In a growing world, emergencies are becoming increasingly common. Unfortunately, emergencies happen daily at different levels: Pandemics like the 2020’s coronavirus, natural disasters, acts of terror, mass-shootings, etc. Emergency management professionals are in high demand to respond to these situations by preparing plans and procedures that will be used in emergencies. These seasoned professionals also handle emergencies in real-time by coordinating with government agencies to direct resources, personnel, and equipment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Emergency Managers earned median pay of $74,590 in 2019 with a growth rate of 5%. If you are looking into making Emergency Management as a career, having a bachelors will get you started, but getting a Master’s in Emergency Management Online will qualify for you for senior-level roles in this lucrative field. In this guide, we will walk you through all aspects of an Online Master’s in Emergency Management.
Yes, absolutely. Emergency Management is a field that is growing, just like any other profession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, competition for jobs in this field is expected to be strong. And a degree, primarily a master’s in emergency management online, will help career prospects.
Here are the top 10 Online Masters in Emergency Management programs for 2023:
<a href="https://www.onlinemasterscolleges.com/masters-in-emergency-management-online/">Master's in Emergency Management Online</a>
Code copied successfully!
College Name & Address | Tuition | Graduation Rate |
---|---|---|
#1 Oklahoma State University 107 Whitehurst, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078 | $5,531 | 61% |
#2 California State University, Long Beach 1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, California 90840 | $7,176 | 69% |
#3 Nova Southeastern University 3301 College Ave, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314 | $19,665 | 50% |
#4 George Town University 37th and O St NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20057 | $51,336 | 94% |
#5 Arizona State University 1475 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, Arizona 85257 | $6,384 | 48% |
#6 Southern New Hampshire University 2500 North River Road, Manchester, New Hampshire 03106 | $19,141 | 40% |
#7 Jacksonville State University 700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, Alabama 36265 | $9,600 | 42% |
#8 Adelphi University South Ave, Garden City, New York 11530 | $41,920 | 70% |
#9 Arkansas State University 2105 E. Aggie Road, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401 | $4,986 | 48% |
#10 Eastern Kentucky University 521 Lancaster Ave, Richmond, Kentucky 40475 | $9,900 | 47% |
#11 American Public University System 111 W Congress St, Charles Town, West Virginia 25414 | $6,615 | 42% |
#12 University of Maryland Global Campus 3501 University Blvd East, Adelphi, Maryland 20783 | $8,640 | 15% |
#13 Lander University 320 Stanley Avenue, Greenwood, South Carolina 29649 | $8,856 | 43% |
#14 John Jay College of Criminal Justice 524 W 59th St, New York, New York 10019 | $11,090 | 46% |
#15 Saint Leo University 33701 State Road 52, Saint Leo, Florida 33574 | $7,296 | 51% |
Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available
An Online Master’s Program in Emergency Management, like other graduate-level programs, consists of many courses. Typically, 30-35 credits are needed for graduation at many universities. Emergency Management also involves learning Operations and Project Management, Communication, and Leadership. In this section, we will go through the full details of the programs.
Emergency Management is a diverse field with many concentrations. Emergencies can happen anywhere, and there are a lot of varieties of emergencies. Examples include:
hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.
terrorist activities, mass shootings, chemical disasters, etc.
fire, industrial failures, etc.
Given the broad nature of emergencies, the study of Emergency Management is also comprehensive.
The main branches of emergency Management are:
Disaster Management – Read about Disaster Management Master’s Degree Online.
Crisis Management – Read about Master’s Degree in Crisis Management and Response.
