Course Title: Disasters and Humanitarian Assistance
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Disasters and Humanitarian Assistance
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
SOCU2234 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2009, Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2015, Sem 2 2016 |
SOCU2234 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face or Internet |
Sem 2 2017, Sem 2 2023 |
SOCU2234 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Internet |
Sem 2 2018, Sem 1 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 2 2021 |
Flexible Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
SOCU2234 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
PGRDFlex17 (ISV) |
SOCU2234 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
PGRDFx2019 (FF) |
SOCU2234 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
PGRDFx2020 (All) |
Course Coordinator: Dr Vandra Harris Agisilaou
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2960
Course Coordinator Email: vandra.harris.agisilaou@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 37.5.25
Course Coordinator Availability: By Appointment (email to make a time)
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None
Course Description
Disasters and humanitarian crises are increasing in duration, complexity and impact. This course develops your understanding and basic skills relating to mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery for a wide range of emergencies. You will engage in contemporary theoretical debates and the practical application of tools and strategies to real and imagined emergency scenarios. You will learn how crises amplify inequality and poverty, and about their uneven impacts on economies, livelihoods and stability. In addition to addressing the diverse actors affected by and responding to crises, you will learn about the political and social contexts in which crisis and recovery take place.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
Course Learning Outcomes
The overall objective of this course is to broaden your understanding of disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, so that you have a good intellectual foundation from which to enter work in this area.
Upon successful completion of the course you will be able to
- Explain disaster relief and humanitarian assistance
- Differentiate resources available to professionals working in these areas
- Describe and explain key issues addressed in academic literature
- Critically analyse the complex and sometimes competing demands and priorities encountered in this work
- Present the above in a coherent and well-argued manner, both written and verbally
Overview of Learning Activities
Primary learning activities include lectures; class activities and discussion; allocated readings; analysis of cases; guest lectures; and assessment tasks. Students are expected to participate actively, whether they are enrolled face-to-face or online.
Overview of Learning Resources
RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.
All readings will be made available through Canvas.
There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.
Overview of Assessment
You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes.
Assessment Tasks
Assignment 1: Module completions, 40% of final grade, approx 1800 words.
This task requires you to demonstrate completion and understanding of course materials through short written responses. For online delivery of the course there are four short (450 words) responses across the semester; for intensive delivery you will complete a summary of required readings prior to commencement of in-person teaching. (Addresses Course Learning Outcomes 1,3,4).
Assessment 2: Scenario response, 45% of final grade, equivalent 2,000 words.
This task requires you to devise a response to a specific humanitarian scenario. You may work together as a group or individually; and the submission may be written or an oral presentation. Where group work is chosen, the grade will incorporate peer evaluation. Addresses Course Learning Outcomes 1,4,5.
Assessment 3: Scenario Analysis, 15% of final grade, approx 750 words.
In this task you draw on academic literature to justify one key aspect of the scenario response in Assessment 2. (Addresses Course Learning Outcomes 2,3,5)
Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.
Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.