Best Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in Emergency Management

Emergency management may sometimes be offered as its own concentration for degrees in related fields, like management or criminal justice. However, some undergraduate and graduate degree programs in emergency management offer additional concentrations to help students focus their studies. At the bachelor's level, students typically need to take a few courses in their given area of concentration in addition to their core emergency management courses. Some available concentrations or emphasis areas may include:

• Homeland security
• Emergency management and disaster response
• Public relations
• Public administration
• Fire administration
• Cybersecurity and information technology management
• Emergency medical and public health management
• Web and mobile app technology

Typically, students in an online bachelor's degree program in emergency management take some general education courses, core emergency management courses, and electives or concentration courses. Core courses in the field help equip students with an understanding of emergencies and the needed responses, as well as further develop students' management and leadership skills. Some online bachelor's programs may conclude with a capstone and/or applied project of some kind. Common coursework for these online degrees may include:

• Emergency planning
• Emergency management
• Counter terrorism
• Homeland security
• Cyber crime
• Ethics/leadership
• Public administration
• Natural disasters
• Emergency communication
• Legal issues

Most online bachelor's degree programs in emergency management are designed to be completed in 4 years or just under 4 years for full-time students. However, students wishing to complete their degree faster may be able to benefit from some schools' generous transfer policy. These transfer agreements may allow students to transfer in a significant amount of credit from an associate's degree program or other undergraduate work and count towards their bachelor's degree. On the other hand, students who need to work while completing their degree may consider a part-time program.

Accreditation is available at both the institution- and program-level and indicates that an institution and/or program has met academic guidelines used to ensure quality. Many colleges and universities that offer online bachelor's programs in emergency management have regional accreditation for all of the academic programs they offer. This accreditation also allows students at the institution to qualify for federal financial aid opportunities. Regional accreditation may come from groups like the Higher Learning Commission or the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). These accreditation bodies are approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Some undergraduate and/or graduate degree programs may then have an additional level of accreditation that is specific to the subject area. While bachelor's programs in emergency management may not have additional accreditation, some of these programs may have memberships in emergency management-related organizations, such as the FEMA Higher Education Program and the University and Agency Partnership Initiative (UAPI). This partnership is offered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and helps prepare students for a career in the field.

Depending on the state, some who work in leadership positions in emergency management may be required to earn certification. There are several different certifications available in the field, which typically require renewal after a given period of time. Professionals in emergency management may pursue the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credential offered by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). Another option is the Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) designation provided by the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRI).

Due to the diverse job options available to graduates with an emergency management degree, there is a wide range of additional licenses/certifications that may be required based on position and/or industry. For instance, becoming a Certified Emergency Nurse requires different nursing-related certifications. Other healthcare-related administrators may need certifications from groups like the American College of Health Care Administrators.

There is a wide range of emergency-related careers that may benefit from having a degree in emergency management. The education and job requirements of these careers vary greatly by position. For example becoming a 911 emergency dispatcher requires different skills than becoming an emergency department assistant or emergency room technician and different education requirements than an emergency medical technician. There are also many different careers available in a variety of industries, including the government, business, the military, healthcare, education, and more. Some possible job titles for graduates in emergency management include:

• Emergency management/services director
• Hospital emergency preparedness administrator
• Emergency response team leaders
• Disaster recovery manager
• Homeland security specialist
• Safety director
• Security director
• Business continuity manager

How to Become an Emergency Management Director

Students wishing to become an emergency management specialist or director need to have at least a bachelor's degree. Usually, this degree is in emergency management, but may also be in areas like business or public health. Most of these directors also need many years of work experience in areas like disaster planning or emergency response. This experience may come through careers in the military, law enforcement, and other emergency management fields. Some positions may require professionals to earn certification in the field after being hired.

Emergency management directors plan for disasters and emergencies and then help lead the response to these events. They usually have to work closely with different levels of government, elected officials, and other community leaders to coordinate resources, analyze the damage, and review emergency plans. As of 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that emergency management directors made a median annual salary of $74,590. The job outlook for these professionals from 2019 to 2029 was 4%, per the BLS.

How to Become a Medical and Health Services Manager

Medical and health services management may encompass positions like hospital emergency preparedness administrators and other emergency management leaders in the healthcare field. These managers usually need at least a bachelor's degree, but may need to meet other specific education requirements based on position. It is also important for medical and health services managers to have prior work experience, whether that experience is clinical or administrative. Licensure and certification for these professionals also vary by position.

Medical and health services managers oversee the daily operations of their health-related department or organization. They help ensure that the organization is meeting regulations, plan schedules, manage staff, communicate with other leaders in the organization, and more. Medical and health services managers made a median annual salary of $100,980, as of 2019, per the BLS. The BLS also reported these managers had a job outlook of 32% from 2019 to 2029.

Postsecondary education can be expensive and students should figure out all of their financial aid options. This process typically begins by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and seeing what federal loans and/or grants they may qualify for. Outside of federal aid, students can apply and compete for a plethora of grants and scholarships awarded at the local, regional, and national levels. Some of these awards may be subject-specific.

In the case of emergency management, students can pursue scholarship opportunities from professional organizations in the field and schools that offer programs in the field. For instance, the IAEM offers the IAEM Scholarship Program that is available internationally to undergraduate and graduate students studying emergency management. Schools may also have their own scholarship opportunities for emergency management students, like North Dakota State University, which offers the George A. Youngs Jr. Emergency Management Scholarship for $250 and the Emergency Management Arc Scholarship for $500.

When trying to decide between different online bachelor's degree programs in emergency management, students should consider several different factors and/or characteristics of the program. Specifically, for emergency management, students may want to look for a program that is connected to a professional emergency organization, like FEMA.

Students may also want to search for a program that offers a specific area of concentration to help them prepare for their desired career. For instance, students who want to work in fire response would want to look for programs that offer a fire administration concentration.

Finally, students should decide what type of degree they would like to earn. Typically, BA degrees include more liberal arts courses, while BS degrees may be more technical in nature and have more science- and math-based courses. Other factors to consider when choosing an online program include accreditation, tuition rates, and program format.

Professional organizations in emergency management help professionals in the field connect, share ideas, and find resources for the field. These organizations may be available at the national or international levels and offer various events and career development opportunities. A few emergency management groups include:

• International Association of Emergency Managers- The IAEM not only offers scholarships and professional certification for emergency managers, but provides membership, various events and webinars, and career information.
• National Emergency Management Association- The NEMA offers membership and is involved in government relations and policymaking. Professionals can benefit from the group's forums, webinars, online library, and reports.
• Disaster Recovery Institute International- The DRI is one of the oldest and biggest nonprofit organization in the field. It aims to provide professionals with educational courses and certifications, as well as field-related events and news.