Emergency and Disaster Management-Capstone Option

Online Master of Arts in Emergency and Disaster Management (MA)

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$0 Application Fee
$0 Transfer Credit Evaluation

0 Entrance Exams
No GRE/GMAT Required

About This Program

Enhance your critical-thinking skills and become knowledgeable in mission planning, management relief, and recovery during a public crisis with the online master’s in emergency and disaster management from American Public University (APU).

This leading-edge program—accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress—is designed to prepare professionals to effectively manage crises. APU’s MA in Emergency and Disaster Management advances your knowledge of response, recovery, and economics of emergency and disaster management. Through case studies, you will examine natural, technical, and human-induced public emergencies, disasters, and catastrophes.

Your academic experience is enriched by faculty—some are board-certified emergency managers (CEM) or hold key positions in government, safety, or security.

The mission of the Master’s in Emergency and Disaster Management is to prepare students to assume leadership roles in the protection of the public in emergency circumstances by providing students with the theory, operations, and best practices across the entire career field and challenging them to demonstrate how to effectively apply them.

What You Will Do

  1. Develop a research proposal for emergency and disaster management
  2. Select, evaluate, and prioritize research projects and proposals
  3. Organize emergency management functions and activities
  4. Formulate plans that clearly differentiate disaster response actions

View Program Outcome Assessment Results

Degree at a Glance

Accredited
IFSAC Accredited
Number of Credits
36
Cost Per Credit
$455 | $250*
$386.75** | $409.50***
Courses Start Monthly
Online
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Program Requirements Printable Catalog Version

Must take all courses for this section.

Course ID: 2828

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This course establishes the theoretical foundation that enables the study and understanding of what constitutes ‘disaster’ as a part of the human condition and experience. Students are given a basic understanding of scientific concepts such as fact, theory, and hypothesis. These are then illustrated by analysis and case studies provided by renowned thinkers and writers in the field of emergency and disaster management. Students leave the class with a quality theoretical foundation from which to conduct all of their future master’s-level work.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2827

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This is a survey course that is designed to introduce students to the concepts of emergency management. Topics covered include the history of the field, hazard analysis, mitigation, planning, communication, response, recovery, and terrorism. Students conduct interview research with an emergency manager and conduct a site visit of an emergency operations center. Students can use this course to springboard into advanced topics within the field as offered by other courses, and is a great place for students to begin their emergency management degree programs.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2832

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This course deals with the interaction, coordination, and facilitation between federal, state, and local agencies during preparation, response, and recovery operations. The history of emergency response organizational development is explored, along with the current structural and operational design provided by the National Response Framework (NRF) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Finally, the potential for public-private partnerships in disaster response is examined. Students will achieve an understanding of how all of the various agencies work together to achieve emergency management and disaster response goals and objectives.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 3849

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This course provides an overview of what is known about natural hazards, disasters, recovery, and mitigation, how research findings have been translated into policies and programs, and a sustainable hazard mitigation research agenda. The course also provides an examination of past disaster losses and hazards management over the past 50 years, including factors--demographic, climate, social--that influence loss.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2668

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This course examines the role of crisis action planning in emergency management and disaster response. This course begins by examining the art and science of future studies – that is, being able to accurately predict an outcome from a given set of inputs and understand the ramifications. Impacts of global warming are presented. Crisis leadership and management theories and methodologies are examined. Taking these three components into account, and adding in other threats that students envision in forum discussions, students then develop a crisis action plan for an organization of their choice, with the purpose being to provide a plan for organizational survival against the challenges depicted above. Students also select an optional topic from an approved bibliography to present and discuss, on such topics as future climate, weather, social justice, energy, economics, environment, resource depletion, and potential strategies for the survival of civilization. Students will achieve a new and more holistic appreciation of the disaster planning process. The crisis action plans that students develop for this course are consistently implemented in the real world, and are in place in organizations across the globe.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 4562

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A healthy cyberinfrastructure is the foundation of emergency and disaster management. It provides emergency and disaster management agencies the ability to effectively address and respond to natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and law enforcement issues. Technology has leveled the global playing field, and the impact on the cyberinfrastructure must be assessed among all relevant communities. This means implementing cybersecurity awareness into all levels of emergency and disaster management through: knowledge management, task behavior, dissemination of information, cyberinfrastructure impact awareness, communication, and deterrence. Students will be exposed to planning, management, response, and recovery factors related to cyberinfrastructure, as well as analyze economic, social, and technical aspects of cybersecurity associated with public emergencies and disasters.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 4891

