Environmental Hazards and Disasters
Qualifications
Overview
Environmental Hazards and Disasters examines the earth science systems that lead to natural disaster events, and the issues caused by sudden, extreme changes to the environment.
Students in this major will learn about the processes, causes, and potential results of natural hazards and disasters, and gain practical experience in assisting management response plans to help forecast and lessen their impact.
- UC’s unique position in Te Waipounamu South Island and as a centre for research excellence in disasters will allow you to see hazard management and response in action, with field study a key focus in this major.
- Our disaster risk degree programmes have won awards for its innovative content and delivery modes, including from the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).
UC offers a major in Environmental Hazards and Disasters as part of the Bachelor of Environmental Science with Honours.
Environmental Hazards and Disasters major
The following courses are required throughout the degree:
100-level
200-level
- COMS 232 Risk and Crisis Communication
- GEOG 215 Environmental Hazards and Disasters
- GEOL 246 Earth Surface Dynamics
300-level
Plus one course chosen from:
- GEOG 323 Geospatial Analysis in the Social and Environmental Sciences
- GEOG 324 Web GIS and Geoinformatics
- GEOG 325 Health, Wellbeing and the Environment
400-level
Disaster management programmes need more experts who understand the science behind natural disasters, and have the practical means to respond and prevent fallout to human society and other surrounding ecosystems.
Roles suited to this degree include hazard management, crisis and emergency response, urban resilience planning, geospatial mapping, computational and statistical modelling, government policy, crisis communications, and further environmental science research in this evolving field.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Environmental Science.
Contact us
Te Kura Aronukurangi | School of Earth and Environment
Phone +64 3 369 0655
Email earthandenvironment@canterbury.ac.nz
Location
Level 2, Beatrice Tinsley building – see campus maps
Postal address
Te Rāngai Pūtaiao | College of Science
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
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