PSY-774 (CRN 26434)/PACE-485 (CRN 41763)

**Seminar in Disaster Management and**

**Humanitarian Assistance**

Fall Semester, 2002

Wednesdays 2:30-5:00

Kuykendal 309

Anthony J. Marsella, Ph.D., D.H.C. Gartley #13

Brien Hallett, Ph.D., Saunders #711

**Purpose**: The course is designed to provide the student with a
multi-disciplinary understanding of disaster management and humanitarian
assistance. It will introduce students to conceptual, empirical and
professional foundations of selected topics and issues in the field.

**Learning Objectives**: To promote an awareness and understanding of
complex emergencies, including, but not limited to:

1\. To understand major issues associated with the psychosocial and
sociopolitical challenges of our times.

2\. To understand major issues related to assessing communities for
disaster preparedness.

3\. To understand the process of community and national rebuilding
following complex humanitarian emergencies

4\. To become familiar with examples of organizational responses to
complex emergencies.

5\. To become familiar with using a holistic approach toward solving
complex emergencies.

7\. To become familiar with the legal issues and human rights.

8\. To become familiar with issues in conflict resolution and exit
strategies of peace operations.

9\. To become familiar with the role of leadership in peace operations.

**Required Texts**:

Walter, Jonathan, ed. 2002 **World Disaster Report: Focus on Reducing
Risk**. ISBN 92-9139-082-8

**World Refugee Survey 2002**: An Annual Assessment to Conditions
Affecting Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Internally Displaced Persons. US
Committee for Refugees. ISBN: 0936548134

**Course Calendar**:

August 28: Introduction to the Course and Syllabus

> **Anthony J. Marsella** (UH Psychology), "Overview: Global Challenges
> and Human Values"

September 4: **Maigee Chang (UH Political Science) and Robert Thiesse,
Bob Alexander, Jen Graf, Ann Miller, Nancy Faraj**, Presentation on
Bosnia and Report on East Timor.

September 11: Special Rememberance class

September 18 **Peter Cloven**: Pacific Disaster Center

September 25: **John Otte**: Center Of Excelleence-Disaster Management
and Humanitarian Assistance

October 2: **John Otte**: COE-DMHA

October 9: **Carolyn Stephenson**, (Political Science, UH), "The UN and
Humanitarian Assistance"

October 16: **Book Reports from PSY-774 Students**

October 23: **Tony Marsella** (UH Psychology), "Refugee Mental Health
and Well-Being".

**Gareth Noren** US Join Complex Contingency Doctrine

October 30: **Mike Hamnett** (Director, Social Science Research
Institute, UH),

**Thomas Schroeder** (Meteorology, UH), "Introduction to Natural
Disaster Management"

November 6: **Bruce Barnes** (UH Institute for Peace), "Interpersonal
and Organizational Conflict Resolution\"

> **Jon Van Dyke** (UH Law), "Civilians in Armed Conflict Situation\"

November 13: **Manfred Henningsen** (UH Political Science), "Genocide"

**Craig Howes** (UH English) \"The Face of Humanitarian Crises\"

November 20: **Rachel Novotny** (Food Sciences and Nutrition, UH)
Refugee Nutrition

> **Nancy Faraj** Report on Refugees in Northern Thailand

November 27: **Brien Hallett** (UH Institute for Peace), "Sovereignty\"

December 4: Nation Building Presentation

December 11: Final Papers/Nation Building Presentations Due

19 September 2002