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Schedule

Note that assignments are due based on the eastern time zone (ET). This ensures that all students have the same deadlines regardless of where they live. Assignments are due at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday of each week with the exception of the final project.  Please see the schedule below for the due date of the final project.

  • Course begins:
  • Course ends:
  • Course length: 16 weeks
LessonWeekActivity
Getting Started 
  • Class Introduction Discussion Practice
  • Document Practice Dropbox
  • Academic Integrity Form
1: Introduction and Orientation 

Read:

Complete:

  • Natural Preparedness vs. Disaster Psychology Missions Discussion
  • Initial Team Discussions
2: Anticipation and Preparation

 

Read:

  • Facing the Unexpected: Disaster Preparedness and Response in the United States, Chapters 1 - 2
  • Entire lesson narrative on the subsequent pages with all linked and embedded documents and learning objects.

Complete:

  • Emergency Preparation Strategies Dropbox
  • Disaster Planning Proposal for Special Needs Individuals Team Discussions
  • Course Feedback Survey - Week 2
3: Disaster Planning

 

Read:

Complete:

  • Review Katrina Disaster Response from the Human Factor Point of View Discussion
  • Community Resources in Disaster Planning Dropbox
4: Understanding Risks

 

Read:

Complete:

  • Factors that Influence Risk Perception Dropbox
  • Risk Perception Comparison Team Discussions
5: Communicating Risk Information

 

Read/Watch:

Complete:

  • Risk Communication Analysis Dropbox
  • Risk Communication Plan Team Discussions
6: Experiencing a Disaster

 

Read/Watch:

  • Response to Disaster: Psychological, Community and Ecological Approaches
    • Chapters 1 and 2
  • Facing the Unexpected: Disaster Preparedness and Response in the United States
    • Chapter 6
  • Alexander Siedschlag (ed.): TMI@35 – The Three Mile Island Nuclear Crisis in Perspective: Analyses, Stories, Policies. Report of a conference held March 27-28, 2014, Penn State Harrisburg, December 2014. 
  • Professor Siedschlag's Interview with Governor Thornburgh during TMI@35 (video)
  • Tour of the TMI@35 exhibition with Governor Thornburgh (video)
  • TMI@35 Keynote Speaker: Robert Walker (video)
  • Harrie C.M. Vorst: "Evacuation Models and Disaster Psychology," Procedia Engineering 3 (2010):15-21.

Complete:

  • Disaster Recovery Tips Class Discussion
  • Chronic vs. One-time Disasters Dropbox
  • Course Feedback Survey - Week 6
7: Stress Reactions

 

Read:

Complete:

  • Physiological vs. Psychological Consequences of Traumatic Stress Experiences Class Discussion
  • Special Populations During Disasters Team Discussions
  • Mid-Course Survey
8: Mid-term Project

 
  • Mid-term Project: The Psychological Impact of Terrorist Attacks
9: Anxiety and Depression 

Read:

  • Response to Disaster: Psychological, Community and Ecological Approaches
    • Chapter 3
  • George S. Everly, Jr., Paul Perrin, & George S. Everly, III: "Psychological Issues in Escape, Rescue, and Survival in the Wake of Disaster." Report Submitted to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, 2008. 
  • Linda Ligenza, Christian Burgess, and Vicky Mieseler: The National Council for CommunityBehavioral Healthcare - Mitigating Disaster Trauma: Hurricane Sandy (Webinar presentation). 
  • Saeed, S. A., & Gargano, S. P. (2022). Natural disasters and mental health. International Review of Psychiatry, 34(1), 16–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2022.2037524 

Complete:

  • Managing Traumatic Stress Dropbox
  • Assessing Natural Disaster and Mental Health
  • Personal Reflections Discussion
10: Post-traumatic Stress Reactions

 

Read:

  • PUBLIC HEALTH WORKBOOK To Define, Locate, and Reach Special, Vulnerable, and At-risk Populations in an Emergency: https://emergency.cdc.gov/workbook/pdf/ph_workbookFINAL.pdf
  • Planning for an Emergency: Strategies for Identifying and Engaging At-Risk Groups: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/disaster/atriskguidance.pdf
  • 2022-2026 ASPR Strategic Plan, Strategic Goal 3: https://aspr.hhs.gov/StratPlan/Pages/Strategic-Goal-3.aspx
  • National Health Security Strategy Implementation Plan 2023-2026: https://stg-aspr.hhs.gov/NHSS/NHSS-2023-2026-Implementation-Plan/Documents/NHSS-Implementation-Plan-2023-2026-508.pdf 

Complete:

  • Managing Traumatic Stress Dropbox
  • Assessing Psychological Issues and Providing First Aid in the Wake of a Disaster Team Discussions
11: How Organizations Prepare for Disasters

 

Read/Watch:

Complete:

  • DHS Component Analysis Class Discussion
  • Disaster Management Training Dropbox
12: First Responders

 

Read:

Complete:

  • FEMA Training Guide Analysis Class Discussion
  • Team Response to Mental Health Consequences Team Discussions
  • Organizing a Team Response to Mental Health Consequences of Disasters and Mass Violence Dropbox
13: Conflicts Among Responding Organizations

 

Read:

  • Response to Disaster: Psychological, Community and Ecological Approaches
    • Chapter 13
  • Aldo A. Benini: "Network Without Center? A Case Study of an Organizational Network Responding to an Earthquake". Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management 7 (1999): 38-47.
  • Naim Kapucu & Vener Garavey: "Collaborative Decision-Making in Emergency and Disaster Management". International Journal of Public Administration 34 (2011): 366-375.
  • William L. Waugh Jr. & Gregory Streib: "Collaboration and Leadership for Effective Emergency Management". Public Administration Review 66 (2006): 131-140.

Complete:

  • Differing Perspectives on the Hurricane Katrina Response Class Discussion
  • Resolving a Conflict Situation Team Discussions
  • Resolving a Conflict Situation Dropbox
14: Final Project

 
  • Final Project

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