Online Bachelor's Degrees in Emergency Management: Comparing Programs
This guide walks you down the right path for your education by showing you quality programs, expected curriculum topics, job possibilities, and important resources for emergency management students and professionals.
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If you’re the kind of person who likes to plan ahead, getting a bachelor’s degree in emergency management might be a great option for you. A degree in emergency management is versatile, so you have a dozen or more job titles that you could pursue with salaries ranging from $50,000 to more than $100,000 per year.
Whether you have a knack for creating and testing systems, like to educate the public about safety, or like to help people who have suffered after a disaster has struck, professionals in emergency management can make a large impact in whatever sector they choose for their career.
This guide will help you get started on the path to a career in emergency management. We’ll spotlight several quality programs for an overall idea of what a program would look like. Then, we’ll dive into courses you’re likely to take, discuss the importance of accreditation, and answer additional questions in our FAQ section. Keep reading to learn more about this potential new career for you.
Spotlight on Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management Online Programs
The first bonus of pursuing an emergency management bachelor’s degree online is that there are flexible options. Most emergency management programs are available entirely online or have some online components. This section will highlight a few high-quality online programs to help you see the broader picture of what a program like this entails, including expected courses, program duration, program format, and potential costs.
The American Military University offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Emergency Disaster and Management that requires 120 credits for completion. Courses start every month online and last 8-16 weeks. To bring the most flexibility and affordability, along with frequent class start dates the university permits students to transfer up to 90 credits from previously attended colleges. Classes cost $350/credit for civilians and $250/credit for people in the military and their qualifying family members.
Students pursuing the BA in Emergency Disaster and Management will learn the main goals of disaster management, different response strategies for various emergency and disaster incidents, disaster cycle phases, and the roles and responsibilities of people and agencies in an emergency and disaster incident. The program will also explore crisis management, emergency preparedness, counterterrorism, risk assessment, and hazard identification. All students must choose 24 credits of concentration courses ranging from Operational Crisis Management to Adult Learning Theory to Chemistry of Explosives.
Delivery:
- Online
- Part-Time
- Full-Time
Undergraduate Programs:
- Bachelor of Arts in Emergency Disaster and Management
Specialization Options:
- Students will choose 24 credits from a list of specialization courses
The bachelor’s degree in emergency management from Purdue Global is available entirely online and requires the completion of 33 courses. Students can pursue an optional concentration in business foundations as part of their electives and can earn credits for previous coursework and experience. Tuition costs $371/credit hour. Qualified military members and their families are eligible for tuition discounts and can receive credit for prior military experience.
Throughout the program, students will learn about emergency management life cycle stages, including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. They will also be equipped with the leadership and technical skills to help them adapt to future challenges. Upon graduation, students are eligible to be emergency management directors. Course examples include Preparedness and Planning for Emergency Management, Emergency Management Exercise Design and Evaluation, Mitigation and Risk Assessment in Emergency Management, Disaster Policy in Emergency Management, and Strategies for Intergovernmental Effectiveness in Emergency Management.
Delivery:
- Online
- Part-Time
- Full-Time
Undergraduate Programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management
Specialization Options:
- Concentration in Business Foundations
Available entirely online or on campus, the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management at Millersville University is typically pursued part-time by students. It’s a degree-completion program designed for students who have recently graduated from a community college with a 2-year degree or have at least 30 transferable credits. Throughout the program, you’ll obtain all-hazards knowledge from a scientific perspective and study these events’ global, national, regional, and local impacts. Other covered topics in the program include crisis communications, natural hazards and associated impacts, risk assessment and mitigation, disaster response and recovery, and the social dimension of disasters.
Cohorts begin every August and January, and students will finish their degree with an internship or research project. If you can transfer in 60 credits, you’ll likely be able to complete your degree in two years of part-time study (2-3 courses per semester). Online courses are typically available asynchronously, making it easier for working students to finish their degrees.
Delivery:
- Online
- On-campus
- Part-Time
- Full-Time
Undergraduate Programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management
Specialization Options:
- None
What You’ll Learn in an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management
Emergency management programs are pretty similar, but you’ll find nuances within the class descriptions and requirements. Some bachelor’s degrees in emergency management even pair emergency management with related safety topics such as fire safety, natural disasters, or homeland security. Below are some fundamental courses you’ll likely find in some form in the curriculum guide of many programs.
