuals can work to become more resilient in the face of the hazard landscape. Prerequisite(s): Completion of FSRC Pillar Corequisite(s): None *Fulfills Civitae Core PSRC WI