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Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership (MS-DRL)

Earn Your MS-DRL Online or On Campus

The only program of its kind in the U.S., Tulane School of Social Work’s Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership (MS-DRL) program is recognized for its global reach in nearly 40 countries. The MS-DRL program teaches collaborative, community-centric strategies to support disaster recovery, using the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s National Disaster Response Framework (NDRF) as a foundation for the curriculum.
Offered both online and on campus, the MS-DRL allows you to take courses where you live and work while applying the skills you learn within your own community. You can complete the program in as few as 12 months or extend completion over two years.

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Number of Credits:

36

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Est. Time to Complete:

12 months (full-time)

24 months (part-time)

Cost per Credit:

$1,403

Key Dates and Deadlines

Please contact our enrollment team at onlinedsw@tulane.edu or (504) 252-0883 to learn more about upcoming MS-DRL online program dates and deadlines.

Fall

OnlineOn Campus
Early SubmitMay 1March 1
Priority SubmitJune 1April 1
Final SubmitJuly 1June 1
Start of ClassesAugustAugust

Spring

OnlineOn Campus
Early SubmitOctober 1N/A
Priority SubmitNovember 1N/A
Final SubmitDecember 5N/A
Start of ClassesJanuaryN/A

Summer

OnlineOn Campus
Early SubmitFebruary 1N/A
Priority SubmitMarch 1N/A
Final SubmitApril 5N/A
Start of ClassesMayN/A

MS-DRL Degree Goals

The MS-DRL program prepares you to support communities throughout the entire disaster cycle. It goes beyond emergency management to mitigate the effects of future emergencies, take preventative action, and help vulnerable communities rebuild after disaster strikes.

As a student in the MS-DRL program, you’ll gain competencies in these key areas:

Human and social factors

Environment and infrastructure

Disaster operations

Leadership and economics

“Building resilience is about so much more than strengthening infrastructure or economic systems — it’s about assisting people and communities. I am grateful to contribute to efforts that create inclusive, sustainable solutions that support students and help them grow, especially those who are passionate and curious to assist others.” 

– Dr. Reggie Ferreira, DRLA Director

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Global Resilience Partner

The MS-DRL is offered through Tulane’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy, the first U.S. institution to be admitted to the Global Resilience Partnership.

Interdisciplinary Academic Excellence

The MS-DRL incorporates several key social work themes, ensuring you’ll emerge from the program with the interdisciplinary knowledge to drive positive outcomes and promote disaster resilience for individuals, families, and entire communities.

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Young woman, a university student, studying online.

Certificate Option Available

Students with a master’s degree who want to gain core skills quickly may opt to enroll in the Disaster Resilience Leadership Certificate, a 15-credit-hour program available online or on campus.

Global Alumni Network

The MS-DRL teaches the skills necessary for national and global roles in emergency and disaster management, with alumni landing roles at Deloitte, Red Cross, Rubicon, Nike, and Uber.