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This course serves as an introduction to many of the most common technical aspects of humanitarian aid delivery, including camp coordination and camp management (CCCM), water & sanitation, food aid, public health planning, and rapid needs assessments.
Prerequisites: MSHA 500, MSHA 501, MSHA 520, MSHA 530, MSHA 540, MSHA 550, MSHA 513, & MSHA 590.
While humanitarian intervention is primarily classified as a military response, more peaceful responses are available. For example, if a sovereign state is unable to recover or protect its people from a natural disaster or public health crisis, international intervention in the form of regime support or material aid may be warranted. Sanctions are another response that does not directly involve the use of force, but still applies coercive pressure and imposes consequences for violations.
Intervention can also be improved by using a multi-pronged approach that engages the government, NGOs, the private sector and other elements of civil society — not only the military. Efforts to integrate into (rather than overthrow) existing frameworks to work toward a resolution may also be more effective than military might.
Does humanitarian intervention pose a threat to international order?
When executed successfully, humanitarian intervention can halt human rights violations, protect citizens from an abusive government, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, help remove unjust regimes and bring war criminals to justice. Prevention of future atrocities is sometimes cited as a benefit, but there is no way to truly know if conflict instigated by well-intentioned military action would be “less damaging” than conflict left unchecked.
Humanitarian intervention is arguably justified by the international community’s responsibility to protect humanity. Justifiable interventions include those intended to stop or prevent large-scale human rights abuses perpetuated by governments, such as genocide, torture or withholding resources. On the other hand, some parties oppose humanitarian intervention, citing imperialism and selectivity as motivations rather than altruism.
Sovereignty is the right for a state to govern itself, while the supreme authority of the ruling person or body (the sovereign) is responsible for protecting the rights of their citizens. This is outlined in the UN’s Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, which says that “each individual State has the responsibility to protect its populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. This responsibility entails the prevention of such crimes, including their incitement, through appropriate and necessary means.” Therefore, the argument could be made that, if a sovereign engages in actions that violate their state’s own sovereignty, the international community may justify an intervention as restoring that sovereignty, rather than violating it. However R2P has been criticized as justifying imperialism and colonial attitudes.
It’s also important to note that some countries request humanitarian interventions. In the early 2000s, Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide requested a peacekeeping force to help quell a rebellion, but the international community did not provide one until 2004, when Aristide had already been ousted by a coup. In instances like this, the humanitarian intervention is completely sanctioned by the sovereign state.
Now more than ever, the world needs dedicated leaders to step up and handle some of our most pressing humanitarian emergencies. A master’s degree program will prepare you with the right knowledge, experience and tools to excel in a particular humanitarian career path. The 100% online University of San Diego Master of Science in Humanitarian Action provides an innovative, multidisciplinary curriculum taught by experienced, knowledgeable faculty. Position yourself for leadership and success in the humanitarian field with a master’s degree you can earn in just 20 months.
Humanitarian organizations are looking for bright, dedicated and compassionate individuals. While experience may be required for certain positions, there are entry-level jobs available for those with a limited humanitarian background. To boost your chances and set you apart from other candidates, seek out volunteer and leadership opportunities. A master’s degree is also a great way to gain the knowledge, experience and tools needed to succeed.
Salary will depend on a number of factors, including the position, job responsibilities, the organization and how much experience is required. Entry-level professionals earn an average of $27,000 to $32,000 per year. Mid-career professionals and those with more field experience can expect a salary of $35,000 to $45,000. Senior-level positions typically have an annual salary of $60,000+ with some positions earning more than $100,000.
In some cases — yes. Senior-level, management and director roles typically require a graduate degree.
While you can find positions on popular job resources such as LinkedIn and Indeed, there are job sites specifically dedicated to humanitarian-related work, such as ReliefWeb, Idealist and Devex. There are also many national and global organizations that are looking to hire skilled humanitarian professionals. A sample include: American Red Cross, AmeriCorps, CARE USA, Doctors Without Borders, Mercy Corps, UNICEF – and many more.
Absolutely! We also seek applicants who may not have background or experience in humanitarian-related areas but are action-minded individuals with volunteer experience who are interested in pursuing a career in the humanitarianism or disaster relief sector.
Tuition for the MSHA program is $710 per unit. With a total of 30 units, the full cost of tuition for the program is $21,300.
Tuition amounts shown on this website, or in other university publications or web pages, represent tuition and fees as currently approved. However, the University of San Diego reserves the right to increase or modify tuition and fees without prior notice and to make such modifications applicable to students enrolled at USD at that time as well as to incoming students. In addition, all tuition amounts and fees are subject to change at any time for correction of errors. Please note that the displayed tuition covers only the cost of courses, and additional expenses such as books and other fees are not included.
Yes! In fact, the MSHA program was designed specifically for individuals working full-time. Classes are delivered online asynchronously, so you can complete your coursework at your own convenience wherever you have access to the internet.