Emergency Management Degree
The field of emergency management refers to all of programs and agencies that people depend on for quick recovery to unexpected natural disasters like hurricanes, tornados, and fires as well as events related to human-caused disasters like widespread pollution or terrorism. Through either a two or four-year program, emergency management majors learn about the interaction between agencies, first responders, and the public to understand how to create and enact the policies and plans that enable all three spheres to work together in an emergency.
Emergency Management Training and Courses
Since timing is critical in responding to emergencies, planning is the major focus in most emergency management courses. Planning includes communications strategies for reaching the general public in the event of the loss of one or more forms of media, as well as the allocation of resources such as transportation, medical personnel and rescue equipment. It also includes strategies for mitigating the impact of disasters through prior planning and prevention. These principles allow emergency managers and responders to save lives, which is the number one priority in an emergency.
Source: HowStuffWorks
Those who plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in emergency management may also take courses on how to handle specific events, such as bioterrorism and wildfires. Many courses include special practicums that allow students to practice setting up a command center and directing activities while receiving information about real-world scenarios from instructors.
Emergency Management Professional Certification
Certifications in emergency management vary according to experience and specialty, but one of the most coveted certifications is the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), awarded by The National Coordinating Council on Emergency Management. To receive CEM certification, individuals must possess a bachelor’s degree, have at least three years of emergency management experience, and undergo a peer review similar to a post-graduate thesis.
Job Opportunities for Emergency Management Degree Program Graduates
Degrees in emergency management prepare graduates to work in emergency management positions for local, state, and federal government agencies, where they will coordinate with first responders such as fire departments and rescue squads. Emergency management graduates may also find employment with consultancies that provide risk management consulting, or on the security staff of large manufacturing or mining operations. After graduating from an emergency management program and earning real world experience, many emergency management graduates go on to work for worldwide organizations such as the United Nations, where they can make an impact on issues that effect citizens across the globe.
Please note that Kaplan, Strayer and Walden Universities below offer specific Emergency Management related degrees.
Online Emergency Management Degree Program Info, Courses, and Criminal Justice Schools
Kaplan University
Campuses: Online
Popular Degrees:
- BS in Fire and Emergency Management
- BS in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security
- MS in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Walden University
Campuses: Online
Popular Degrees:
- M.S.in Criminal Justice - Emergency Management
- M.S. in Emergency Management - Public Management and Leadership
- Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Emergency Management
American InterContinental University Online
Campuses: Online
Popular Degrees:
- Bachelor's - Homeland Security and Crisis Management
Colorado Technical University Online
Campuses: Online
Popular Degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice: Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Masters of Science in Management in Homeland Security
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Capella University
Campuses: Online
Popular Degrees:
- BS - Emergency Management
- PhD - Emergency Management
- BS - Homeland Security
Grand Canyon University
Campuses: Online
Popular Degrees:
- B.S. in Public Safety and Emergency Management
- M.S. in Leadership: Disaster Preparedness & Executive Fire Leadership
- B.S. in Public Safety Administration
University of Phoenix
Campuses: Online
Popular Degrees:
- M.S. in Administration of Justice and security/Global Homeland Security
- B.S. in Organizational Security and Management
- B.S in Criminal Justice Administration/Cybercrimes
References:
Bea, Keith, et al. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency): An Organization in the Crosshairs. New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2006. Print.
Borgeson, Kevin and Robin Valeri. Terrorism in America. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2009. Print.
Bumgarner, Jeffrey B. Emergency Management: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 2008. Print.
Haddow, George D., Jane A. Bullock and Damon P. Coppola. Introduction to Emergency Management. 4th ed. Burlington: Elsevier, Inc., 2011. Print.
Page Edited by Charles Sipe.
