PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
MSc Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MSc
Diploma offered if modules have been passed according to the rules
of the main MSc but the individual project has not been carried out.
From 2008 entry
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Engineering
Parent Department:
Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.cege.ucl.ac.uk//
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full time/Part time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Minimum of a 2.2 in a civil engineering or related degree.
Length of the programme:
(please note any periods spent away from
UCL, such as study abroad or placements
in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
One calendar year full-time, two calendar years part-time
Level 7
N/A
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Students must take 120 credits of taught modules, which are
assessed through a combination of written examinations and
coursework. The individual dissertation is worth 60 credits, with a
guide length of 10,000 – 15,000 words.
Name of Board of Examiners:
Taught Postgraduate Board for Civil, Environmental & Geomatic
Engineering
Professional body accreditation
Institution of Civil Engineers
(if applicable):
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
:
The aim of the course is to impart specialist earthquake engineering skills and an understanding of disaster risk
reduction methodologies to students from a civil engineering background, for careers in the engineering sector and
for other areas that require a knowledge and understanding of earthquake engineering, and disaster risk
management/mitigation principles.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A knowledge and understanding of:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Teaching/learning methods and strategies
1. Understand the physics of earthquake
formation and the effects of earthquake
source, site and path on strong ground
motion.
Combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory
and computer classes and projects.
Assessment:
2. Understand methods for event and
seismic wave representation for
engineering applications, the principles
behind probabilistic seismic hazard
determination for a site, and the
limitations of these methods.
3. Ability to analyse and assess civil and
geotechnical structure dynamic response
to seismic actions.
4. Understand the underlying principles,
appreciate the limitations and be able to
critically evaluate conventional and new
unconventional techniques for the seismic
design and assessment of civil
engineering structures.
5. Apply different seismic codes in the
design of civil engineering structures.
6. Evaluate the adequacy and
effectiveness of pre-event building
strengthening intervention and postearthquake building repair techniques.
7. Understand the role of an earthquake
engineer, governments, NGO’s and other
agencies in pre- and post-earthquake
disaster management.
8. Identify the possible consequences of
a damaging earthquake in different social
and economic contexts, identify disaster
management solutions and assess their
adequacy for the different contexts.
Testing of the knowledge base is through a combination
of written exams, presentations, examinations, assessed
coursework and written reports. Projects are assessed
through written reports, and poster presentations.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills - able to:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies
1. The ability to take a holistic view in the
determination of earthquake effects on
civil engineering structures and
infrastructure, on society and on the
economy.
Through lectures, tutorials, seminars, laboratory and
computer classes as well as individual and group
projects.
2. The ability to evaluate and critique
different methods for seismic design,
assessment, strengthening and repair
techniques and propose optimum
solutions for different contexts.
3. The ability to understand and analyse
information and data.
Presentations from civil engineering consultancies,
nuclear and reinsurance industries, NGO’s and disaster
management experts will raise the student’s awareness
of the problems faced by these industries in mitigating
earthquake losses and dealing with post-event
scenarios.
On site experience gained in the field trip to the latest
earthquake affected site in Europe will also provide a
valuable addition to what is learned in the laboratory and
classroom.
4. Creativity and independence of
judgment.
Assessment:
Through written exams, (oral and poster) presentations,
examinations, assessed coursework and written reports.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills - able to:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies
1. The ability to analyse the response of
different civil engineering structures under
different seismic loads using a series of
analysis methods ranging from hand
calculations to non-linear time history
analyses using finite element modelling.
Practical skills are taught alongside specialist
knowledge, using the same range of teaching methods.
2. Design civil engineering structures to
different seismic codes.
3. The ability to interact with NGO’s and
government authorities.
Project work will provide the opportunity for students to
develop new ideas or improve existing techniques for
the seismic design, assessment and repair of
geotechnical structures, civil engineering structures and
infrastructure.
The project will also give an opportunity to some
students to collaborate with NGO’s in risk/vulnerability
analysis, shelter and infrastructure design (or retrofitting)
and planning, and long-term post-disaster reconstruction
4. Solving complex problems in the
project using a holistic approach to
earthquake engineering, possibly in an
industrial setting.
Assessment:
Practical skills are assessed through reports, written
coursework and presentations of project work.
D: Skills and other attributes
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Transferable skills - able to:
1. The ability to retrieve and analyse
information from a range of sources.
Transferable skills are not taught in separate courses,
but permeate the whole range of teaching and learning
methods used in the department.
2. The ability to use IT effectively.
3. The ability to work alone or in teams.
4. The ability to communicate effectively
with co-workers, supervisors and people
outside the world of engineering.
5. The ability to communicate and present
technical and non-technical information
clearly and effectively, to both specialist
and non-specialist audiences.
Small-group seminars are used to help students develop
management and communications skills which are
augmented in the project work.
Communications skills are also developed by
encouraging discussion and interaction with fellow
students and members of staff.
6. The ability to exercise initiative, selfsufficiency and leadership where
appropriate.
Assessment:
Transferable skills are assessed at the same time as
specialist knowledge, using the same range of
assessment methods.
Communications skills are also assessed in vivas and
formal presentations of laboratory and project work.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Dr Carmine Galasso
Name(s):
Date of Production:
1 August 2008
Date of Review:
November 2014
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
January 2015
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee:
January 2015