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B.S.

Major in Humanitarian and Disaster Relief

Understand disaster relief • Develop practical skills • Change lives

Learn how to help others at their most vulnerable.

The humanitarian and disaster relief major equips students to meet people at some of the most chaotic and vulnerable times in their lives and offer a reflection of God's love. This program helps students develop practical skills, such as emergency medicine or construction management and combines that with quality education in intercultural studies and emergency management. Supporting this diverse curriculum is a foundation in leadership development.

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Help others

Roles in the humanitarian or disaster relief field can include working at government agencies, local and international relief ministries and refugee care agencies.

Enjoy diverse education

The humanitarian and disaster relief degree includes many of the knowledge areas desired in this field, including intercultural studies, experiential education and emergency management.

Launch your career

You'll be prepared to nurture spiritual formation and serve others in a growing industry. There is expected to be a need for 70,000 new relief workers over the next decade.

What to expect as a humanitarian and disaster relief student at JBU

Get certified

Students can earn certifications in remote and emergency medicine. They will graduate with certain FEMA certifications, an EMT license and a wilderness EMT certification.

Earn a bachelor's and master's

JBU offers a 4+1 path for students to earn both a bachelor's degree in humanitarian and disaster relief and a master’s degree in outdoor program management from JBU's business school in just 5 years.

Learn in Northwest Arkansas

Home to the Buffalo River and the Ozark Mountains, Northwest Arkansas has very active community search and rescue teams for students to volunteer with while completing their degrees.

Key humanitarian and disaster relief courses

The Church in a Global Context

This interdisciplinary course will examine the theological, philosophical and anthropological diversity of Christian expression in the northern and southern hemispheres as expressed through different ecclesial traditions and informed by various cultural and historical contexts.

Introduction to Emergency and Disaster Management

The course provides an overview of Emergency Management in the context of the Four Phases of Disaster Response. The course will explore such topics as the causes, characteristics and effects of disasters both natural and manmade. In addition, students will complete 3 critical FEMA certifications for disaster responders.

Outdoor Living Skills

Introduction to basic living skills in wilderness environments. This course has a high level of hands-on activity, including a backpacking trip focused on skills such as Leave No Trace principles, appropriate clothing, water purification, stoves, fire building, navigation, meal planning and preparation, and trip planning.

Wilderness First Responder

Standards for outdoor professionals offering emergency medical care in remote areas. Consideration of prolonged transport times, severe environments, and portable equipment. Topics include wilderness trauma, search and rescue, and environmental emergencies. Students who pass the practical and written exams will earn a two-year Wilderness First Responder certificate from NOLS and a two-year American Heart Association Adult Heartsaver CPR Certification.

JBU does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, military status, or age in the administration of its educational policies, admissions, financial aid, employment, educational programs, or activities.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.

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Major in Humanitarian and Disaster Relief

Learn how to help others at their most vulnerable.

Help others

Enjoy diverse education

Launch your career

What to expect as a humanitarian and disaster relief student at JBU

Get certified

Earn a bachelor's and master's

Learn in Northwest Arkansas

Key humanitarian and disaster relief courses

The Church in a Global Context

Introduction to Emergency and Disaster Management

Outdoor Living Skills

Wilderness First Responder

Meet our humanitarian and disaster relief professors

Greg Robinson

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