The Master of Arts in Emergency and Disaster Management provides graduate-level knowledge to improve critical thinking and decision-making skills required in the planning and management of public crises. This online master's degree program exposes you to the history, theory, response, recovery, and economics of EDM. Through case study examination, you'll study natural, technical, and human-induced public emergencies, disasters, and catastrophes. Knowledge gained from this online program can supplement experience previously gained in the public safety field, or can help to prepare you for a new career in EDM. Knowledgeable leaders who can effectively manage crisis events are in demand in government agencies, public safety, and law enforcement organizations.
This program is taught by highly credentialed and experienced instructors, many who are board-certified emergency managers (CEM) or who hold key positions in government agencies or national safety and security organizations. This program is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress.
Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these program specific learning outcomes and be able to:
- Develop a research proposal for emergency and disaster management and report the findings including an estimation of economic impacts.
- Select, evaluate, and prioritize research projects and proposals in community preparedness and emergency response.
- Organize emergency management functions and activities using contemporary emergency and disaster management concepts and federal guidelines.
- Formulate plans that clearly differentiate disaster response actions including recovery operations and their funding from routine emergency operations.
- Design and promote inter-disciplinary training to assure integration between all aspects of an emergency operations function including: planning and pre-event preparedness; threat and vulnerability assessments; capability and capacity evaluation; public policy issues; mitigation strategies; exercises and training; program evaluation.
- Develop plans and policies that ensure the strong organizational and personal relationships necessary to be able to work with the key federal agencies to ensure interagency cooperation at all levels during any large scale incident.
- Formulate policies procedures and protocols to allow seamless agency integration in both small and large emergency operations centers (EOCs) assuring compliance with the National Response Plan and National Incident Management System.
- Perform economic and social analyses necessary to provide funding recommendations to appropriate fiscal authorities; develop and manage budgets.
View learning outcomes assessment results.