MASTER IN CRISIS AND DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Curriculum of the
Master in Crisis and Disaster Risk Management
(MCDRM)

Course Overview:

The program is inspired by the enactment of RA 10121, also known as

“Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010”. It is implemented by
the National Fire Training Institute (NFTI) with direct supervision of the Philippine
Public Safety College (PPSC), who is mandated by the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) to benchmark on the academic strand. The MCDRM program is
anchored on the PPSC Board of Trustees Resolution No. 04, series of 2016.

The program is comprised of 36 units that can be completed in three terms. It

is designed to be delivered through Blended Learning Modality that combines face-to-
face interaction and online classes. It is a full scholarship program that is intended for
qualified students from the interior government (DILG), faculty of state universities
and colleges (SUCs), officers of local government units’ disaster risk reduction and
management offices (LGU-DRRMOs), employees of the national government offices in
the sectors of thematic areas and ancillaries, and DRRM practitioners in the private
sectors and civil societies.

Program of Study

MCDRM is a trimestral program that is offered within one academic year. The
courses that complete the program are distributed as follows:

Number Course Code Subjects Units

1 MCDRM 101-PPS Perspectives in Public Safety 2 Units
2 MCDRM 102-MTP Management: Theories and Principles 2 Units
3 MCDRM 103-LHBO Leadership and Human Behavior in 2 Units
Organizations
4 MCDRM 104-LPP Laws and Public Policy 3 Units
5 MCDRM 105-CCSD Climate Change and Sustainable 3 Units
Development
6 MCDRM 201-CMS Crisis Management 3 Units
7 MCDRM 202-DRM Disaster Risk Management (Skills 6 Units
Inventory)
8 MCDRM 203-IEM International Emergency Management 3 Units
9 MCDRM 204-RM Research Methodologies 3 Units
10 MCDRM 301-PFM Public Fiscal Management 3 Units
11 MCDRM 302-CRP Capstone Research and Presentation 6 Units
TOTAL 36 Units

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Perspectives on Public Safety (2 Units)

MCDRM 101-PPS

This is a 2-unit course that covers a wide spectrum of perspectives relating to public
safety. Using the national security framework developed by the PPSC, this course will
tackle the different external and internal threats to national security, both in terms of
national defense and public safety or homeland security; explore the various
perspectives on public safety in existing literature at both the international and
national sphere; discuss policies and laws governing public safety; examine
institutional arrangements; and analyze current debates and emerging problems in
public safety. The course will emphasize the “civil defense” component of public safety
especially in the context of disaster governance. The course will be conducted through
a blended learning methodology, via a mix of face-to-face-classroom discussions, group
dynamics, and interactive online sessions.

Management: Theories and Principles (2 Units)

MCDRM 102-MTP

The course aims to provide students with the fundamental understanding of the
principles, precepts, and praxis of management from diverse disciplinary and
professional backgrounds. This subject will also provide students with broad
knowledge of the basic functions of management—from planning, organizing, and
staffing to directing, controlling, and budgeting—as well as broad knowledge of the
socio-political and economic setting of disaster management.

Leadership and Human Behavior in Organizations (2 Units)

MCDRM 103-LHBO

This subject involves the diagnosis of human behavior in organizations. One of

the most important keys to the success of a leader is the ability to motivate people and
generate their commitment to work on organizational goals. Doing this requires a
thorough understanding of human behavior and motivational factors and how these
are influenced by organizational leaders in different conditions of the external
environment. The course is designed to include both individual level and
organizational level concepts to enhance management practices in crisis situations.

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Laws and Public Policies (3 Units)

MCDRM 104-LPP

This is a 3-unit course that deals with the legal framework governing disaster risk
reduction and management and crisis management. The course will provide a broad
overview and survey of existing international and national laws covering policies,
mandates, institutional arrangements, standards, liabilities & incentives, among
others. The course will be conducted through a blended learning method of face-to-
face-classroom discussions, group dynamics, and interactive online sessions.

