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Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief

Housed within the Naval War College’s (NWC) Civilian-Military Humanitarian Response program (HRP), the Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HA/DR) program is a specialized two-term or one-term elective track for students who want to deepen their understanding of the U.S. and international military’s role in foreign humanitarian assistance and disaster response. Students will learn how to effectively integrate military capabilities into foreign civilian and military HA/DR settings through seminars, interactive simulations, field visits, and research.
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General Information

Eligibility

This specialized program is available for resident students, civilian federal employees (GS14-GS15, or equivalent), and international students who have been selected for the International Master of Arts Program.

Location & Duration

This 10-month specialized elective track is completed in conjunction with the College of Naval Warfare curriculum. Students are taught at U.S. Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, Rhode Island.

Learning Format

Courses are conducted in seminar format and include guest speakers, in-class simulations, field visits, and more. A high-quality, professional paper is completed during each course.

Outcome

Students in this program will develop a broad and deep intellectual, ethical, and operational understanding of foreign HA/DR concepts to succeed in future HA/DR settings. Due to the NWC curriculum, students must commit to the fall course and the spring course together, or take the winter course separately as a standalone course.

Program Structure

Ongoing

Field Visits

Required | Elective
Field trips for students in the HA/DR program are conducted in the New England area. Please note: in the event of an unforeseen factor, this feature may not be possible.

Fall Trimester

Course Requirement

Required | Elective
Students are required to take “Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief: Improving Civil Military Coordination” course in the fall and “Humanitarian and Disaster Relief in Conflict and the Future of Humanitarian Response” course in the spring. The winter course “Innovations in Technology for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief” is taken as a separate course.

Professional Paper

Required | Core Course
Students will complete a high-quality, professional paper on a selected topic of HA/DR.

Winter Trimester

Course Requirement

Required | Elective
Students are required to take “Innovations in Technology for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief” course in the winter only. The “Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief: Improving Civil Military Coordination” course in the fall and “Humanitarian and Disaster Relief in Conflict and the Future of Humanitarian Response” course in the spring must be taken together separately to the winter course.

Professional Paper

Required | Core Course
Students will complete a high-quality, professional paper on a selected topic of HA/DR.

Spring Semester

Course Requirement

Required | Elective
Students are required to take “Humanitarian and Disaster Relief in Conflict and the Future of Humanitarian Response” course in the spring and “Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief: Improving Civil Military Coordination” course in the fall. The winter course on “Innovations in Technology for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief” is taken as a separate course.

Professional Paper

Required | Core Course
Students will complete a high-quality, professional paper on a selected topic of HA/DR.

Incoming Students

Contact Information

Humanitarian Response Program

(401) 856-5845
HumanitarianResponseProgram@usnwc.edu

More Information

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College of Naval Warfare Program

Strategic and academic preparation

At our Newport campus, you’ll fulfill your Joint Professional Military Education Phase II credit requirement, and you can also earn a master’s degree. The 10-month program is split into three trimesters, spanning both classroom-style and real-world learning opportunities—and you’ll prepare for higher responsibilities as a senior officer or for executive-level civilian leadership.

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