And many universities that offer an Online Master’s in Emergency Management program, also offer some of the below concentrations:
Area of Focus | Description | Careers |
---|---|---|
Fire Science | Fire Science is a study of fire and its behavior. Students that enroll in studying fire science will learn about fire investigation, prevention, protection, and safety. Fire Science degrees help students learn about the usage and maintenance of firefighting equipment, fire codes, and laws, emergency medical training, etc. Students that have a master’s degree in fire science qualify to become Fire Chiefs and other senior roles within this field. This concentration of emergency management is usually offered as a master’s degree in fire and emergency management. Here are some universities that offer these programs: Here are some universities that offer master’s degrees in fire science. Anna Maria College Arizona State University Waldorf University Liberty University | Fire Chiefs Fire Inspectors Forensic Scientists Arson Investigators Emergency Managers |
Homeland Security | Homeland security is one of the essential branches of Emergency Management. Created after the September 11 attacks, this branch enables graduates to gain knowledge in crime intelligence, strategic planning, the psychology of terrorists, technical knowledge, weapons of mass destruction, information dissemination, etc. Many graduates end up working for the Department of Homeland Security at the Federal government, Drug Enforcement Agency, etc. This concentration of emergency management is usually offered as an online masters in emergency management and homeland security. Here are some universities that offer these programs: Auburn University at Montgomery Northeastern University Tulane University | Homeland Security Officers Response and Recovery Managers Security Analysts Intelligence Analysts Defense Analysts |
Biosecurity and Threat Management | Biosecurity is a field where professionals are tasked with protecting, mitigating, and preparing measures against the threat of biological agents and hazardous elements. In this field, students are equipped with skills to manage and mitigating threats to society, nations, and the world. Graduates learn technical skills such as using geographical information systems (GIS), pandemic control, along with management and leadership skills to handle threats in emergencies. Here are some universities that offer master’s in Biosecurity and Threat Management Arizona State University University of Maryland Global Campus | Threat Analysts Vulnerability Managers Epidemiologists Biologists |
Emergency Management is a field that involves many aspects. The emergency management curriculum can be divided into three categories:
Here are some of the courses you will find in an online master’s degree in emergency management:
Course | Description |
---|---|
Risk Management | Risk management in emergency management involves exploring detailed information about hazards, analyzing the risk, and vulnerabilities in various establishments. It also includes modeling, measuring, and assessing risk levels and coming up with strategies to mitigate those risks. |
Business Continuity Planning | The study of Business Continuity involves learning and creating plans to implement operation continuity after a disaster and ensuring that organizations continue to perform services even after an emergency. Students also learn about evacuation and relocation in the aftermath of a crisis. |
Emergency Management Law | Students will learn about the legal aspects and implications of emergency management. Students will familiarize themselves with the legal resources and the boundaries of what they can and cannot do during emergency management. |
Applied Emergency Management | In this course, students learn about emergency management principles and planning strategies. And they will use this knowledge to explore various emergency scenarios and how to apply the emergency management principles to those scenarios. |
Security Management | Security Management is a crucial aspect of Emergency Management. This course exposes students to various challenges and responses to scenarios that include the security of public places like shopping malls, airports, etc. This course also teaches about surveillance technologies, communication information security, etc. |
Crisis Communication | Communication is key to any situation. This is especially true in emergencies. In this course, students will learn about strategies and methodologies when communicating with others in the emergency response teams. Time of the essence in most emergencies and this course trains students on effective communication and tactics involved. |
Applicants to an Online Master’s in Emergency Management degree must satisfy certain entrance requirements that are specific to the program offering school. The requirements vary from school to school, and most schools will need the following:
Students must have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum of 3.0 GPA. But most schools accept applications from students that do not have a 3.0 GPA as long as they provide professional potential.
Students should submit transcripts from their undergraduate degree programs. Most schools want this submission in an unopened official transcript.
Students should write a statement describing why they want to enroll in this program, their career goals, and academic and professional background.
Students should submit two letters of recommendation. Letters should write by other past teachers, mentors, people of significant influence in the student’s life.
The timeline to finish a Master’s in Emergency Management Online varies from program to program. However, the average length of these programs is two years.
Many schools strive to get accreditation as get accredited by an independent body attests to the quality of the programs being offered by the school. Read about what accreditation is and why it matters in our accreditation guide.
