Crisis Informatics Specialization

Technical solutions for tough situations

In a crisis, information is a critical resource. It’s what drives the response—analyzing scope, identifying resources, and deploying responders. Informatics informs the planning and preparedness needed to reduce the impact of a flood, tornado, or other disaster.

To anticipate, mitigate, and manage a crisis, you need data. With the right skills, you can use that data to provide useful information and potentially life-saving knowledge.

Our trailblazing program is the first to offer a Master of Science in Applied Data Science with a specialization in Crisis Informatics. You’ll learn methods of data mining, how to transform large data sets into usable knowledge, and ways to represent information visually.

 

Learn how to manage crises

Crisis informatics applies information technology and data analytics to disasters and emergencies to:

  • Leverage geospatial technologies to model and visualize hazards and vulnerabilities.
  • Develop plans to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate disasters.
  • Use social media content from people in disaster zones to create humanitarian response plans.
  • Draw on information from crowdsourcing, participatory mapping, or citizen science, with members of the public serving as everyday analysts.

Careers

The Crisis Informatics specialization helps to prepare student for careers, such as:

  • Crisis Management Consultant
  • Disaster Program Specialist
  • Emergency Management Specialist
  • Emergency Preparedness Manager
  • Humanitarian Affairs Officer
  • Resilience and Crisis Management Researcher