Examines how modern societies have confronted disaster. Such crises have been surprisingly common in recent history, and they take multiple forms: natural, technological, medical, industrial, and environmental. How a society responds to disaster tells us much about its values, politics, and culture; such moments can also act as catalysts for social and historical change. This course examines a range of disasters, including hurricane Katrina, the 1918 flu pandemic, nuclear accidents in Chernobyl and Fukushima, and devastating earthquakes in both San Francisco and Haiti. Taught by Professor David Hecht. Note: This course is part of the following field(s) of study: United States.