CAE 3891 - Introduction to Disaster Relief and Global Sustainable Development

3 lecture hours 0 lab hours 3 credits

Course Description
This course is an introduction to disaster relief and global sustainable development. The course will explore various complex issues (e.g., culture, beliefs, environment, economics, politics, history) and how they influence both global development and the occurrence of, and response to, disasters. Students will examine the state of global development and differentiate between contexts in which disaster relief is required and those in which long-term development is more appropriate. Students will develop a definition of sustainable development, including specific criteria, and examine approaches which have and have not resulted in long-term sustainable development. Applications will primarily focus on the field of engineering. However, development occurs in a very interconnected way which requires an interdisciplinary approach. Therefore, the course will also cover topics such as health (community health promotion and healthcare), economics (social entrepreneurship and microfinance), and public policy (human rights and policy advocacy). (prereq: sophomore standing)

Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Explain the impact that culture, beliefs, environment, economics, politics, and history have in disaster relief and global development
Evaluate effectiveness of past and present relief and development efforts in terms of a set of core principles
Devise a response plan for a contemporary disaster/humanitarian emergency
Devise an interdisciplinary pilot project to address a development goal
Apply lessons from the course to specific opportunities in various fields of engineering

Prerequisites by Topic

None

Course Topics

Philosophical framework for global engagement
The impact of cultures and beliefs on sustainable development
Development through the lens of ancient and modern global history
Strategies and perspectives of the poor
Global sustainable development defined
Principles of community development
Appropriate technology
Disaster relief, mitigation, and Complex Humanitarian Emergencies (CHEs)
The role of research in development
Project monitoring and evaluation
Development financing
Policy advocacy

Coordinator
Dr. DeAnna Leitzke, P.E.

Announcement

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CAE 3891 - Introduction to Disaster Relief and Global Sustainable Development