PhD in Emergency and Disaster Management

The Emergency and Disaster Management PhD program is designed for students aiming for professional and academic careers in disaster management. This program enhances the knowledge and skills required for effective disaster risk analysis, planning, response, and recovery, addressing the most pressing challenges in today’s complex and demanding world.

Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, pandemics, and environmental catastrophes can significantly impact lives and the global economy. Therefore, professional management and leadership in disaster prevention, intervention, and recovery are essential.

The program covers the latest research and practices in the field of emergency and disaster management. Students will learn strategies for disaster risk analysis, disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Additionally, topics like crisis communication, human behavior and psychology, legal and ethical issues, and the use of technology will be explored.

PhD students in this program are given the opportunity to conduct advanced research and deepen their understanding in emergency and disaster management. They will also have the chance to work alongside leading researchers and professionals in the field. Graduates of this program can pursue careers as prominent academics, researchers, government advisors, civil society leaders, international organization representatives, or managers in the private sector.

In conclusion, the Emergency and Disaster Management PhD program offers a unique opportunity for students who aspire to make a difference in the disaster management field. By enhancing their expertise, students will play a crucial role in saving lives, safeguarding communities, and mitigating the effects of global disasters.

The Emergency and Disaster Management PhD program is a graduate-level program that leads to a Doctoral (PhD) degree upon successful completion. The doctoral degree is the highest academic qualification in higher education, and the completion of a dissertation is required for the program. The dissertation must be completed and successfully defended (if deemed necessary) in order to earn the PhD degree.

The Emergency and Disaster Management PhD program is designed to provide students with in-depth knowledge and understanding of emergency and disaster management. This program offers opportunities for students to engage in research, innovation, and the development of leadership skills in the field.

The program covers both theoretical and practical approaches, strategies, policies, regulations, technologies, and tools used in addressing emergency and disaster management issues. It also offers opportunities for students to specialize in areas such as leadership skills in emergency and disaster management, risk analysis, disaster intervention strategies, post-disaster recovery, and reconstruction.

Program objectives include:

  • Learning the latest technologies and practices in emergency and disaster management.
  • Understanding disaster management policies, regulations, and international frameworks for disaster management.
  • Analyzing the social, economic, and environmental impacts of disasters.
  • Developing effective strategies to reduce disaster risks.
  • Managing recovery and reconstruction processes after disasters.

Throughout the program, students will have opportunities to engage in original research and enhance their research and writing skills. They will also benefit from courses taught by expert academics and professionals, ensuring their knowledge and skills in disaster management stay current.

Emergency and Disaster Management PhD program qualifications (gains) are as follows:

Acquires the ability to assimilate theoretical and practical information in the field of emergency and disaster management and conduct research using this information.

Develops the ability to define, analyze, offer solution suggestions and implement problems that arise in the field of emergency and disaster management.

Acquires the ability to understand the methods and tools used in the field of emergency and disaster management and conduct research using these tools.

Acquires the ability to understand institutional structures, policies, strategies and legislation in the field of emergency and disaster management and conduct research in these areas.

Acquires the ability to follow information and technological developments in the field of emergency and disaster management and conduct research using these developments.

Acquires the ability to follow national and international studies in the field of emergency and disaster management, to cooperate internationally and contribute in this field.

Acquires the ability to report and present research results in accordance with international standards.

Acquires leadership, management, communication and teamwork skills in the field of emergency and disaster management.

Acquires the ability to act in accordance with ethical rules, to adopt and implement professional responsibility awareness and awareness of providing social benefit.

These achievements aim to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies of the students in their fields in accordance with the purpose and objectives of the program.

The Emergency and Disaster Management PhD program is designed for students who wish to specialize in areas such as disaster management, crisis management, and emergency management. Graduates of this program can find numerous employment opportunities in various sectors related to these fields.

In recent years, the increasing frequency of natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and pandemics has heightened the demand for experts in emergency and disaster management. As a result, individuals with a PhD in this field have a broad range of employment opportunities.

Employment opportunities in this field include:

  • Working in emergency and disaster management units in public institutions and private sector organizations.
  • Joining international organizations and humanitarian aid organizations.
  • Pursuing an academic career as a researcher or lecturer in universities.

Thus, graduates of the Emergency and Disaster Management PhD program have high prospects of securing employment in these areas.

Course Code 1. PERIOD AKTS CREDIT Status
DEDM101 Social Policies in Disasters 5 Compulsory
DEDM102 Emergency and First Aid in Disasters 5 Compulsory
DEDM103 Disaster and Emergency Preparedness and Planning 5 Compulsory
DEDM104 Climate Change and Disasters 5 Compulsory
DEDM105 Public Health Service in Disasters 5 Compulsory
SRT801 Scientific Research Techniques and Publication Ethics 5 Compulsory
Course Code 2. PERIOD AKTS CREDIT Status
DEDM201 Infrastructure Recovery and Service Continuity in Disasters 5 Compulsory
DEDM202 Social Policies in Disasters II 5 Compulsory
DEDM203 Disaster and Environmental Problems 5 Compulsory
DEDM204 Leadership and Management in Emergencies and Disasters 5 Compulsory
DEDM205 Emergency Stress Management 5 Compulsory
DEDM206 Analysis of Natural Disasters in Turkey 5 Compulsory
Course Code 3. PERIOD AKTS CREDIT Status
ZDA390 Doctoral Seminar 30 Compulsory
ZDA391 Doctorate Qualification 30 Compulsory
Course Code 4. PERIOD AKTS CREDIT Status
ZDA380 PhD Thesis Proposal 0 Compulsory
ZDA498 PhD Specialization Field Course 0 Compulsory
ZDT499 (TR) Turkish Doctoral Thesis 40 Compulsory
Course Code 5. PERIOD AKTS CREDIT Status
ZDA498 PhD Specialization Field Course 0 Compulsory
ZDT499 (TR) Turkish Doctoral Thesis 40 Compulsory
Course Code 6. PERIOD AKTS CREDIT Status
ZDA498 PhD Specialization Field Course 0 Compulsory
ZDT4999 (ENG) English Doctoral Thesis 40 Compulsory

The student's success in the courses is determined by evaluating the mid-term grades and the final exam grade together.

Mid-term grades consist of quizzes, mid-term exam grades, and grades given to homework, practice, and practical work depending on the course. In the credit system, the type of mid-term and final evaluations and their weights (exams, homework, practice, etc.) are reported to the relevant department head by the instructor giving the course within the first two weeks of the term and announced to the students by the relevant teaching unit administration. The final evaluation is determined by the instructor giving the course with one of the following letter grades, taking into account the general success level of all students taking that course.


While the impact of homework given during the semester on the final grade is 40%, the impact of final exams at the end of the semester is 60%.

The graduation requirements are as follows:

    • Completion of all courses in the program with passing grades,
    • No "FF" grade received,
    • A minimum GPA of 2.70 out of 4.00,
    • Completion of 240 ECTS credits, with 120 credits for the course phase and 120 credits for the thesis phase,
    • Submission of a thesis work consisting of at least 40,000 words in accordance with the "Thesis Writing Guide" provided by the Graduate Education Institute, and defense of the thesis if deemed necessary,
    • Submission of the thesis with an acceptable plagiarism rate below the maximum of 30%,
    • Submission of the thesis in English after approval of the Turkish version.