General Information

Disasters in the contemporary society, whether of natural or technological origin are complex phenomena that demand comprehensive and multi-disciplinary assessments and actions. This is distinctly different from conventional and simpler forms of hazards and accidents. Earthquake disasters are considered today not simply as a technical issue of maintaining structural robustness, but as an interrelated area of study and that involve and require contributions from a wide spectrum of expertise. Understanding of natural and social systems and processes, as well as their interactions is an essential step in the study of disasters. Furthermore, there is the need to develop a capacity to manage such systems, be it in the context of emergency/crisis environments, or alternatively in the avoidance and management of risks prior to disasters. The technical know-how related to both aspects of disaster management are based on theory or conveyed by means of case studies, widely spread in many fields of study and practice. Earth sciences and natural sciences, as well as anthropological and historical studies, economics, sociology, psychology, have direct contributions to make in the understanding of such systems. On the other hand, politics, social and physical planning, engineering, systems management, law, medicine, security sciences, and others contribute to the prescriptive capacity in building up the practice of preventive decisions. The priority of the disaster management program is explicitly on the latter aspects of disasters and pro-active forms of conduct.

Objectives

The scope and mission of the Disaster Management Program covers:

• Provision of a basic understanding of issues in mitigation and emergency management to graduates of diverse undergraduate programs, and guidance in their specialization appropriate to their original backgrounds.
• Supply of experts equipped with risk and emergency management capabilities to the current and prospective public and private institutions.
• Supply of researchers and academic personnel to the new universities in Turkey.
• Contribute to the more effective organizations, regulatory devices and conduct of disaster management activities in Turkey.
• Contribute to public awareness in disasters, and the development of resilient communities.
• Development of new courses and teaching subjects based on research and new requirements.
• Programmed conduct of interdisciplinary research extending over the years in collaboration and coordination with other national and international research centers and bodies.
• International exchange of students, specialists, research findings, and teaching material.

Research Areas

Some of the theoretical and empirical research areas in the Disaster Management Program are:

• City and Regional Planning:
• Regional and urban risk sectors assessment and mitigation planning
• Urban loss assessments
• Macro-form and urban pattern risk analyses
• Non-compatible and hazardous uses, and open space deficiencies
• Location of emergency facilities, risks in infrastructure and accessibility networks
• Comprehensive urban regeneration methods
• Environmental design guidelines and standards to facilitate emergency management and cost/benefit analyses in risk mitigation
• Reconstruction planning
• Administrative Sciences:
• Organizations and legal structures in disaster management
• Participatory methods in disaster mitigation
• Conflict resolution and management with multiple stake-holders
• Economics:
• Comparative analysis of disaster losses and estimation methods
• Cost-effectiveness in mitigation
• Economics of disaster relief
• Effectiveness in insurance
• Sociology:
• Risk minimizing behavior for resilient communities
• Post-disaster social collaboration
• Survival and the risk society
• Communications and media
• Psychology:
• Perception of risks
• Awareness raising and public education
• Psychology and behavior of survivors
• Provision of psychological support

Curriculum

Students who have taken any of the compulsory courses earlier will take elective courses instead.

M.S. Program (with Thesis)

Courses for Disaster Management

• Compulsory Courses
• EQS 501 Earthquake Disaster Policies or EQS 508 Principles of Disaster Risk Reduction
• EQS 505 Fundamentals of Earthquake Studies
• CP 562 Urban Risks and Planning
• EQS 506 Principles of Disaster Resilience
• EQS 590 Seminar
• CP 509 (Ethics without credits)
• 4 Elective Courses

Earthquake Studies Program Courses

• EQS 507 Ionospheric Effects as the Precursors of the Earthquake

Department of Civil Engineering Courses

• Introduction to Earthquake Resistant Design (CE 490)
• Engineering Decision and Risk Analysis (CE 735)
• Structural Health Monitoring (CE 5802)

Department of City and Regional Planning Courses

• Urban Risks and Planning (CP 562)

Department of Geological Engineering Department Courses

• Geographic Information Systems in Earth Sciences (GEOE 557)

Geodetic and Geographic Information Technologies Program

• GIS and RS in Disaster Management (GGIT 532)
• Principles of Remote Sensing (GGIT 560)

Department of Architecture Courses

• Diagnosis and Treatment of Structural Faults and Material Decay (REST 555)
• Earthquake Resistant Building Design in Architecture (BS 535)
• Studies on Tall Buildings: Design Considerations (BS 536)
• Fire Control in Architecture (BS 587)

Department of Philosophy Courses

• Eco-Philosophy: Philosophy of Environment I-II (PHIL 571-572)
• Environmental Ethics (PHIL 588)
• Ethics and Decision Making (PHIL 585)

Department of Psychology

• Psychology of Disasters (PSY 445)

Department of Economics Courses

• Economics of Uncertainty and Information (ECON 450)

Note: Number of alternative elective courses can be increased.