Climate Change and Sustainable Development (3 Units)

MCDRM 105-CCSD

Students will be provided with an interdisciplinary knowledge of earth science and

potential impacts of climate change across a variety of key areas, including energy,
health, business, policy and technology. This is underpinned by a critical understanding
of the concept of sustainability as applied to resource and energy use. The course will
give you the skills and confidence required to develop creative and evidenced solutions
to climate change and sustainability. In so doing, the program aims to meet the
changing needs of society by generating graduates able to tackle the challenges
presented by climate change, thus preparing them for careers that will span the
transition to a post-carbon economy.

Crisis Management (3 Units)

MCDRM 201-CM

This course provides comprehensive knowledge and up-to-date assessments on

crises and emergencies that threaten public safety and human security. The subject
covers cyber security, supply chain, terrorism, pandemics, disaster risk trends,
emergency response, and data breach, among others. Students will be given the tools,
knowledge, and understanding to benchmark, assess, and improve public safety
functions, disaster recovery, and crisis management programs. The course hones
students with theories and best practices in the field of public relations and
communication in crisis situations.

Disaster Risk Management (6 Units)

MCDRM 202-DRM

This course refers to skills development on the following areas: (1) Incident Command
System; (2) Integrated planning; (3) Rapid damage assessment and needs analysis; (4)
Post-disaster needs assessment; (5) The Philippines local disaster risk reduction

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management simulation training of facilitators (6) Medical First Responder Course

(MFR); (7) Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR); (8) SPHERE Training of
Trainers; and (8) Community-based disaster risk reduction management. These
subjects will be handled by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Science
and Technology (DOST), Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Metro Manila Development
Authority (MMDA), and Earthquake Megacities Initiatives, and other agencies.

International Emergency Management (3 Units)

MCDRM 203-IEM

This course deals with international emergency management of international

organizations, both state and non-state. It provides practitioners and students with a
comprehensive picture of the di saster management profession from a global
perspective, which includes sources of risks and vulnerabilities, systems that manage
hazards and risks, and the stakeholders involved.

This subject examines the impact of large-scale disasters on countries and

communities as well as on the latter’s efforts to mitigate and manage disasters. It also
covers the achievements of the United Nations Hyogo Framework for Action (2005–
2015) and the priorities for action in the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction (Sendai Framework of Action).

Research Methodologies (3 Units)

MCDRM 204-RM

This course provides students the fundamentals of research methods in crisis

and disaster risk management studies to prepare them for their thesis. In writing their
research studies, students will have to use interdisciplinary theories and analytical
tools to assess the extent, effects, and causes of crisis and disaster. Aside from
providing students with the latest developments in the field, the course will also teach
students the skills and competence to plan and execute research and engage in policy
discourse. They will have to apply theories and models, evaluate information critically,
undertake advanced conceptual analysis, use information sources effectively, develop
new approaches to problem-solving, and communicate ideas clearly.

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Public Fiscal Management (3 Units)

MCDRM 301-PFM

This course provides students with broad knowledge on public finance, revenue
generation, and government budgeting from national to local governments. Students
are expected to have a firm grasp of resource management and service delivery to the
public.

Capstone Research and Presentation (6 Units)

MCDRM 302-CRP

The course is conducted through seminar workshops designed to improve

students’ capability in problem identification, strategic thinking, and policy
formulation. The first seminar is primarily focused on the research questions, their
formulation, viability or feasibility, and coherence with research design. The second
seminar focuses on the choice of theoretical/analytical framework and the elaboration
of the methodological approaches. Format may be in Re-entry Plan Report, Mixed
Method Research, Action Research, and Policy Research.

Distribution of Subjects per Trimester

Trimester Period Subjects
Management: Theories and Principles
Perspectives in Public Safety
September -
First Leadership and Human Behavior in Organizations
December
Climate Change and Sustainable Development
Laws and Public Policy
Crisis Management
Disaster Risk Management
Second February – May (Skills Inventory)
International Emergency Management
Research Methodologies
Public Fiscal Management
Third June – August
Capstone Research and Presentation

OFFICE OF THE DEAN

MASTER IN CRISIS AND DISATER RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

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