Theory in Practice

The applied aspects of the ADES program come through in four main ways:

• Use of the Emergency Operations Lab (EOL) – a classroom based on a modern Emergency Operation Centers used by local and provincial governments. The EOL has hardware and software to familiarize students with these environments and their usage.
• Practical assignments based on tasks common in professional practice– students are asked to prepare policy style documents, emergency plans, presentations and other assignments that prepare them for the tasks they will face on the job.
• Incorporating current practitioners as guest speakers and course instructors – close ties with the emergency management profession ensures students are getting both up-to-date academic and practitioner perspectives.
• Client-focused projects for final practicum – all ADES majors complete a “client based” emergency management project.

The final course is a Disaster and Emergency Practicum. It is designed to connect the student with a community, business or agency as a ‘client’ in order to:

• Understand the goals, structure and functions of the ‘client’ and how they fit into the larger emergency management system.
• Identify, comprehend and apply relevant emergency management related concepts and skills.
• Gain experience while contributing to local efforts.

Other Ways to Learn

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) allows students who have gained knowledge and skills through life and work experience to apply for academic credit.

The Manitoba Emergency Services College is now offering two certificates in cooperation with ADES. More information on their Certificate of Emergency and Disaster Management or Certificate of Applied Public Safety is available at www.firecomm.gov.mb.ca.

Students who already have a Bachelor’s degree may qualify to take the ADES program as a “second degree student” and finish sooner. This recognizes the prior degree and reduces the credit hours for the 4 year degree to just what’s required to fulfill the major and minor. Second degree students finish in about 2 years.

Campus-based Program

ADES highlights the benefits of attending a campus-based program with access to resources like the Emergency Operations Lab. Brandon University has also invested heavily in library collection to ensure the best and most current research is available to the students. To fulfill the residency requirement 60 of the total 120 credit hours must be Brandon University courses – and this may include BU courses offered on-line through Campus Manitoba. Students considering a combination of distance and campus based study should contact ADES.

Comprehensive Approach

Emergency management is a new profession that has evolved from our society’s early efforts to defend against enemy attacks on our civilian populations. From these ‘civil defence’ roots the practice of emergency management has expanded beyond the responsibilities of first responders to include all aspects of a comprehensive approach. The ADES degree presents students with a wide range of activities including:

• Prevention and Mitigation: to eliminate or reduce the impacts and risks of hazards through pro-active measures taken before an emergency or disaster occurs.
• Preparedness: to be ready to respond to a disaster and manage its consequences through measures taken prior to an event.
• Response: to act during or immediately after a disaster to manage its consequences to minimize suffering and losses associated with disasters.
• Recovery: to repair or restore conditions to an acceptable level through measures taken after a disaster. (adapted from Public Safety Canada’s “An Emergency Management Framework for Canada”)

The ADES program builds on a foundation of understanding the interaction of hazards and societal vulnerability. Courses consider the consequences of these risks and the various methods we have to control or respond effectively. Students receive a multi-disciplinary education grounded in the unique body of knowledge of disasters studies and emergency management.