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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., our Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership (MS-DRL) program teaches collaborative, community-centric strategies to support disaster recovery. You’ll build the skills necessary for governmental and nonprofit work globally with a curriculum centered around the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s National Disaster Response Framework (NDRF).


Offered both online and on campus, the MS-DRL allows you to apply lessons learned in New Orleans to the issues faced by your own community. You can study at your own pace — complete the program in as few as 9 months or over the course of several years.

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Number of Credits:

36

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Est. Time to Complete:

Anywhere between 9 months and 3 years. You decide!

Cost per Credit:

$1,403

Key Dates and Deadlines

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

Fall

OnlineOn Campus
Application OpenDecember 1November 1
Application CloseJuly 1June 1
Deposit DueAugust 1July 1
Classes StartAugustAugust

Spring

OnlineOn Campus
Application OpenMay 1N/A
Application CloseDecember 5N/A
Deposit DueJanuary 2N/A
Classes StartJanuaryN/A

Summer

OnlineOn Campus
Application OpenAugust 1N/A
Application CloseApril 5N/A
Deposit Due April 25N/A
Classes StartMayN/A

MS-DRL Degree Goals

The MS-DRL program prepares you to support communities throughout the entire disaster cycle.It goes beyond the emergency management framework by educating students 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 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.