The National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) staff are active practitioners and teachers in the field. Along with conferences and presentations, NCDP is involved with Pre-College, Professional (Non-Degree), Degree Research programs, and work opportunities through Columbia University.

Degree

M.A. in Climate and Society and M.S. in Climate

There are several degree paths for disaster management at the Columbia Climate School.

  • The M.A. in Climate and Society is a one-year, 34-credit interdisciplinary graduate program that engages students in understanding and addressing the impacts of climate variability and climate change on society and the environment. Students can select an area of specialization in Disaster Risk Management. Read a question-and-answer interview about this certificate.
  • The M.S. in Climate is a two-year, 50-credit degree program that will prepare professionals and future academics to be climate leaders at community, state, national, and international levels. Students can also complete the advanced certificate in Climate and Disaster Management, an 18-credit certificate that provides students with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to conduct and apply research in various intersecting disciplines relevant to managing disasters.

Pre-college

High school students can learn beyond the classroom and earn college credit during the school year and the summer. They can learn how to drive positive impacts and become agents of change in their community. Recent courses include:

Professional Learning (Non-Degree)

NCDP offers presentations, webinars, workshops, and training for working professionals. NCDP also frequently supports executive education and non-degree programs offered through the Columbia Climate School.

Recent presentations and trainings have included:

Student Casual, Department Research Assistants, Graduate Assistant, and Postdoctoral Opportunities

Each semester and during the summer, a variety of opportunities are available for students to learn about the nuances and practices of research, policy, and practice at NCDP. In recent years, students have been active participants in research design, curriculum development, data analysis, marketing and outreach, and more. Many students have leveraged opportunities provided by NCDP to become policy legislative aides, instructional designers, project managers, data analysts, educators, and more. Students can apply for opportunities through the Columbia Climate School internship and postdoctoral fellowship processes.

Intern and Grant-Funded Research Opportunities

Graduate, Ph.D., and experienced practitioners can enhance their skill sets by participating in active projects and fieldwork. Recent opportunities include:

  • Development and delivery of childcare emergency operations plans training in Puerto Rico
  • National Science Foundation: Teaching with maps: Instructional strategies and user research on integrating GIS maps in the classroom to enhance climate literacy and equity (Geared towards K-12 students)