Risk has become one of the defining features of modern society. Almost daily, we are preoccupied with assessing, discussing, or preventing a wide variety of risks. It is a cornerstone notion for businesses and organizations, but also for nation states and their many levels of government. And even for individuals, risk and the avoidance or embracing thereof, is a key theme.
The course Risk in Modern Society sheds light on the broad concept of risk. In five distinctive weeks, this course closely examines various types of safety and security risks, and how these are perceived and dealt with in a wide array of professional and academic fields, ranging from criminology, counter-terrorism and cyber security, to philosophy, safety and medical science. Developed in collaboration with scholars from three universities (Leiden, Delft and Erasmus), this course will search for answers to questions such as: “what is risk?”, “how do we study and deal with risk?”, “does ‘perceived risk’ correspond to 'real' risk?”, and “how should we deal with societal perceptions of risk, safety and security?
In this module, you can find all the information you need in order to be able to successfully complete the course. After you have familiarised yourself with the course, we will move to the content of the first module. In the first week, we will discuss how the concept of risk has played an increasingly important role in shaping our modern society. Tracing the historical origins of this concept, we will look at how our modern conception of risk has emerged, and how it is currently being studied within the academic world.
What's included
4 videos3 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 20 minutes
How to succeed in your online class?•2 minutes
Lecture 1.1 The History of Risk•4 minutes
Lecture 1.2 The Study of Risk: Security Studies•7 minutes
Lecture 1.3 The Study of Risk: Safety Science•7 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
Meet the Instructors & Leiden•Delft•Erasmus•10 minutes
The History of Risk•10 minutes
The Study of Risk•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
The History and Study of Risk•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 20 minutes
Introduce yourself•20 minutes
Managing Risk
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we will take a closer look at risk management, one of the most dominant approaches to dealing with risk in modern society. You will then be presented with two specific risks which illustrate how this approach is used in practice: the risk of natural hazards, and risks in the chemical industry. In the last video of this week, we will discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses of the risk management approach.
What's included
6 videos4 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 37 minutes
Lecture 2.1 Risk Management•8 minutes
Lecture 2.2 Risk of Natural Hazards•5 minutes
Lecture 2.3 Risk of Natural Hazards / Part II•6 minutes
Lecture 2.4 Risk in the Chemical Industry•4 minutes
Lecture 2.5 Risk in the Chemical Industry / Part II•7 minutes
Lecture 2.6 Risk Management: Strengths and Weaknesses•8 minutes
4 readings•Total 40 minutes
Risk Management•10 minutes
The Risk of Natural Hazards•10 minutes
Risks in the Chemical Industry•10 minutes
Risk Management: Strengths and Weaknesses•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Managing Risk•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Risk Management•10 minutes
Risk Perception
Module 3•4 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we will take a closer look at risk perception and the factors that influence how we experience risk in modern society. You will learn that while experts often rely on various statistical and mathematical models to asses various types of risks, the general public tends to make more intuitive judgments about the severity and likelihood of risk. You will then be presented with two specific security risks, which often invoke a great perception of danger.
In this module, you will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of modern-day risks by looking at three key contemporary global challenges involving risk. Throughout the week, each of these risks will be discussed by various experts, who will highlight the most important features and strategies to deal with them. You will learn how, both collectively and individually, each these challenges have the ability to significantly impact the globe, presenting a notable challenge for current and future generations.
What's included
8 videos4 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 45 minutes
Lecture 4.1 Modern-day Risk: Global Challenges•4 minutes
Lecture 4.2 Risks in Cyberspace•6 minutes
Lecture 4.3 Risks in Cyberspace / Part II•7 minutes
Lecture 4.4 Risk of Hospital Acquired Infections•9 minutes
Lecture 4.5: Risk of Hospital Acquired Infections / Part II•5 minutes
Lecture 4.6 Risk of Infectious Diseases•4 minutes
Lecture 4.7 Risk of Infectious Diseases / Part II•3 minutes
Lecture 4.8 The Risk of Infectious Diseases / Part III•5 minutes
4 readings•Total 40 minutes
Modern-day Risk: Global Challenges•10 minutes
Risks in Cyberspace•10 minutes
The Risk of Hospital Acquired Infections•10 minutes
The Risk of Infectious Diseases•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Modern-day Risks: Global Challenges•30 minutes
Risk in Modern Society
Module 5•1 hour to complete
Module details
In this final module, you will be presented with a recap of all the knowledge from the previous weeks. In addition, it contains the final multiple choice quiz of the course. Good luck!
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 6 minutes
Lecture 5.1 Risk in Modern Society•6 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Risk in Modern Society•10 minutes
Risk: Want to Learn More?•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Risk in Modern Society•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Risk in your life•10 minutes
Instructors
Instructor ratings
Instructor ratings
We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.
Leiden University is one of Europe's foremost research universities. This prominent position gives our graduates a leading edge and prepares them for careers both within and outside of academia. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands, founded in 1575. Our motto is: Praesidium Libertatis (Bastion of Liberty) - Freedom of spirit, thought and expression. Leiden University has a campus in Leiden and The Hague, with 7 faculties, 47 Bachelor Programmes, 79 Master Programmes and nearly 30,000 students.
The Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Safety and Security (CSS) is one of the joint multidisciplinary centres of Leiden University, Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam. It connects scientists, researchers and students within the research triangle, focusing on safety and security as complex societal and scientific problems.
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Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.