Climate Change, Disaster and Urban Sustainability (CCDUS)
Introduction / Background
The CCDUS program encompasses interdisciplinary knowledge across climate science, climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk assessment and management, urban systems, policy, social dimensions, and governance. Graduates of the program will be equipped to address complex climate and disaster challenges, particularly in climate-resilient urban development, disaster preparedness and risk reduction, low-carbon and inclusive cities, and sustainable urban transformation across diverse socio-economic and geographical contexts.
The main goal of the CCDUS program is to prepare students to confront emerging global challenges related to climate change, disasters, and urban sustainability through state-of-the-art knowledge, analytical tools, and applied research skills. The program aims to develop future leaders and practitioners capable of delivering solution-oriented, evidence-based, and socially inclusive strategies that support resilient cities, effective disaster governance, climate adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable development pathways for human and environmental well-being.
Areas of Specialization
- Climate Change and Sustainable Development
- Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management
- Urban Innovation and Sustainability
Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Sustainable Development
- Climate negotiation
- Climate finance
- Climate change mitigation
- Adaptation to climate change
- Carbon policy and market
- Climate impacts and vulnerability
- Climate smart and resilient society
- Disaster Risk Reduction Resilience
- Community Based DRR
- Risk-Knowledge Networking
- Economics of Disasters
- Multi-hazard Risk Assessment
- Earthquake Disaster, Floods, and Droughts
- Disaster Risk Governance
- Urban Planning and Design
- Urban Climate Solutions
- Urban Sustainability Design
- Eco-Innovation and Cities Circular Economy
- Sustainable Urban Development
- Digital and ICT innovation for Built Environment
- Urban Resilience Planning
Preferred Background
Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, social science, humanities, or management.
Course Structure
3.5-year Doctoral degree program:
- Option-1: 12 credits elective courses + 72 credits dissertation research
- Option-2: 9 credit elective courses + 3 credit special study + 72 credit dissertation research
Two-year master’s program:
- Thesis option: 3 credits required courses + 23 credits elective courses + 22 credits Thesis
- Research study option/ Internship option: 3 credits required courses + 33 credits elective courses with a maximum of 1-3 credits special study + 12 credits Research study/12 credits Internship
- Minor option from other academic program: 3 credits required courses + 21 credits elective courses+ 12 credits course from other academic program + 12 credits Research study
- Minor option in CCDUS: 12 credit courses from the CCDUS program (3 credit required courses + 9 credit elective courses)
- Exchange option: 24 credits courses at AIT+ 12 credits of courses at partner universities + 12 credit research at AIT
One-year Master’s program:
- Only courses option: 3 credits required courses + 27 credits elective courses
- Project option: 3 credits required courses + 21 credits elective courses + 6 credit project/special study
One-year Diploma: 3 credits required courses + 21 credits elective courses
