Continuity Insights: If this PhD program goes ahead, will it be the first of its kind? Do any other universities offer a PhD in Resilience or something similar?

Marc Glasser: We know of no resilience-related PhD programs in the United States, or anywhere in the world. Our research revealed a few universities around the world where you can enroll in a course or two, or concentrate on some aspect of resilience at the PhD level.

We know of at least one person whose PhD dissertation focused on resilience (resilience in terms of what is discussed below). She completed her PhD at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Additionally, Edith Cowan University in Australia conducts significant resilience research but does not offer a PhD in resilience.

The concept of resilience has been applied to various disciplines. For example, some engineering disciplines examine materials in terms of resilience to external or adverse forces, that is, what materials
or structures can withstand before integrity or function is affected. Further, the concept of resilience has been applied to biology and social science. However, the study of resilience has generally been performed at the micro level — very sector or organization specific.

Our initial PhD research focus was “organizational resilience,” but upon further examination we determined that a PhD in “resilience” would focus on common elements and the framework of resilience, applicable to individuals, organizations and systems at the micro, meso or macro level.
The way we envision our PhD program, one could focus on organizational resilience as defined by ICOR — a resilient organization is one that is able to achieve its core objectives in the face of adversity — or pursue other scholarly resilience-related studies.

In terms of the PhD program we are considering, resilience could be studied in terms of multiple disciplines, factors and variables, or within a narrow or more specific focus. Resilience study factors could include, but are not limited to, political, economic, emergency and crisis management, business continuity, supply chain/resources, security, information technology, infrastructure, intelligence (national security and business/competitive intelligence) and safety. Resilience PhD concentrations would be wide ranging to accommodate individual student interest beyond the required core PhD courses.

We expect that people will come in and say, “I’m interested in Economic resilience,” or, “I’m interested in global supply chain resilience.”

While “business continuity” might focus on IT functions and the reputation of the business, when you look at “resiliency” you will look at all things like safety, security, IT, the traditional BC factors — it’s much more encompassing. It covers more disciplines and it’s much more adaptive.

CI: UNLV already offers an Executive Masters of Science in Crisis & Emergency Management (ECEM) — the only one of its kind in the U.S. What are the drivers for a higher-level (PhD) qualification, and will the PhD incorporate some or all of the ECEM coursework?

MG: We examined the possibility of developing a PhD in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. However, a PhD in resilience would not only complement the current UNLV ECEM program, while reducing possible redundancy, but also address the rapidly evolving field of resilience, where we feel there is even greater academic opportunity.

We want a program that can be inclusive and have a scope beyond emergency management and business continuity. Further, the term and concept of “resilience” is becoming more acceptable and evolving into its own discipline. We expect that someday the Chief Resiliency Officer of a corporation will manage programs and people associated with business continuity, security, safety and other related resilience functions or departments.

CI: What are the approximate costs for the course?

MG: We do not know the exact cost at this time. There will be common elements with our ECEM program, which costs $27,750, inclusive of course textbooks and materials. The ECEM is a two-year program, with three classes per semester over a four semester period.

Also, the ECEM is a self-funded program, meaning that it is neither associated with, nor reliant upon, state or taxpayer funds. Hence, when the state eliminates academic program based “cost,” self-funded programs are not vulnerable. Simply stated, a self-funded program would not be affected by university funding cuts. The PhD will be proposed as a self-funded PhD program, not dependent on state funding.

CI: The ECEM is designed to be completed in two years. What time frame do you foresee for the PhD program, including dissertation.

MG: It is envisioned that the PhD will be a 60-academic credit hour program (three credits per course), including core resilience, research, area concentration and dissertation credit hours. Like the ECEM, we envision you would enter and continue with a cohort of students.

The draft structure of the PhD would consist of a total of four courses per year, with all online courses supplemented with two on-campus sessions. The on-campus sessions may run over a week or weekend — to be determined.

Even with advanced technology and real-time interactive video conferencing, we feel that nothing replaces live interaction and true face-to-face contact with professors and fellow cohort students (and many times their families as well).

CI: What needs to happen for this PhD to become reality and, if it eventuates, when could the course be up and running?

MG: The input has been overwhelming and 99 percent positive. I have had over 500 e-mail or survey responses. The information is currently being compiled and assessed, and will be utilized in the program proposal. The proposal must be approved by UNLV and the Nevada Board of Regents for the course to go ahead.

The research and program proposal stages are expected to proceed a bit slower than “an established PhD discipline,” as we will be pioneering the PhD in Resilience. We are taking a deliberate and methodical approach to development and would, based on appropriate required approvals, like to commence the program in 2014.

For more information, contact Marc Glasser at marc.glasser@unlv.edu.