Common Courses in Bachelor of Emergency Management Programs
Emergency Planning
This course helps students recognize the importance of performing risk analysis and formulating a comprehensive plan, followed by vigorous and continuous testing. Topics include threat assessment, risk analysis, plan formulation, training and exercise programs, emergency operations center (EOC) staffing, coordination with supporting agencies, the importance of liaison continuity, public awareness programs, actual incident management, and effective follow-up analysis. Various actual case studies are discussed.
Fiscal Management for Emergency Management Operations
This course examines the public budgetary process and related financial management techniques. It reviews public budgeting systems, public revenue, and expenditures, focusing on government and nonprofit sectors. Students will learn about public organizations’ basic accounting and financial requirements, and will become familiar with analyzing tax and spending policies. The major topics covered include understanding financial reports, budgeting preparation, and grants and contracts administration. Applications to current public issues and policy debates are integral to the course.
Public Service Research Methods
This course prepares students to conduct research at the undergraduate level. It explores research methods utilized in emergency-related data analysis. Students will learn how to analyze emergency research methodologies regarding current issues and trends with fire and emergency services organizations. They will also learn how to utilize qualitative or quantitative methodologies and how to prepare a literature review on emergency-related topics. The course covers four basic approaches to social research: 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.
Emergency Legal Considerations
This course explores emergency preparation and services in relation to the complex legal systems of the United States, individual states, and local jurisdictions. Students will study administrative agencies’ work in the executive branch of the U.S. government, with additional material on administrative agencies in state and local governments. Topics include the judicial system, legal processes, administrative procedures, law of torts, contract and agency government business regulations, business ethics, corporate social responsibility, and the uniform commercial code.
Training and Management Development
This course will cover the theory and practice of employee training programs, needs assessments, learning theories, instructional design, training techniques and evaluation, management development, and career development techniques and practices. It will provide students with experience in planning, facilitating, and documenting emergency management exercises. Students will analyze emergency management solutions and determine the distribution of available resources during an emergency exercise. Students will also examine how an emergency manager influences these events, design a plan to test systems utilized in the process, and construct an exercise program.
Accreditation for your Online Emergency Management Program
Accreditation is a review process to determine if educational programs meet defined quality standards. It’s important that you attend an accredited college because it will affect your ability to transfer credits into your bachelor’s degree program in emergency management. It also affects if you can receive financial aid from the government, be accepted into a graduate-level emergency management program, and sometimes if you are hired after graduation. Though there’s no program-specific accrediting body for emergency management, you can still ensure that the college you attend is regionally accredited by agencies like the Higher Learning Commission or others found on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation website.
FAQs About an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management
There’s always a lot to know about earning an emergency management bachelor’s degree online, and you’re bound to have many questions. Below, we’ve compiled answers to the most common questions people ask about this degree program, and we hope you’ll find the answers you’re seeking.
Can I earn my bachelor’s degree in emergency management 100% online?
Yes. In our spotlight section above, you’ll find three programs that allow students to complete their emergency management degrees entirely online. Other programs are available around the country. However, keep in mind that some programs may require an internship or research project in emergency management to graduate, and these aren’t always available entirely online. Be sure to ask about this requirement when researching programs in which you have interest.
How long does it take to earn a bachelor’s in emergency management degree online?
The answer to this question depends on your current situation and the program you choose to attend. An emergency management bachelor’s degree online typically requires four years of full-time study (120 semester credits/180 quarter credits). This can change depending on the number of credits you complete each semester, the number of transfer credits that count toward your degree, if any of your previous experience qualifies for college credit, and if courses are offered year-round or only at certain times during the year.
What are the admissions requirements for online emergency management degrees?
Typical admission requirements for online emergency management degrees involve sending in your high school transcript if you’re a first-time student or transcripts if you have completed any college credit before applying. Most universities also require students to complete an admissions application, pay applicable application fees, submit any references/letters of recommendation, complete any personal essays or statements of intent, and have a minimum GPA of 2.5-3.0. As always, admission requirements depend on the school you’re attending, so be sure to check those out if you’re considering pursuing a particular school’s bachelor’s degree in emergency management.
How much does an online emergency management bachelor’s degree cost?
The cost depends on the school that offers the degree. You can reference school costs for the ones we spotlighted above or look at the tuition costs for several other schools in the chart below. These are only estimates as each student has a different situation, but we hope it gives you an idea of how much tuition typically costs for an emergency management bachelor’s degree online.
