Course content

The course provides knowledge and competence in how to build a resilient and secure society. A safe and sustainable society depends on well-functioning critical infrastructures and the maintenance of essential societal functions. This requires effective organization and leadership across sectors to prevent incidents and to manage crises when they occur.

The course integrates knowledge of safety, technology, organization, and management in addressing how risk can be managed. This includes issues related to climate change and adaptation, reliable infrastructures, digital vulnerability, and hybrid threats. The subject also covers methods and approaches for assessing risk, as well as planning and managing emergency preparedness.

Teaching in the course makes extensive use of practical examples from accidents and incidents that have threatened societal security. A main subject is how risk can be managed at different societal levels and across organizations. This includes the ability to identify and understand risk, risk communication, and decision-making dilemmas.

The course is elective for the master's programs MIHMS and MHMS.

The course is a K-course ("K-emne") for MSc students and is part of the minor in Societal safety (TIØ4204). The course is also available for students from social science programs.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: After completing the course, the student will be able to:

• explain frameworks for risk governance in society
• explain various measures and approaches for society's ability to maintain critical societal functions
• relate societal safety approaches at local, regional, and national levels
• explain learning mechanisms after incidents
• explain principles for organizing societal safety and preparedness
• classify and give examples of different types of threats and hazards in society

Skills: After completing the course, the student will be able to:

• explain risk perception and social mechanisms related to risk management
• assess risk and vulnerability related to threats and hazards to society
• analyze and plan preparedness

Competence: After completing the course, the student will be able to:

• know principles of Norwegian and international regulations and standards relevant to systematic work on societal security

Learning methods and activities

The teaching methods will partly be traditional lectures, partly introductions for questions, comments and discussions of specific cases and actual events. Real risk issues and incidents are applied in the teaching., including guest lecturers on practical safety management.

A number of mandatory exercises must be passed during the semester

Compulsory assignments

• Mandatory exercises

Recommended previous knowledge

A bachelor level in technological subjects or social science.

Course materials

Collection of articles and reports given at the start of the semester.