The Program


The Institute for Disaster Management offers an undergraduate minor in disaster management that pairs well with any major, from public health and journalism to geography and international affairs. Through the minor program, students acquire a strong foundation in the knowledge and skills they need to apply disaster management to their specific area of focus or to continue on in the field of disaster management.

The structure and topical focus of the minor program engages students in both applied and scholarly work in emergency and disaster management. Coursework for the minor in disaster management focuses on the societal impacts and causes of natural and human-made hazards, including how these disasters can be mitigated, planned for, and adapted to.

Below, you will find information on the course work for the minor program and how to apply. More detailed information about each course is available here.

 

By the Numbers


 

Details


Coursework

The minor consists of 15 semester hours of coursework, which must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.

The required anchor course for the minor is DMAN 3100, “Disasters and Society.” In this course, students explore the social contributors and impacts of disasters, and analyze key findings related to human behavior in disaster settings. Upon completion of the course, students will have a broad understanding of the core theories and frameworks that guide emergency preparedness, response, and research of disasters.

Following the foundations provided by DMAN 3100, students take an additional 12 semester hours of coursework. Here, at least three courses or 9 semester hours must be from the DMAN prefix, and no more than six hours of independent study credit may count toward the minor. Elective options for the minor include, but are not limited to, the following:

Sample Plans of Study

For the sample plans below, students may substitute one course or 3 credit hours for an elective outside of the Institute for Disaster Management. Students typically follow a 2-year plan of study. These are meant to serve as sample plans of study only.

How To Apply

There is no formal application process for the Disaster Management minor. Currently enrolled students who would like to add or remove a minor should log in to Athena. Under the Student tab, click the My Programs menu item. From there, you will be able to add/delete majors, emphasis areas, minors, and certificates. If you have any questions, please email ugaidm@uga.edu.

How to add a minor:

  • Log in to Athena
  • Under the Student tab, click the My Programs menu item
  • In My Programs, complete the following steps:
    • Click the Add Minor button
    • Select “Disaster Management”
    • Confirm your selection

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IDM Represents at EMAG 2025

Over 20 Institute for Disaster Management faculty, staff, and students headed down to Jekyll Island the second week of April for the 2025 Emergency Management Summit and Training Sessions (EMAG).

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Alumni spotlight: William Burke (MPH ’21)

When looking back on his education and career, William Burke credits a particular quality with finding the right path: curiosity. Burke came to the University of Georgia for his Masters

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Shelter from the storm

How UGA’s Institute for Disaster Management is keeping Georgia’s nursing homes safe. Curt Harris doesn’t care for the word, “No.” In his mind, it is often a barrier to progress.