Keep in mind that tuition isn’t the only cost associated with attending college. For instance, you can eliminate the cost of travel if your program is available entirely online. Even with that savings, you still need to account for fees, books, and potential technology costs. If you are seeking ideas on how to ease the overall cost, there are a lot of ideas in our financial aid guide.
How much can you make with a bachelor’s degree in emergency management?
There are diverse careers that can be obtained with a bachelor’s degree in emergency management, so it ultimately comes down to what path you’d like to follow. Here is a list of several job titles that you could pursue and their average salaries according to Indeed.
- Public Information Officer ($118,328 per year)
- Crisis Response Specialist ($59,770 per year)
- Safety Specialist ($68,997 per year)
- Operations Manager ($71,166 per year)
- Disaster Recovery Manager ($77,062 per year)
- Emergency Services Manager ($81,364 per year)
- Environmental Health and Safety Officer ($103,761 per year)
Are there any certifications or licenses that you need to work in fire science?
The short answer is no. However, there are two nationally recognized certifications that you can obtain to give you a competitive edge when finding a job in emergency management. Both are offered by the International Association of Emergency Managers.
AEM Certification Requirements:
100 hours of emergency management training (considered specific to the profession) and 100 hours of general management training (content that can be applied beyond emergency management).
- No more than 25% of hours can be in a single topic.
- Must be completed within the last 10 years.
- Three references: Letters of reference need to be signed and on letterhead and include contact information.
- Certification exam: You must pass the multiple-choice 120-question exam. Exam details can be found on the Prep Course & Exam Dates webpage.
CEM Certification Requirements:
Candidates must meet all AEM requirements above in addition to the following:
- Emergency management work history: 3 years of comprehensive emergency management experience.
- Emergency management experiences: Participation in two functional exercises, a major public event, a full-scale exercise, or an actual disaster.
- Professional contributions: Submit six separate contributions completed within the last 10 years.
- Degree requirement: A bachelor’s degree or higher in emergency management reduces the disaster/emergency management training requirement, depending on when the degree was earned. Candidates cannot use their degree to satisfy both the requirements for education and training hours.
Additional Resources for Emergency Management Students and Professionals
We understand that starting a new path to a career in emergency management involves support from others. Below, we’ve compiled several resources that can help you both as you earn your bachelor’s degree and after graduation when you move into a professional position.
- IAEM
The IAEM website provides certifications for new and seasoned emergency management professionals worldwide. Members can also access communities, groups, events, and specialized resources. - Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP)
Many cities and companies have emergency or disaster programs. EMAP is an independent non-profit organization that fosters excellence and accountability in these emergency management programs by establishing credible standards in a peer-reviewed accreditation process. - Student Training and Education in Public Service (STEPS)
This guide compiles the best resources for emergency management students, including degree-specific financial aid, college campus resources, and networking opportunities. - Emergency Management as a Career
Emergency management is a diverse career field with favorably projected future job growth. There are opportunities in public service at all levels of government, plus in education, healthcare, and private business. This article from the University of Washington outlines important steps you should take to get ahead in the emergency management field. - What Can You Do With An Emergency Management Degree
This STEPS article helps students learn more about the different types of emergency management programs, what you can do with your emergency management bachelor’s degree online, and your job prospects after graduation. - Disaster Recovery Journal
This journal delivers in-depth, how-to knowledge of business continuity planning. Its distinctive ability to take readers deeper into disaster issues has made this publication the most read business continuity publication globally. It also offers mentoring, webinars, events, and educational programs to emergency management professionals. - Before, During, and After (FEMA Podcast)
This podcast is published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It offers new content every few weeks, with episodes analyzing contemporary emergency management challenges and exploring how new technology helps professionals address those challenges. - EM Weekly Podcast
This podcast is produced by and for emergency managers. It covers the latest in technology, preparedness, strategy, and tactics. Its goal is to provide you with real insights into the world of emergency management and allows you to get to know the people behind the job. - Epsilon Pi Phi
Epsilon Pi Phi is the first and only emergency management honor society to become nationally recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. It was created so students in emergency management programs could be recognized for academic success and contributions to the profession. - National Emergency Management Association (NEMA)
NEMA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association dedicated to enhancing public safety by improving the nation’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from all kinds of emergencies, disasters, and threats to security. NEMA is the professional association for emergency management directors from all 50 states, eight U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.