The Disaster Sciences Interdisciplinary Minor at the University of Mississippi: Positive Psychology in Action

Abstract

Natural disasters are on the rise, of growing concern globally, as well as from the perspective of the U.S. and regionally with respect to the state of Mississippi. Mississippi experiences high rates of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods. Technological disasters are also not uncommon. Historical, culturally-changing examples affecting Mississippi in recent years include Hurricane Katrina (2005) and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (2010). Given the growing need for a proactive stance in terms of disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery, the Clinical-Disaster Research Center at the University of Mississippi, with the support of the Departments of Psychology, Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Social Work, as well as the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Applied Sciences, has established a new interdisciplinary minor in Disaster Sciences. The minor is multidisciplinary, with special emphasis placed on exposing students to science and practice in fields such as emergency management and disaster mental health. The minor promotes an integrated understanding of human behavior before, during, and after disasters, and an enhanced ability to work effectively across disciplines in diverse disaster-related contexts. Disaster Sciences is one example of positive psychology in action because it aims to build community resilience, foster meaning and purpose for those involved, aid in posttraumatic growth for students who have experienced disasters, and harness self-efficacy for disaster management.