Masters in Crisis Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach at ICMS
Institute of Crisis Management Studies (ICMS), Samarpan Academy is an educational institute that offers a multi-disciplinary and novel branch of study recognized as crisis management. ICMS established in the year 2013 is the first and the only educational institute in Nepal that offers Masters in Crisis Management. The institute’s initiative to introduce a unique discipline of study, the Masters in Crisis Management (MCM) affiliated with the Tribhuvan University aims to enhance knowledge on multifarious subjects such as environmental issues, law, humanitarian crisis, sociological hazards, statistics, hydrology, and meteorology, GIS and Remote Sensing followed by other areas. The curriculum integrates courses from science, management, and humanities, providing a comprehensive foundation for addressing complex crisis situations.
The goal of the study is to offer courses that prioritize meeting the educational and personal needs of students, grounded in a scientist-practitioner model. We emphasize empirical research and evidence-based practices to ensure a high-quality, impactful learning experience.
Scope of Studying Crisis Management
The study guides in understanding crisis dynamics for gaining insights into various types of crises, such as natural disasters, technological failures, economic downturns, and social upheavals. The different phases of a crisis—prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery are well communicated through training and simulation. It further boosts management skills for strategic planning and decision making.
The study method incorporates Risk Assessment and Mitigation for assessing potential risks and minimize the impact of crises vulnerabilities within organizations or communities. It helps to learn techniques for effective communication during a crisis, including managing media relations and internal communications. The program benefits from experienced faculty and guest speakers from around the world, providing diverse perspectives and expertise. The institute helps students to develop their networking skills. It further provides enrolled students with a platform for connecting various personalities from Nepal and various parts of the world who have excelled in their professional areas. Additionally, students will be able to work on empirical research and evidence-based practices.
Importance of Studying Crisis Management
Crisis Manager:
Students will be able to work with national and international organizations to develop and implement crisis management plans, ensuring preparedness and response strategies.
Emergency Manager:
Oversee emergency response and recovery efforts for government agencies, non-profits, or private sector organizations.
Risk Analyst/Consultant:
Assess potential risks for organizations and advise on mitigation strategies to minimize impact.
Disaster Recovery Specialist:
Focus on planning and executing recovery strategies after a crisis or disaster to restore normal operations.
Crisis Communication Specialist:
Handle communication strategies during and after a crisis to manage public perception and media relations.
Policy Advisor:
Develop and analyze policies related to crisis management and emergency preparedness for governments or organizations.
Humanitarian Affairs Officer:
Work with international organizations or NGOs to manage responses to crises and disasters globally.
Consulting and Training Roles:
Provide consultancy services or training such as first aid training, fire training, earthquake preparedness and response training and workshops for organizations looking to enhance their crisis management capabilities.
These roles can be found in various settings, including government agencies, non-profits, private corporations, and international organizations. The skills gained in crisis management programs such as strategic planning, risk assessment, and communication are highly valued across these fields.
Curriculum Outline
First Semester
Course Code Course title Credit hours
CMS - 501 Introduction to Crisis Management Study 4 CH-T (64)
CMS - 502 Geological Processes and Natural Hazards 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 503 Changing Dimensions of Security 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 504 Disaster Management Theory and Practice 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 505 Academic Writing 1 CH-T &P-R&W (16)
CMS - 506 Leadership Development 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 511 GIS and Remote Sensing 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 512 Geo-Politics: A Forecast For The 21st Century 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 513 International Law 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 514 Study of Sociological Hazards: An Interdisciplinary Approach 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 515 Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 516 Stress Management and Report Writing 1 CH-T-P&W (16)
CMS - 517 Fieldwork and Term Paper 'Crisis Case Study' 3 CH-T&P-R&W (48)
Second Semester
CMS - 511 GIS and Remote Sensing 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 512 Geo-Politics: A Forecast For The 21st Century 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 513 International Law 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 514 Study of Sociological Hazards: An Interdisciplinary Approach 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 515 Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 516 Stress Management and Report Writing 1 CH-T-P&W (16)
CMS - 517 Fieldwork and Term Paper 'Crisis Case Study' 3 CH-T&P-R&W (48)
Third Semester
CMS - 521 Biological and Ecological Disasters 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 522 Public Health and Emergency Response 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 523 Hydro-Meterological Disaster 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 524 Humanitarian Assistance 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 525 Social Statistics for a Diverse Society 2 CH-T (32)
Fourth Semester
CMS - 531 A Successful Dissertation and Thesis: Graduate Research from Proposal to Completion 2 CH-T (32)
CMS - 532 Understanding Terrorism & Managing Consequences** 3 CH-T(48)
CMS - 533 Organizational Crisis Management Study** 3 CH-T (48)
CMS - 534 Global Change and Sustainability** 3 CH-T(48)
CMS - 535 Thesis Writing 6 CH-R&W(96)
**Optional elective subjects
**Optional 2 elective subject should be selected from 3
Total Credit Hours: 15 / Teaching Hours: 240
Grand Total Credit Hours: 65 (Teaching Hours 1040), Total Subjects: 23, Total Seminars: 3, Total Fieldwork: 1 and Thesis: 1
CH: Credit Hours, T: Teaching Hours, P: Practical, R: Report, W: Writing