When choosing an online master’s in emergency management, it is essential to choose a program that has been accredited by a national or regional accreditation body. Here is a list of bodies that accredit emergency management programs:
Disaster Management is a subject that deals with preparing and recovering from disasters, relocation of the affected people, and handling rapid response. Students that enroll in a Disaster Management Master’s Degree Online can learn about the economics of disaster recovery, history, response, and recovery. Students also gain knowledge in how to plan a recovery, providing relief and case analysis of crisis and disaster.
Graduates from a Disaster Management Masters can expect to work in governmental agencies, large corporations that have disaster recovery teams, humanitarian organizations, and international agencies such as Red Cross, World Health Organization, etc. Below are some career titles for graduates:
Here are some universities that provide a Disaster Management Master’s Degree Online:
American Military University offers an Online Master of Arts in Emergency and Disasters Management that can be finished online. The program focuses on the history, response, recovery, and economics within the emergency and disaster management field. Students learn about Mission planning, providing relief and recovery efforts from expert faculty that have worked as emergency managers before. Admission requirements include an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. Graduation requirements include earning 36 credits. The cost per credit is $370. Active-duty service members, their spouses/dependents, National Guard members and Reservists pay tuition that is capped at $250/credit.
Jefferson University offers an Online Master’s program in Disasters Medicine and Management. The program is a partnership between the university and the Department of Emergency Medicine of the Albert Einstein Health Network. This program is designed to educate medical, public safety, and defense professionals to handle the effects of natural and human-made disasters. The program can be completed online, barring a 6.5-day on-campus session during summer. The program also provides a Dean’s Scholarship of $121 or $167 off per credit. The tuition for each credit is $1,190.
Crisis Management is a branch of Emergency Management that deals with preventing crises, handling crisis to reduce the impact, and preparing for a crisis. An Online Master’s in Crisis Management Degree trains students in all phases of crisis management that includes the pre-crisis phase, during the crisis phase, and the post-crisis phase. Students learn about developing strategies involved in dealing with sudden negative events and their consequences. Students get hands-on experience about every aspect of dealing with a crisis, such as communication, rapid response, de-escalation tactics, risk mitigation, etc.
Graduates from a Master’s Degree in Crisis Management and Response can expect to work in governmental agencies, first responder groups, media companies, and department of homeland security-related agencies. Below are some of the career titles:
Here are some universities that provide an Online Masters in Crisis Management and Response:
University of Nevada at Las Vegas offers a Master’s Degree in Emergency and Crisis Management degree that can be completed entirely online. The program focuses on training students with leadership skills for current and future emergency and crisis management. Students go through the exercise of creating and analyzing emergency plans. The program’s admission requirements include having an undergraduate degree with at least a 2.75 GPA, a GRE score. Graduation requirements include achieving 36 credits. Tuition is $297.25 for in-state students.
Having a master’s degree in emergency management greatly enhances for professionals in this field. Graduates typically work for governmental agencies, hospitals, professional services, etc. Individuals with a master’s degree in emergency management may qualify for leadership roles as well. Here are some career titles that emergency management graduates may qualify for.
Job Title | Median Salary | Job Growth (2018-2028) |
---|---|---|
Emergency Management Directors | $74, 590 | 5% |
Top Executives | $104,690 | 6% |
Budget Analysts | $76,540 | 4% |
Fire Inspectors | $60,230 | 8% |
Intelligence Analysts | $81,983 | 4% |
Source: Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Payscale.com, Recruiter.com
The cost of higher education is increasing rapidly. And paying for graduate education is more expensive on bachelor’s degrees. Many organizations offer various kinds of financial aid, scholarships, and assistance for graduate students. Read more about financial aid, scholarships, and other forms of financial help for online master’s students on best financial guide.
Several institutions offer scholarships, financial aid, and other forms of assistance to emergency management students. Here are some of those organizations:
You can get ahead of the curve with education and career updates. Our newsletter explores the latest articles, top-ranked online master’s degree programs, scholarships, and career salaries and outlooks.
Note: By entering your email address and clicking “Sign Me Up,” you agree to be contacted by OnlineMastersColleges.com for educational products or services. You can unsubscribe anytime.