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This course provides basic research methods skills for addressing problems and issues specific to the programs within the School of Security and Global Studies (SSGS). The course covers four basic approaches to social research including experimentation, survey research, field research, and the use of available data. Students will gain foundational knowledge in research planning, design, methodology, data collection, and analysis. This course prepares students for advanced research methods. Students in SSGS graduate studies are expected to be completely familiar with Turabian and APA writing styles. If you do not possess copies of these manuals, here is a link to the library, https://www.apus.edu/apus-library/resources-services/Writing/writing-center.html, specific to writing basics, that has quick style guides in use within SSGS. Purchase of the most recent writing guide in use in your program is highly recommended. If you are unsure what writing style is in use in your program, consult with your academic advisor.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Choose 12 credit hours from this section.

Course ID: 2829

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This course identifies the public law, regulation, and associated policy that facilitates and in some cases restricts emergency management planning, recovery, and relief. Topics include national, state, and local issues and examples of public law. The course also covers issues associated with intergovernmental (fire, police, EMS, emergency management, military, etc.) action in emergencies as such action relates to regulation or public law.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2826

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This course is a study of the economics associated with international, national, state, or local level disaster. Students will study, analyze, and conduct research on the direct and indirect economic losses associated with disaster. The course will cover the economics associated with both public and private institutions.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 2833

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This course deals with the casualty consequences of large scale emergency, disaster, and/or destruction. Public health, emergency casualty services, mortuary, and other issues are addressed using case examples, theory, and principles that have been researched, studied, and documented in international, national, and local settings. The course covers the background and philosophy, parameters, clinical issues, special circumstances (CBRN/WMD), clinical and non-clinical issues, and recovery strategies in Mass Casualty Incident Management. In conjunction with the outlined topics, the course examines a number of Mass Casualty Incident Management Case Studies (New York City, Jerusalem, Toronto, New Orleans, Tokyo and Madrid).
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 4846

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A new normal is now present with respect to wildland fire occurrence. Mega-drought, depleted water resources, climate change-enabled forest insect infestations, reduced snowpack, and related impacts have resulted in earlier, more prolonged, and more deadly fire seasons in America’s natural wilderness regions. Mitigation of and adaptation to this new normal are important features of protecting the public that students, practitioners, and public officials must be aware of in order to effectively discharge their respective duties. This course will make current and future public officials aware of the challenge, the urgency of action, the opportunities available, and the leadership & management skills needed to guide society during this increasingly critical threat situation.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2704

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This course addresses the potential results from nuclear, biological, and chemical incidents or uses. Topics include public health consequences of such incidents, emergency planning and response measures in place among U.S. agencies, and emerging detection and management technologies. Existing vulnerabilities to these types of incidents and attacks will also be discussed.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2824

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This course offers students the opportunity to study a historical disaster of their choosing in depth. The theory of case study analysis is covered in detail—problem formulation, research methodology, data collection, and analytical techniques are examined. Concurrently, students develop a topic statement and concept of analysis for their chosen disaster. The final product of the course is a case analysis that includes a telling of the story of the disaster; a depiction of the methodology that will be utilized to understand the disaster in academic terms; an analysis of what happened and why; and the lessons that can be drawn from the study that would improve the field of emergency and disaster management. Students will learn a valuable research skill that can be used repeatedly throughout their careers.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 4818

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Emergencies and disasters do or can impact all people, anywhere, at any time. The emergency and disaster management field was developed in recognition of this, and seeks to prepare practitioners and public officials for the challenges that they will face. Evidence indicates that the impact of disasters is not distributed evenly—that in fact, the poor, minorities, and women are disproportionately impacted by disasters. This is something that students, practitioners, and public officials must be aware of in order to effectively and ethically discharge their respective duties. This course will make current and future officials aware of the impacts of race, poverty, gender, and similar social justice issues that they will need to consider in their careers in emergency management and public service.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 4698

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Climate change and global warming are real, and science has coalesced around the fact that mankind’s activities are causing or contributing to the rapid global warming that is currently in progress. Mankind’s input into the equation is the burning of carbon fuels, which releases unprecedented levels of carbon dioxide, a highly potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. The field of emergency management typically divides activities into four components: planning, mitigation, response, and recovery. It is now time to add a fifth component: adaptation. Mankind’s activities have programmed into the future climate somewhere between one and six degrees Celsius of warming, and a significant but as yet incalculable amount of sea level rise. We do not have the option of stopping or reversing these events, so we must adapt if our civilization is to survive. The student will begin by examining the science itself, courtesy of the Climate Reality Project. The student will examine how the US government has evaluated the situation in the National Climate Assessment. The student will look at both the pessimistic and optimistic possibilities that our future could hold. Students will select a book from a supplemental reading list and report on their topic of choice in the forums. To conclude, students will create a personal Climate Change Adaptation Plan for themselves, their families, and/or their organizations.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 4522

