Due to the growing frequency and severity of disasters experienced around the world, and the ongoing need for management and mitigation of such risks, disaster and emergency management (DEM) has become a burgeoning academic and professional field that is sure to experience increased relevancy – both domestically and internationally – for the foreseeable future.
York University has already established itself as a leader in this growing field, as the only university in Canada to offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees in DEM. To further solidify its strength and expertise in disaster studies, York U is launching a doctoral program in DEM, set to begin in September 2025.
“We are extremely proud to be able to offer Canada’s first-ever PhD program in DEM, in addition to our successful DEM degrees at the undergraduate and master’s levels,” said Aaida Mamuji, director of the Graduate Program in Disaster & Emergency Management. “Our research-active faculty, our domestic and international collaborations, having the ADERSIM Lab right on campus and our vibrant York community, we hope, will make our incoming doctoral students thrive as they pursue higher education in disaster studies.”
From left to right the names are as follows:
Dr. Ali Asgary, Dr. Eric Kennedy, Dr. Jennifer Spinney (Area Coordinator), Dr. Evalyna Bogdan, Dr. Aaida Mamuji (Graduate Program Director), Dr. Jack Rozdilsky, Dr. Nirupama Agrawal
The PhD in disaster and emergency management is designed to link academic study and professional experience to support the development of theories, methods, policies and practices in the field. The program will incorporate advanced courses, focused mentorship from established faculty, relationship development with DEM practitioners, a supportive environment for pursuing innovative research, as well as the development of teaching and public outreach skills.
Whether the goal is to pursue a career in academia or to bring evidence-based practices into the field, the program’s equal focus on both knowledge production and mobilization will equip students to tackle either path with confidence.
Prospective students are invited to attend weekly drop-in sessions to ask questions about York U’s graduate programs in DEM (master’s and PhD). They can also attend one of three virtual information sessions about the new PhD program, specifically, scheduled for: Sept. 23, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2 from 11 to 12 p.m.
Applications for the inaugural cohort will be accepted from October 2024 to January 2025. For more information, contact Mamuji at amamuji@yorku.ca.