Universities and Online Degrees Guide

Stellenbosch University

Master of Philosophy in Disaster Risk Science and Development

The Master of Philosophy in Disaster Risk Science and Development in Humanities and Social Sciences is offered by Stellenbosch University.

Program Length: 2 YEARS.

Master of Philosophy in Disaster Risk Science and Development offered by the Stellenbosch University at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Like the Postgraduate Diploma, this cross-disciplinary MPhil programme aims to provide students with an integrated understanding of disaster risk in South and Southern Africa, but emphasizes developing research skills. It seeks to enable students to understand the interactions between social and physical risk producing processes, and equip students with the skills to investigate, analyse and understand disaster risk.

Focus areas include interdisciplinary risk research approaches, methods and tools and the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing for risk reduction. It too provides a grounding for multiple career paths, including teaching, research and practice.

Programme Structure

The programme comprises of a coursework component of 90 credits and a research thesis of 90 credits.

Compulsory Modules

13136 : Disaster Risk Assessment and Analysis 871(30)

13134 : Disaster Risk Science and Development 871(30)

13181 : Thesis (Disaster Risk Science and Development) 871(90)

plus

 

Elective modules

Choose two of the following modules. Please note that the module GIS for Risk Reduction is compulsory if you do not have training in Geographical Information Systems (GIS training).

13182 : GIS for Risk Reduction 871(15)

12230 : Introduction to Development Planning 771(15)

11179 : Environmental Issues 771(15)

11919 : Environmental Governance 771(15)

58718 : Sustainable Development 771(15)

11199 : Sustainable Cities 775(15)

 

Assessment and Examination

The modules are assessed by means of individual and group assignments, examinations and by thesis that is assessed according to the regulations of Stellenbosch University. The assessment also includes the oral presentation of the proposal and the results.