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This course introduces students to risk management components including plans and strategies to mitigate risk. Students in this course will examine the role of risk management at the strategic and enterprise levels in the prevention of loss and mitigation of consequences through risk identification and control. This course will allow students to develop and apply risk management techniques to include selection of risk management measures and implementation of those measures.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 3234

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This course explores the threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as a unique phenomenon within the homeland security landscape. Specifically, this course provides students with a historical perspective on the development and use of WMD from both an international and a domestic perspective. The course also explores the efforts to prevent, prepare, and respond to the use of WMDs.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 4932

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With an ever-changing threat vector, the need for a more resilient nation has never been more important. This course will explore different aspects of resilience and its connection to national homeland security. The course further explores resilience and its relationship to critical infrastructure nodes to methods of analysis and risk impact.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2750

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This course will survey the critical importance of ports to trade, their vulnerability to disruption and attack, and defensive measures to mitigate risk focusing on international cooperation and legislation. Special emphasis will be placed on defensive measures to protect ports from disruption or asymmetric attack, international cooperation, and national legislation.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 4934

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Introduction to Global Security addresses the complex global security environment. Focus is placed on the role that actors in the global environment play in the formulation and implementation of international, bilateral, and state policy, norms, and practice related to security issues of global scope and concern. The course also addresses the impact of these security related concerns in the global environment on domestic and international security.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 4489

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This course is provides an understanding of the structure of homeland security law and policy. This course will familiarize students with the extensive and complex legal codes that come under the heading of Homeland Security. The course will cover statutes, policy papers, presidential directives, and other documents related to homeland security allowing for an in-depth examination of the foundations of homeland security. The course will provide the student with important legal guidance allowing the student to accurately interpret, understand, and apply homeland security law and policy. The course provides a detailed overview of the subject of homeland security and includes definitions of homeland security, terrorism, the related law, and its development. The course discusses homeland security in other countries as well i.e. Europe, China, Japan.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 4490

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This course focuses on the ways that law, ethics and cybersecurity overlap and intersect. Besides laws related to cybersecurity, the course examines laws related to intellectual property, civil litigation, criminal prosecutions, and privacy. This examination will provide the means to identify and analyze the policies reflected in those laws. Those policies could guide the creation of policies on a business-level, using qualitative risk assessment and planning. An exploration of ethics and cybersecurity, as well as of workplace ethics, will involve the use of an ethical framework.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 4676

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In an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, concepts of “governance,” “polity,” and “policy” need exploration, definition, and clarity. This course lays the multi-disciplinary groundwork for this program, introducing the roots of the field and the expectations of the program. Students will explore the process of policy making, the conditions which influence administrative decisions, and the theoretical underpinnings of the discipline.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2680

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This is an interactive course designed to help students achieve a greater understanding of the statistical methods and models available to analyze data and to solve problems associated with making decisions and testing hypotheses in uncertain conditions. The course is designed for students seeking a thorough appreciation of how statistical tools can support sound decision making efforts in a wide range of situations. Topics covered include inferential statistics, averages, measures of variation, the Normal distribution and its uses, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing for large and small samples, regression and correlation, and Chi-Square distributions. The skills, tools and methodologies needed to analyze systems and to make decisions are provided. State of the art analytical tools and quantitative methods, including computer-based solutions are discussed. The emphasis of the course will be on the proper use of statistical techniques and their implementation rather than on mathematical proofs. However, some mathematics is necessary in order to understand the proper application of the techniques introduced and discussed during the course.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2684

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This course examines the variables involved in crisis planning, communication, and management. To do so, we must consider the organization's vulnerabilities, the environment in which it thrives, the stakeholders who can influence its operation and the strategies best suited to maintaining or enhancing its reputation. The media plays a crucial role in crisis management, and we will discuss this factor throughout the course. We will consider how the media acts as a catalyst as well as an intermediary in this process. Some of the questions that will arise will be: Is the relationship inherently antagonistic? Should it be? By the conclusion of the course, participants should have developed a deeper understanding of the range of crises facing organizations, an enhanced appreciation of communication tactics that can be brought to bear in such situations and a greater familiarity with the historical antecedents of current crises.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 5269

