Bachelor of Arts in Emergency and Disaster Management

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The nature of disasters and large-scale catastrophic events requires professionals with the background and education in dealing with natural and man-made hazards. The undergraduate degree in Emergency and Disaster Management (EDM) prepares students for careers in emergency management and public safety careers.  From the smallest incident to the largest catastrophe, our emergency and disaster management stresses the fact that “all disasters are local”, which is a foundational emergency management concept. In addition, we introduce our students to the all-hazards approach, emergency and disaster management phases, risk assessment, prevention and management, counter-terrorism, consequence management, mitigation, and recovery. 

Emergency and disaster management faculty has credentials in antiterrorism, forensics, explosives ordnance disposal, pre-disaster mitigation, planning, response to natural disasters, rapid deployment, fire services at local, tribal, and state levels, as well as at the national level.  Many faculty members are board certified emergency managers (CEM) through the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).  In addition, many adjunct faculty serve in key positions at the US Department of Homeland Security, State Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Fire Academy, Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  APUS's Emergency and Disaster Management program is accredited by the Foundation of Higher Education for Disaster and Emergency Management and Homeland Security.  We are the first 100-percent on line institution to receive this important distinction.

Degree Program Objectives

  • Identify and apply the disaster planning and management cycle from mitigation through recovery
  • Assess response strategies for nuclear, biological, chemical, and natural disaster incidents
  • Critically assess the intergovernmental and interagency responsibilities for disaster management support
  • Analyze the psychological and sociological factors and associated coping strategies for natural and manmade disasters

While learning objectives that are specific to the academic discipline have been identified for each degree program, the University System also outlines general education outcomes (Level 1 and 2) that are sought throughout the institution and at each degree level. For a comprehensive discussion of these objectives please refer to the academic catalog.

Degree Program Requirements
Required Course - 3 semester hours
  • RQ295 / COLL100 - Foundations of Online Learning - Required as the first course in all undergraduate programs.

General Education Requirements (34 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours
  • EN101 / ENGL101 - Proficiency in Writing [Required]
  • EN102 / ENGL102 - Effectiveness in Writing
  • EN202 / ENGL200 - Composition and Literature

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours
  • SS101 / ECON101 - Microeconomics
  • SS102 / ECON102 - Macroeconomics 
  • SS111 / GEOG101 - Introduction to Geography
  • SS133 / SOCI111 - Introduction to Sociology
  • SS134 / PSYC101 - Introduction to Psychology 
  • SS190 / ANTH100 - Introduction to Anthropology
  • SS210 / CHFD220 - Human Sexuality  
  • SO220 / SOCI220 - American Popular Culture

Science - 4 semester hours including the required 1 hour lab
  • SC100 / SCIN100 - Introduction to Biology
  • SC198 / SCIN101 - Introduction to Biology Lab
  • SC101 / SCIN102 - Introduction to Chemistry
  • SC199 / SCIN103 - Introduction to Chemistry Lab   
  • SC102 / SCIN104 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology 
  • SC122 / SCIN105 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab
  • SC103 / SCIN106 - Introduction to Physics 
  • SC123 / SCIN107 - Introduction to Physics Lab
  • SC104 / SCIN108 - Introduction to Astronomy
  • SC124 / SCIN109 - Introduction to Astronomy Lab
  • SC106 / SCIN110 - Introduction to Oceanography 
  • SC126 / SCIN111 - Introduction to Oceanography Lab
  • SC107 / SCIN112 - Introduction to Meteorology
  • SC127 / SCIN113 - Introduction to Meteorology Lab
  • SC108 / SCIN114 - Introduction to Physical Geology
  • SC128 / SCIN115 - Introduction to Physical Geology Lab
  • SC105 / SCIN116 - Introduction to Forestry
  • SC125 / SCIN117 - Introduction to Forestry Lab
  • SC110 / SCIN118 - Introduction to Human Ecology
  • SC120 / SCIN119 - Introduction to Human Ecology Lab

Mathematics - 3 semester hours
  • MA112 / MATH110 - College Algebra
  • MA113 / MATH111 - College Trigonometry
  • MA125 / MATH125 - Math for Liberal Arts Majors
  • MA225 / MATH225 - Calculus

