Environmental Science

Master of Science in Disaster Management and Sustainable Development

The Master of Science in Disaster Management and Sustainable Development is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, and climate change adaptation. The programme combines disaster management theory with practical sustainable development, environmental planning, and risk reduction application.

Core areas include disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, climate change adaptation, environmental management, early warning systems, GIS for disaster management, integrated emergency management, community resilience, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both disaster management theory and practical field exercises and GIS laboratory work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology through the Department of Disaster Management and Sustainable Development within the School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance. MMUST is the leading university in Kenya for disaster management education and offers the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, climate change adaptation, environmental management, early warning systems, GIS, and community resilience. The programme includes coursework, examinations, field exercises, GIS practicals, and a supervised research thesis.

MMUST charges approximately KES 165,750/year (KES 331,500 total including KES 30,000 field skills course) for disaster management and sustainable development. Entry requires a relevant Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division from a recognised university, or Second Class Lower Division with relevant experience.

Graduates pursue careers as disaster risk reduction specialists, sustainable development officers, climate change adaptation officers, environmental planners, emergency management officers, and lecturers in disaster management and sustainable development across government agencies, NGOs, international organisations, UN agencies, and universities.

Skills Required

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Sustainable Development Planning
Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience
Environmental Management and Conservation
Early Warning Systems and Monitoring
GIS for Disaster Management and Planning
Integrated Emergency Management
Community Resilience and Livelihoods
Research Methods in Disaster Management
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Sustainable Development Planning
Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience
Environmental Management and Conservation
Early Warning Systems and Monitoring
GIS for Disaster Management and Planning
Integrated Emergency Management
Community Resilience and Livelihoods
Research Methods in Disaster Management
Thesis Research

Certifications

UNDRR Sendai Framework Certification
GIS Certification (Esri)

Specializations

Climate Change Adaptation

Focuses on climate change adaptation, covering climate science, adaptation strategies, resilience, vulnerability, and managing climate change adaptation.

Sustainable Development

Examines sustainable development, covering SDGs, development planning, livelihoods, natural resource management, and managing sustainable development.

Environmental Management

Covers environmental management, covering environmental assessment, conservation, pollution, natural resources, and managing environmental management.

GIS for Disaster Management

Focuses on GIS for disaster management, covering hazard mapping, risk mapping, spatial analysis, remote sensing, and managing GIS for disaster management.

Early Warning Systems

Examines early warning systems, covering monitoring, forecasting, alerts, communication, response, and managing early warning systems.

Community Resilience

Covers community resilience, covering vulnerability, capacity, livelihoods, DRR, community-based disaster risk reduction, and managing community resilience.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 165,750
Private, up to: Ksh 0
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Sustainable Development Planning
Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience
Environmental Management and Conservation
Early Warning Systems and Monitoring
GIS for Disaster Management and Planning
Integrated Emergency Management
Community Resilience and Livelihoods
Research Methods in Disaster Management
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines risk assessment, vulnerability analysis, DRR frameworks, Sendai Framework, and managing disaster risk.
Sustainable Development Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers SDGs, development planning, livelihoods, natural resource management, and managing sustainable development.
Research Methods in Disaster Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, disaster research methods, and conducting disaster management research, preparing students for their thesis.
Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines climate science, adaptation strategies, resilience, vulnerability, and managing climate change adaptation.
Environmental Management and Conservation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers environmental assessment, conservation, pollution, natural resources, and managing environmental management.
GIS for Disaster Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines hazard mapping, risk mapping, spatial analysis, remote sensing, and managing GIS for disaster management.
Early Warning Systems and Monitoring
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers monitoring, forecasting, alerts, communication, response, and managing early warning systems.
Integrated Emergency Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation, incident command, and managing integrated emergency management.
Community Resilience and Livelihoods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers vulnerability, capacity, livelihoods, community-based DRR, and managing community resilience.
Disaster and Development Policy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines disaster policy, development policy, governance, institutional frameworks, and managing disaster and development policy.
Field Skills Course
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers field exercises, simulations, rapid assessment, community assessments, and practical field skills for disaster management and sustainable development.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a disaster management and sustainable development topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and DRR knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Climate Change Adaptation
Focuses on climate change adaptation, covering climate science, adaptation strategies, resilience, vulnerability, and managing climate change adaptation.
Sustainable Development
Examines sustainable development, covering SDGs, development planning, livelihoods, natural resource management, and managing sustainable development.
Environmental Management
Covers environmental management, covering environmental assessment, conservation, pollution, natural resources, and managing environmental management.
GIS for Disaster Management
Focuses on GIS for disaster management, covering hazard mapping, risk mapping, spatial analysis, remote sensing, and managing GIS for disaster management.
Early Warning Systems
Examines early warning systems, covering monitoring, forecasting, alerts, communication, response, and managing early warning systems.
Community Resilience
Covers community resilience, covering vulnerability, capacity, livelihoods, DRR, community-based disaster risk reduction, and managing community resilience.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Disaster Management and Sustainable Development programme combines lectures, field exercises, GIS laboratory sessions, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and environmental management. Disaster risk reduction sessions examine risk assessment, vulnerability analysis, DRR frameworks, Sendai Framework, and managing disaster risk. Sustainable development sessions cover SDGs, development planning, livelihoods, natural resource management, and managing sustainable development. Climate change adaptation sessions cover climate science, adaptation strategies, resilience, vulnerability, and managing climate change adaptation. Environmental management sessions cover environmental assessment, conservation, pollution, natural resources, and managing environmental management. Early warning systems sessions cover monitoring, forecasting, alerts, communication, response, and managing early warning. GIS sessions cover hazard mapping, risk mapping, spatial analysis, remote sensing, and managing GIS for disaster management. Integrated emergency management sessions cover preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation, and managing integrated emergency management. Community resilience sessions cover vulnerability, capacity, livelihoods, community-based DRR, and managing community resilience. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Field exercises provide hands-on experience with disaster simulations, community assessments, and field mapping. GIS laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with ArcGIS, QGIS, remote sensing, and spatial analysis tools. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with risk assessment tools, vulnerability analysis, and DRR planning. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in disaster management and sustainable development. Guest lectures from experienced DRR practitioners, climate change experts, and UN agency professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a disaster management and sustainable development topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for DRR and sustainable development professionals with Kenya's vulnerability to climate change, droughts, floods, and environmental degradation.
MMUST has a dedicated Department of Disaster Management and Sustainable Development with multidisciplinary approach.
Programme integrates DRR, sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and GIS, providing comprehensive skills.
Graduates are eligible for UNDRR Sendai Framework certification and GIS certification, enhancing career prospects.

