Disasters, Adaptation & Development MSc at Kings College London

The Disasters, Adaptation & Development MSc course takes a social development perspective, exploring topics such as human vulnerability, response to natural and technological hazards and to hazards associated with climate change. You will examine disaster risk reduction and choose from a wide range of modules, enabling you to build a study pathway that can include technical specialities in GIS and remote sensing, organisational risk management, or poverty alleviation and international development.

Key benefits

• You will be studying innovative modules in a range of disciplines taught by staff who are recognised leaders in their fields.
• You will have access to research and practitioners in international development and disaster risk reduction.
• Dissertation research opportunities with international organisations.
• You will develop a knowledge base and skill set to prepare you for careers in the humanitarian, development and disaster management sectors.
• You will benefit from developing contacts with King's alumni who are active in disaster management and development sectors

Description

The Disasters, Adaptation & Development MSc aims to equip students with an in-depth and critical awareness of the political, geographical and technological aspects of disaster risk reduction and their contribution to sustainable adaptation and disaster responses. Taking a social development perspective, the course covers issues such as human vulnerability and responses to natural and technological hazards. This course embeds training in disaster risk reduction with technical specialities in geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing, organisational risk management, or poverty alleviation and international development.

The study course is made up of optional and required modules. You must take the minimum of 180 credits to complete the course. In addition to a required dissertation, you will choose from a wide range of related modules.

If you are studying full-time, you will complete the course in one year, from September to September. If you are studying part-time, your course will be delivered over two years. You will take a combination of required and optional modules over this period of time, with the dissertation in your second year.

Career prospects

The Disasters, Adaptation and Development degree provides a grounding in technical training and professional exposure to experts in the field. Both are needed to embark careers in humanitarian and development organisations. Professional exposure and networking is delivered in four ways:

•  Environmental Internship. This module provides an opportunity to work with an organisation for the equivalent of three weeks on a specified project related to the environment. The aim is to develop a deeper understanding of how such organisations function and the policy contexts in which they operate. Most internships take place in London and are allocated on a competitive basis.
• Thesis placements. Through the professional networks of the teaching staff and alumni , we can pursue opportunities for dissertation research to be carried out within an international humanitarian or development NGO in the field. Current partners include the Red Cross Climate Centre, Oxfam, Save the Children, YCARE and the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute. 
•  Post-degree internships. We actively use our networks to help students obtain post-degree internships. We circulate opportunities that we receive and often send students to partner organisations such as the Stockholm Environment Institute (Asia) and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, both based in Bangkok.
•  Networking events. The Disasters, Adaptation and Development programme is associated with King's Centre for Integrated Research on Risk and Resilience (CIRRR) and students are encouraged to attend its seminars and social events. Seminars help to integrate masters students with researchers and policy actors with many opportunities to become informally involved in research and outreach. We also hold an annual alumni event.