History - 6 semester hours
  • HS101 / HIST101 - American History to 1877
  • HS102 / HIST102 - American History since 1877
  • HS111 / HIST111 - World Civilization before 1650
  • HS112 / HIST112 - World Civilization since 1650
  • HS121 / HIST121 - Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War
  • HS122 / HIST122 - Western Civilization since The Thirty Years War
  • HS215 / HIST223 - History of the American Indian
  • HS217 / HIST221 - African-American History before 1877
  • HS218 / HIST222 - African-American History since 1877

Humanities - 3 semester hours
  • HM101 / SPAN100 - Spanish I 
  • HM102 / SPAN101 - Spanish II [Prerequisite: HM101] 
  • HM103 / FREN100 - French I
  • HM104 / FREN101 - French II [Prerequisite: HM103] 
  • HM105 / ARAB100 - Arabic I 
  • HM106 / ARAB101 - Arabic II [Prerequisite: HM105] 
  • HM107 / RUSS100 - Russian I
  • HM108 / RUSS101 - Russian II [Prerequisite: HM107] 
  • HM109 / CHIN100 - Chinese I (Mandarin)
  • HM110 / CHIN101 - Chinese II (Mandarin) [Prerequisite: HM109] 
  • HM111 / GERM100 - German I
  • HM112 / GERM101 - German II [Prerequisite: HM111] 
  • HM200 / MUSI200 - Music Appreciation
  • HM230 / RELS201 - Introduction to World Religions  
  • HM240 / ARTH200 - Art Appreciation  
  • HM277 / PHIL200 - Introduction to Ethics
  • PH101 / PHIL101 - Introduction to Philosophy
  • GM200 / COMM200 - Public Speaking

Literature - 3 semester hours

All literature courses require successful completion of EN101 - Proficiency in Writing or EN102 - Effectiveness in Writing

  • HM201 / LITR220 - American Literature before the Civil War
  • HM202 / LITR221 - American Literature from The Civil War to Present
  • HM221 / LITR210 - English Literature: Beowulf to 18th Century
  • HM222 / LITR211 - English Literature: 18th Century to Present
  • HM211 / LITR201 - World Literature through the Renaissance
  • HM212 / LITR202 - World Literature since the Renaissance

Political Science - 3 semester hours
  • SS121 / POLS210 - American Government I
  • SS131 / IRLS210 - International Relations I

Core Courses (31 semester hours)

  • SC107 / SCIN107 - Introduction to Meteorology
  • SC127 / SCIN107L - Meteorology Lab
  • CJ395 / EDMG220 - Emergency Planning
  • GM464 / EDMG320 - Natural Disaster Management
  • GM465 / PBHE413 - Special Operations in Emergency Medical Services
  • MC477 / EDMG230 - Emergency and Disaster Incident Command
  • MM325 / EDMG340 - Consequence Management
  • SS460 / POLS410 - Public Policy
  • PY431 / PSYC431 - Psychology of Disaster
  • SS489 / HLSS301 - Homeland Security Organization
  • RQ300 / COLL300 - Research, Analysis, and Writing
Major Courses (12 semester credits)

General Program Course List

  • CJ188 / HLSS231 - History of Explosive Ordinance Disposal
  • CJ214 / HLSS232 - Electronics, Electricity, and Explosives
  • CJ215 / HLSS233 - Explosives: Methods, Practice and Protocols
  • CJ216 / HLSS234 - Organization of Explosive Ordnance Disposal
  • CJ410 / HLSS311 - Border and Coastal Security
  • GM160 / HLSS211 - Emergency Response to Terrorism
  • GM260 / HLSS212 - Chemical, Biological, & Radiological Hazards
  • GM261 / HLSS213 - Weapons of Mass Destruction Incident Command
  • GM263 / HLSS215 - Regulatory Issues in Weapons of Mass Destruction
  • MC406 / TLMT381 - Hazardous Materials Management
  • MC444 / EDMG420 - Risk Communications
  • MC445 / HLSS312 - Port Security
  • SC223 / HLSS230 - Chemistry of Explosives
  • SC403 / EDMG240 - Chemistry of Hazardous Materials
  • SS440 / PBHE426 - Quarantine
Capstone Course (3 semester hours)
  • MM498 / EDMG498 - Senior Seminar in Emergency and Disaster Management
    Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all core and major courses prior to enrollment.
Electives (39 semester hours)

Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major


Total = 122 semester hours

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