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This course will examine leadership’s role in a time of crisis. The student will learn effective decision-making strategies and reaction strategies leaders should employ during crisis situations. The student will differentiate the types of leadership models to engage in an emergency environment. This course delivers examples on how to adapt to unique situations as well as prioritize procedures during these situations. The areas of contingency planning and disaster preparedness are also covered.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 5270

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This course examines risk management as one of the key responsibilities of leaders. Students will learn to define risk management, best practices for measuring risk and threat assessments to guide organizational response. The course will look at leadership’s role in developing strategies to strengthen approaches to external and internal risk.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 5271

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This course explores the critical concepts and processes found in crisis management. The student will be able to illustrate the components required in evaluating and developing plans for crises and disasters at the organization and community level. Techniques for organizational planning with consideration of comprehensive emergency management regulatory requirements for crisis response planning will be covered. Students will create a crisis management plan as their final project.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 4683

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This course addresses the moral versus legal aspects of public administration. Ethical controversies and real and hypothetical solutions to the issues will be addressed through the components of individual attributes, organizational structure, organizational culture and societal expectations. The administrator’s role in ethical decision-making will be examined along with external and internal controls. The course will offer studies in leading and building organizations of integrity and diversity.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2705

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This course examines a range of management issues and strategies within the context of managing public organizations. The core focus is on an enhanced understanding of the theoretical and practical approaches to public management, an examination of enduring and day-to-day dilemmas faced by competent public managers, and the application of relevant theories to public management within the United States.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 3551

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This course provides an introduction to the law and legal system as it applies to public administration and policy. It covers the interrelation of norms, moral codes and formal laws. The attempt to address social concerns with new laws and regulations has created increased pressure in the courts and legislative chambers. This course examines the sources, influences, operation and consequences of law and public policy formation, and analyzes public policy initiatives from political and legal aspects as to their intentions, achievable aims, and intended and unintended outcomes.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2724

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This course covers public budgeting from the public manager’s perspective. Whether you are currently or hope to be a manager for federal, state or local government or a local or national nonprofit, this course will give you a good overview of budgeting, and how it relates to you. Topics include budgetary history, revenue and expenditure management, budgeting processes and operating techniques.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2728

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This course will expand the student's understanding of the leading approaches to public administration with a focus on the local and state levels of government. It will cover topics including decision-making, budget and taxation, and electoral and legal differences between state and local governments and other states. It will cover the legislative process, and how it fits into the larger federal system. Students will see the implications to the larger federal issues they have studied and their application to state and local bureaucracies.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 2830

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This course is a fascinating study of the concepts of medical and healthcare issues in emergency management in mass-casualty and high-impact incidents. The student will learn about the planning and coordination--from the national to the local levels--necessary to respond to disasters that are natural (such as earthquakes, floods, tornadoes and heat waves); industrial, technological and transportation (such as hazardous materials, air crashes and mass gatherings); conflict-related (such as terrorist attacks and mass shootings); as well as the education, training and research done before, during and after these events.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2838

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This course is a study of the theoretical, historical, and contemporary issues associated with quarantine as a public health and safety measure. Students will learn of quarantine strategy, implementation, effectiveness, and debate. The course topics will include consideration of quarantine as a health and safety measure in the modern homeland security strategy.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2825

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This course focuses on the principles, types, and forms of health management systems that exist to serve public needs during society’s most threatening crises. Topics range from international and national political and policy views of disaster health management down to local levels where leading hospitals and emergency managers must respond to public health disasters on a daily basis.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2831

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This course provides a graduate level study of epidemiologic concepts and approaches to population problems in public health. It covers a wide spectrum of topics, to include outbreak investigation, test properties, and study design. The course will provide understanding of disease and disease transmission, rates and proportions associated with different forms of outbreak, and epidemiological risk management methods and measures. Students are required to utilize Epi info software to complete their assignments. (Prerequisite: PBHE550)
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 4979

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Students will explore research and historical real world examples of natural and man-made disasters to consider best practices in managing effective emergency response. Specific focus will be on understanding and mitigating post-traumatic stress, as well as military related disasters and emergencies. Students will learn about emergency response, recovery, and follow-up for victims of disaster.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 4041

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This course is a graduate level study of cultural issues and social influences on human functioning. Classic foundations combine with new research, recent methodological and up-to-date theoretical innovations to form the basis of a study that integrates scholarship and applied social psychology for everyday living.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 4049

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This course offers an in-depth analysis of crisis and trauma events, survivor responses and needs, and competent strategic interventions. A theoretical approach draws on systems and developmental constructs to provide an assessment and intervention model that is both holistic and integrated within particular environments. Unique crisis events are addressed, including sexual assault, domestic violence, disasters (both natural and man-made), service provider stress, complicated bereavement, child abuse and neglect, and school crises.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 5004

