Class Description
Overview
This course investigates disasters with demographic viewpoints. The disaster is a historical and cultural origins and evolution of the complex, multifaceted, natural and social phenomenon. Therefore, the course investigation includes events, historical/cultural processes, natural hazards, and political contexts that marked and continue to drive various competing attitudes toward issues in the world. The course sessions maximize the usage of demographic data to recognize the disasters. The course methods utilized include reading, writing, lectures, videos, discussions, presentation, and debates. As a final project, students employ course concepts, frameworks, research methods, and understandings in researching and writing a term paper on historical or contemporary disasters issues.
Objectives
By the completion of this course, students should be able to:
• Demonstrate familiarity with key events in the history of the disasters in the world with social, economic, and policy status;
• Recognize how culture has been shaped by disasters;
• Understand the relationship between social backgrounds (with demographic data) and victimizations processes in through
case studies;
• Successfully employ concepts from natural and environmental disasters and disaster theories in developing insights about the
formation, development and impacts of the some particular disasters cases;
• Fully recognize the disaster research methods with ethical issues and show your ability to conduct disaster research properly;
and
• Demonstrate proficiency in applying basic course concepts, analytical frameworks, and research methods, and propose a short
research paper on a particular area in the world which was devastated by natural disasters.
Requirements
• Read all required texts and view all in-class films and videos;
• Submit request/review sheet at each class;
• Participate in course discussions, debates, and own or other short presentations;
• Complete an essay assignment (3-5 pp.); and
• Prepare and submit a term paper (10-12 pp.).
Grading
Mid-term essay, 20%
Term paper, 40%
Short presentations and participations, 40%
TEXT
Required
Piers Blaikie, Terry Cannon , Ian Davis , Ben Wisner.2003.At Risk: Natural Hazards, People's Vulnerability and Disasters.2nd ed.RoutledgeISBN-13: 978-0415252164
Ronald W.Perry and E.L. Quarantelli ed. 2005.What is a Disaster? : New Answers to Old Questions
http://www.saarc-sadkn.org/downloads/what%20is%20disaster.pdf
UNISDR.2015. GAR 2015(Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Development Sustainable: The Future of Disaster Risk Management)
http://www.preventionweb.net/english/hyogo/gar/2015/en/home/index.html
Recommended
Birkmann Jorn.2006.Measuring Vulnerability to Natural Hazards. United Nation University Press. ISBN 92-808-1135-5
D Etkin.2015.Disaster Theory: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Concepts and Causes. Elsevier
UNU-EHS (Institute for Environment and Human Security) publications
http://www.ehs.unu.edu/article/read/source
COMMUNICATIONS (LMS:Learning Management System)
Schoology
FILMS AND VIDEOS
Inamura no Hi (Living God)
Great Kanto Earthquake Disaster in 1929
Typhoon Isewan in 1959
Nevado del Ruiz Volcanic Eruption in 1985
Unzen Fugendake Volcanic Eruption in 1991
Kobe Earthquake in 1995
Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004
Hurricane Katrina in 2005
Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng in 2009
Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster in 2011
ASSIGNMENTS
Mid-Term Essay (TBD)
"Disaster Data and its Utilization for Disaster Research"
Term paper (see below:TBD)
※Assignment can be completed based on the class presentations
and discussions
TERM PAPER
Assignment. A detailed assignment will be handed out during Week 7.
Disaster Research with a Case Study. This should include research framework,
research method, analyses, research findings, and conclusion.
Proposal. By Week 10, submit a proposal (~1 p.) describing the outline you would like to examine in your term paper.
Specifications. Term papers should be ~10-12 pp. in length, double-spaced, 11 or 12 pt. Times
New Roman, plus coversheet and bibliography.
Deadline. Due at the beginning of the regularly scheduled Final Exam period for this course.
This course investigates disasters with demographic viewpoints. The disaster is a historical and cultural origins and evolution of the complex, multifaceted, natural and social phenomenon. Therefore, the course investigation includes events, historical/cultural processes, natural hazards, and political contexts that marked and continue to drive various competing attitudes toward issues in the world. The course sessions maximize the usage of demographic data to recognize the disasters. The course methods utilized include reading, writing, lectures, videos, discussions, presentation, and debates. As a final project, students employ course concepts, frameworks, research methods, and understandings in researching and writing a term paper on historical or contemporary disasters issues.
Objectives
By the completion of this course, students should be able to:
• Demonstrate familiarity with key events in the history of the disasters in the world with social, economic, and policy status;
• Recognize how culture has been shaped by disasters;
• Understand the relationship between social backgrounds (with demographic data) and victimizations processes in through
case studies;
• Successfully employ concepts from natural and environmental disasters and disaster theories in developing insights about the
formation, development and impacts of the some particular disasters cases;
• Fully recognize the disaster research methods with ethical issues and show your ability to conduct disaster research properly;
and
• Demonstrate proficiency in applying basic course concepts, analytical frameworks, and research methods, and propose a short
research paper on a particular area in the world which was devastated by natural disasters.
Requirements
• Read all required texts and view all in-class films and videos;
• Submit request/review sheet at each class;
• Participate in course discussions, debates, and own or other short presentations;
• Complete an essay assignment (3-5 pp.); and
• Prepare and submit a term paper (10-12 pp.).
Grading
Mid-term essay, 20%
Term paper, 40%
Short presentations and participations, 40%
TEXT
Required
Piers Blaikie, Terry Cannon , Ian Davis , Ben Wisner.2003.At Risk: Natural Hazards, People's Vulnerability and Disasters.2nd ed.RoutledgeISBN-13: 978-0415252164
Ronald W.Perry and E.L. Quarantelli ed. 2005.What is a Disaster? : New Answers to Old Questions
http://www.saarc-sadkn.org/downloads/what%20is%20disaster.pdf
UNISDR.2015. GAR 2015(Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Development Sustainable: The Future of Disaster Risk Management)
http://www.preventionweb.net/english/hyogo/gar/2015/en/home/index.html
Recommended
Birkmann Jorn.2006.Measuring Vulnerability to Natural Hazards. United Nation University Press. ISBN 92-808-1135-5
D Etkin.2015.Disaster Theory: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Concepts and Causes. Elsevier
UNU-EHS (Institute for Environment and Human Security) publications
http://www.ehs.unu.edu/article/read/source
COMMUNICATIONS (LMS:Learning Management System)
Schoology
FILMS AND VIDEOS
Inamura no Hi (Living God)
Great Kanto Earthquake Disaster in 1929
Typhoon Isewan in 1959
Nevado del Ruiz Volcanic Eruption in 1985
Unzen Fugendake Volcanic Eruption in 1991
Kobe Earthquake in 1995
Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004
Hurricane Katrina in 2005
Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng in 2009
Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster in 2011
ASSIGNMENTS
Mid-Term Essay (TBD)
"Disaster Data and its Utilization for Disaster Research"
Term paper (see below:TBD)
※Assignment can be completed based on the class presentations
and discussions
TERM PAPER
Assignment. A detailed assignment will be handed out during Week 7.
Disaster Research with a Case Study. This should include research framework,
research method, analyses, research findings, and conclusion.
Proposal. By Week 10, submit a proposal (~1 p.) describing the outline you would like to examine in your term paper.
Specifications. Term papers should be ~10-12 pp. in length, double-spaced, 11 or 12 pt. Times
New Roman, plus coversheet and bibliography.
Deadline. Due at the beginning of the regularly scheduled Final Exam period for this course.
