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CS92PROD
Tornados, Tsunamis, and Terrorism: Sociology of Disaster
SOC 275
Fall 2009 not offered

Our world seems to always be on the brink of disaster. Public discourse and private fears are inundated with talk of disaster, from the difficulties of recovering from recent catastrophes to the striking need to better plan for impending future ones. But what is a disaster? While many disasters can certainly be classified natural, nature only plays a part--a disaster is better understood in terms of its social effects. Taking a sociological perspective will allow us to examine what constitutes a disaster, how communities and individuals typically prepare (or don't prepare) for them, how survivors respond, how these response patterns differ from what is commonly perceived to occur, the media's role, organizational response patterns, and the role of planning and mitigation. We will examine actual disaster events, both natural, as in Hurricane Katrina, and human-made, like the attacks of September 11.

Essential Capabilities: None
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS SOC
Course Format: DiscussionGrading Mode: Student Option
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: SOC151 OR SOC152
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: None

Last Updated on MAR-28-2024
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