Majoring in disaster

[starbright]

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I really disagree that managing disasters could be taught simply by taking a MBA program. MBA’s are great, but they aren’t focusing on the specific needs of disaster managers. There would be useful information there, but it really, really isn’t the same thing to manage a business as it is to manage a disaster. The number of agencies that have to work together to manage huge groups of people and complicated and sensitive situations is unique. I had the option to do an MPA program with an emphasis on Emergency Management, but I turned it down. I want to specifically study disaster.

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<p>I hear what you are saying, but specializing so much you may miss so much that is critical to effective management regardless of context. Though I would probably agree an MBA with a specialization would not work. But by the same measure, I would worry that you will be missing so much very basic, fundamental evidence based management that IS essential to <em>any</em> kind of effective management- its simply foundational- that you can’t understand because you haven’t learned it yet. </p>

<p>Let’s just look at North Dakot’s program: four faculty teaching it from areas like anthropology and sociology. You have to take “the sociology of disasters” and NO course in operations and logistics? A course in “disaster preparedness” but none in management information systems? </p>

<p>I’m going to push back a bit and say sure, yes growing field BUT who is getting hired and where out of your program? Yo may very well be correct, but please don’t drink the koolaid or buy too much into the brochures, get the data.</p>