Get Your Master’s in Disaster

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By Lauren Joffe

Between the recent Gulf Coast oil catastrophe and impromptu terrorist attacks around the globe, don’t you wish there was a way you could help the world avoid disaster? Now you may be able to, with a degree in disaster studies.

The Technological Leadership Institute at the University of Minnesota recently kicked off a 14-month Master of Science in Security Technologies program (MSST), a graduate program that examines high-profile disasters -- both natural and man-made -- and the most up-to-date technologies to help prevent (or at least prepare for) the next catastrophe.

Other colleges are also offering disaster studies and research: The University of Delaware’s Disaster Research Center offers graduate degrees in Social Disasters, plus an undergrad degree in Emergency and Environmental Management. North Dakota State University has a Disaster Studies Center and offers degrees in Emergency Management.

Clearly, learning to cope with impending disasters is becoming ever more important in such a turbulent society. So if you’re a college student who wants to make a difference, a degree in disaster may just be your ticket.

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Forget the printer
A well-kept secret of college: You don’t really need a printer. Submit your work electronically or print it in the computer labs found in nearly every building to save space and money.