Against it

Programme is primarily offered by one university (MMUST), limiting institutional choice.
Additional KES 30,000 field skills course fee increases total cost.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Career opportunities may be concentrated in NGOs and government, with limited private sector demand.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public166k to 166k

166k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology166k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

MMUST: 301,500/2yr + 30,000 field skills = 165,750/yr (mmust.ac.ke). No private.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. MMUST may offer postgraduate bursaries. NDMU may provide training support. Some NGOs and international organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study in disaster management and sustainable development.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
MMUST Postgraduate Bursary
NDMU Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
MMUST Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
MMUST offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.
NDMU Training Support
GrantKsh 150,000Kenyan
NDMU may provide training support for professionals pursuing postgraduate study in disaster management.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: MMUST requires a relevant Bachelor's degree with Second Class Upper Division, or Second Class Lower Division with relevant experience. Relevant fields include disaster management, environmental science, geography, development studies, natural resource management, and related disciplines. Contact MMUST for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, field exercise reports, GIS practicals, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and environmental management.
Practical and Field Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through field exercises, GIS practicals, risk mapping, community assessments, and demonstrating disaster management skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a disaster management and sustainable development topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and DRR knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (public) offers MSc in Disaster Management and Sustainable Development through the Department of Disaster Management and Sustainable Development within the School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in disaster management and sustainable development. Graduates are eligible for UNDRR Sendai Framework certification and GIS certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (public) offers MSc in Disaster Management and Sustainable Development through the Department of Disaster Management and Sustainable Development within the School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in disaster management and sustainable development. Graduates are eligible for UNDRR Sendai Framework certification and GIS certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 500,000
Implements DRR programmes, overseeing assessment, mitigation, planning, and managing disaster risk reduction.
Sustainable Development Officer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages sustainable development programmes, overseeing planning, implementation, monitoring, and managing sustainable development.
Climate Change Adaptation Officer
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 500,000
Implements climate adaptation programmes, overseeing vulnerability, resilience, planning, and managing climate change adaptation.
Environmental Planner
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 500,000
Plans environmental management, overseeing assessment, conservation, planning, and managing environmental planning.
Emergency Management Officer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages emergency operations, overseeing preparedness, response, recovery, and managing emergency operations.
DRM Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches disaster management and sustainable development at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ArcGIS
SoftwarePrimary
ArcGIS for disaster mapping and spatial analysis, covering hazard mapping, risk mapping, vulnerability analysis, and managing GIS for disaster management.
QGIS
Software
QGIS for open-source GIS, covering spatial analysis, mapping, remote sensing, and managing spatial data.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering disaster data, survey data, research data, and managing statistical analysis.
KoBo Toolbox
Software
KoBo Toolbox for data collection, covering field surveys, rapid assessment, community assessments, and managing disaster data collection.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Disaster management and sustainable development are unrelated fields.
Disaster management and sustainable development are closely linked, with DRR being a core component of sustainable development and the SDGs.
Sustainable development is just about environmental conservation.
Sustainable development covers comprehensive economic, social, and environmental dimensions including livelihoods, governance, equity, and resilience.
Climate change adaptation is just about reducing emissions.
Climate change adaptation covers comprehensive strategies for adjusting to climate impacts, building resilience, and managing vulnerability beyond just emission reduction.
GIS is just about making maps.
GIS covers comprehensive spatial analysis, hazard mapping, risk modelling, remote sensing, and decision support for disaster management.
Early warning systems are just about weather forecasts.
Early warning systems cover comprehensive monitoring, forecasting, alert communication, response planning, and community preparedness.
Community resilience is just about disaster preparedness.
Community resilience covers comprehensive vulnerability, capacity, livelihoods, social capital, governance, and long-term development.