Master of Arts in Disaster Management is a 2-year postgraduate course that focuses on the study of risk related to natural and man-made disasters. The students learn to understand, manage, and reduce these risks. The course covers areas such as disaster risk reduction (DRR), emergency response, public health, policy, GIS, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
Those who have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks are eligible to apply for the course. The admission to the course is mainly based on an entrance examination like CUET-PG. The course fees range between INR 1.19 - 1.54 LPA. But institutes like JNU offer this course at a very low cost of around INR 645 for 2 years.
The master's in disaster management graduates are eligible to find jobs in the government & public sector, International & Intergovernmental Organizations, NGOs, and the private sector. Some of the job roles available for these graduates are Risk Management Specialist, Policy Analyst, Environmental Risk Consultant, Business Continuity Manager, GIS & Remote Sensing Analyst, etc. The average salary for a fresher can range between INR 2.14 - 10 LPA.
Table of Contents
- MA Disaster Management Highlights Table
- What is MA in Disaster Management?
- Why Study MA in Disaster Management?
- Who Should Study MA in Disaster Management?
- MA Disaster Management Eligibility
- MA Disaster Management Entrance Exam
- MA Disaster Management Colleges
- MA Disaster Management Admission Process
- MA Disaster Management Syllabus
- MA Disaster Management Job Opportunities
- MA Disaster Management FAQs
MA Disaster Management Highlights Table
Some of the key details of the MA in Disaster Management course are mentioned in the table below:
What is MA in Disaster Management?
Master of Arts in Disaster Management is a course of study that offers knowledge and practical skills necessary to understand, prepare for, respond to, and recover from a range of natural and human-made disasters. It is an interdisciplinary course that draws from social sciences, environmental studies, public policy, public health, and emergency response management.
The course covers key areas such as disaster risk reduction (DRR), emergency preparedness and response, climate change and environmental risk, urban and rural vulnerability, humanitarian aid, and the use of technology like GIS and remote sensing in disaster mapping and planning. Students are also introduced to the policy and governance frameworks that influence disaster management at the national and international levels.
Why Study MA in Disaster Management?
Studying MA in Disaster Management could be one of the impactful choices to make. Since in today’s world, there are ample of natural disasters taking place due to climate change. This could prepare the individual for the upcoming pandemics and could also be an important asset for the government. Here are some of the reasons to choose this course:
- The course could prepare the individual for future disasters by providing a deep understanding of disasters and reducing and managing their impact.
- The course will open up diverse career opportunities. The candidates can work for the government and also for private companies in their CSR activities. They will also be able to work for international organizations (like the UN, WHO, and Red Cross).
Who Should Study MA in Disaster Management?
The MA Disaster Management course should be pursued by those who want to solve real-world problems. The course is apt for those who are interested in any one of the following:
- Individuals who are passionate about addressing real-world challenges related to natural hazards, climate change, humanitarian crises, and community resilience.
- Those who have an undergraduate degree in fields such as geography, environmental science, sociology, public health, social work, urban and rural development, political science, engineering, or public administration.
- Those already working in NGOs, government bodies, urban planning, disaster relief, or social development sectors can benefit from the program.
- Those interested in research, teaching, or policy-making related to disaster and environmental management.
MA Disaster Management Eligibility
The institutes may have different criteria for admission into the master's degree in disaster management. Here are some of the basic eligibility criteria followed by most of the institutions for admission into the MA in Disaster Management:
- The candidates should have a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
- Should have secured a minimum aggregate of 50% marks. A 5% relaxation is offered to the reserved category candidates.
MA Disaster Management Entrance Exam
Most of the institutes usually consider CUET-PG for admission into MA courses. The table below provides the dates for CUET-PG:
MA Disaster Management Colleges
There are very few institutes that offer a masters degree in disaster management. Here is the list of some of the institutes that offer an MA in Disaster Management:
MA Disaster Management Admission Process
The admission into the disaster management course is based on a national-level entrance examination through a university-conducted entrance exam. The admission process for the MA in Disaster Management offered by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences is mentioned below:
- Entrance Exam - The candidates will have to register for CUET-PG and appear for the exam at the assigned centre. It is important for the candidates to check the TISS Mumbai CUET website and check the subjects they have appeared for in the CUET-PG exam for admission in the MA in Disaster Management.
- Registration - The application process for TISS Mumbai will start after the CUET-PG results have been declared. The candidates will have to fill out the TISS Mumbai application form with all the information, upload the documents, and pay the application fees.
- Merit List - TISS Mumbai will release the open merit list (OML) based on the marks obtained in CUET-PG. After that, the candidates will release the category-wise merit list (CML) based on the seats reserved for each category as per the Government of India. The waitlist will also be released.
- Pre-Admission Online Counseling - The online counseling session will be conducted for the candidates whose names are the one the merit list and on the waitlist. The candidates will have to confirm their admission in any one of the chosen courses, and the seats that are not accepted will be offered to the waitlist candidates.
- Admission/ Document Verification - All candidates selected for admission should physically report to the institute for document verification and complete the admission formalities. The candidates will have to produce their original mark sheets/grade sheets/ certificates of the qualifying examinations at the time of reporting for the admission.
Documents Required:
- 10th Marksheets & Passing Certificate
- 12th Marksheets & Passing Certificate
- Graduation Marksheets & Degree Certificate
- Migration Certificates from the Institution / University last attended
- Aadhar Card
- Caste Certificate (for reserved category candidates)
MA Disaster Management Syllabus
The masters in disaster management is a 2-year course divided into 4 semesters. The course includes core courses, electives, skill enhancement courses, value-added courses, internships & field work, and research courses. Here is the syllabus of the MA in Disaster Management offered by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai:
MA Disaster Management Job Opportunities
After completion of masters in disaster management, the candidates can find jobs in the government & public sector, International & Intergovernmental Organizations (like UN Agencies, Red Cross societies, World Bank projects, etc), NGOs, and private sectors for their CSR activities. Some of the job roles available after completion of an MA in Disaster Management are mentioned below, along with the average salary as per PayScale:
MA Disaster Management FAQs
What are the government jobs that one can apply for after completing the MA Disaster Management course?
The MA Disaster Management graduates can apply for jobs as Disaster Management Officers in NDMA, SDMAs, DDMAs, municipal corporations, and district administrations. They can also apply for a Policy Analyst / Advisor role and work for ministries dealing with the environment, urban planning, and home affairs.
What are the higher study options after the MA Disaster Management course?
After completion of an MA in Disaster Management, the graduates can pursue a PhD course in disaster management with a similar specialization. Meanwhile, they can also work as Lecturer / Assistant Professor in universities with disaster management, geography, or environmental studies departments.
Does the MA Disaster Management course provide practical experience?
Most institutes that of MA in Disaster Management programs include fieldwork, internships, simulation exercises, and case studies in their curriculum. Students often get to do the fieldwork and work on real-world disaster response and preparedness projects with NGOs, government bodies, or international agencies.
Is MA in Disaster Management course suitable for someone who is interested in climate change or public health?
Yes, the masters in disaster management programs also focus on climate change adaptation, environmental planning, and public health emergencies. The course prepares students to work in cross-sectoral areas such as climate resilience, epidemic preparedness, urban sustainability, and humanitarian response.