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This course is a review of challenges and opportunities that we may encounter in management of a supply and demand chain due to Globalization. The course is intended to highlight stumbling blocks which prevent seamless integration of operations, sales and marketing, and finance. Topics such as commercial and global risk, risk mitigating techniques, their use, and legal and ethical issues in a global setting will be discussed.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 2683

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This course aligns transportation management with a comprehensive overview of intermodal transportation and logistics management. We will look at recent trends in the field and its important stakeholders. Business logistics/supply chain will be viewed from managerial perspectives impacting physical distribution, materials management, transportation management, and logistics and supply chain management. The course covers the planning, organizing, and controlling of these activities including sub-activities such as transportation basics, inventory and location strategies.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2699

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This course examines the United States and worldwide commercial freight transportation systems, with an emphasis on international intermodal surface transportation. Modal/intermodal economic and operating characteristics will be surveyed, along with cost, pricing, and regulation of transportation services. In addition, students will be introduced to electronic data interchange (EDI) in commercial transportation and the use of computer software applications in transportation management—all with the goal of providing students with an in-depth understanding of the principles of intermodal transportation systems, a grasp of transportation terminology, and the interrelationship between the Defense Transportation System (DTS) and the global commercial transportation infrastructure.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 2702

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This course is designed to address the multi-billion dollar annual loss globally due to cargo theft. Topics include: asset protection in the transportation industry, analysis of freight system vulnerability, development of an effective cargo security plan, review of industry standards, and best practices in the industry.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Choose 3 credit hours from this section.

Course ID: 4757

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Preparation for the Emergency & Disaster Management and Homeland Security Master’s Thesis Capstone Seminar begins on day one of a student's graduate program of study. The theories, research methods and analytical skills, and substantive knowledge obtained through their master’s curriculum provide the basis for the master’s thesis. Students will support the thesis effort, including gathering bibliographic and reference materials on the thesis topic including developing individual course research papers that may become sections of the final master’s thesis. Students will address the requirements as described in the syllabus and classroom assignments. The master’s thesis proposal shall be prepared in accordance with the standards of the academic discipline. The master’s thesis proposal must provide a clear and lucid description of a topic and a proposed method of analyzing the problem. Students must have completed all other course work before taking the master’s thesis seminar. Capstone courses are 16 weeks long and cannot be taken along with any other course.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session A 16 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 05/25/25 Winter 2025 Session K 16 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 06/22/25 Winter 2025 Session C 16 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session A 16 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 08/24/25 Spring 2025 Session K 16 Week session

Course ID: 4948

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The School of Security and Global Studies Masters Project Capstone course gives students the opportunity to address issues of public importance that are directly or closely related to their own career, occupation, profession or current position. Creative projects as program capstones may derive from a wide variety of organizationally defined formats such as legislative proposals (local, state or federal), amicus briefs, standard operating procedures, training program manual, procedure manuals, organizational change proposals, communication plans, or recruitment plans to name but a few. The format will be proposed by the student and approved by the instructor. The creative project must demonstrate originality and will follow the style requirements set by the student's academic discipline. For example, a criminal justice student would present work in accordance with the current American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual. NOTE: It is mandatory for students to contact their Academic Advising team when they are 2 or 3 courses out from the capstone. Guidance on the format of the research study proposal and a sample proposal are contained in the APUS Research Study Manual. NOTE: This course may not be taken until all other courses are COMPLETED. THIS COURSE IS 16 WEEKS.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session A 16 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 05/25/25 Winter 2025 Session K 16 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 06/22/25 Winter 2025 Session C 16 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session A 16 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 08/24/25 Spring 2025 Session K 16 Week session

Courses Start Monthly

Next Courses Start Jan 6
Register by Jan 3

Admission Requirements

  • All APU master's degree/graduate certificate programs require a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA®).
  • Please read all graduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation.
  • There is no fee to complete the APU admission application for this program. View steps to apply.

CHEA® is a registered trademark of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. 

Materials Cost

Most courses in this program use Open Educational Resources (OER). These teaching, learning, and research materials are made available to you at no cost, meaning there are minimal book costs associated with earning this degree.

Technology fee: $85 per course

Need Help?

Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an APU admissions coach at 877-755-2787 or [email protected].

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Consumer Information

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1The University reserves the right to accept or deny credits according to policies outlined on our University website. Please see the University's transfer credit policy webpage for complete information.

*Cost Per Credit Hour

The Preferred Military Rate is $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and master's-level courses. This rate is available to all U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents.

See all military student benefits.

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