Best Online Master's Degrees in Emergency Management

Emergency management professionals need to stay constantly informed of the latest knowledge and innovations in their field. That's why Study.com ranked these top eight online master's degrees in emergency management using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Most programs offer lower tuition than in-person programs and flexible enrollment options for full-time professionals. Interdisciplinary coursework, along with opportunities to apply the student's current real-world experiences to coursework, prepare students for leadership positions and specialized roles in the field of emergency management.

1. Florida International University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$11,106	58%	63%	90%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

Florida International University's Academy for International Disaster Preparedness in Miami offers a comprehensive online M.A. program in Disaster Management taught by faculty with diverse field experience, from leading city emergency management departments to working on emergency planning and response teams for the Olympics. Online students complete two courses per eight-week term with a cohort of no more than 25 students, offering opportunities for support and teamwork among classmates. Students gain practical experience through a three-day disaster field exercise held annually in Miami and through a competitive paid internship program. By the end of the master's program, students complete 95% of the requirements to become a Certified Emergency Manager through the International Association of Emergency Managers.

2. Arkansas State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$6,422	80%	53%	97%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

Arkansas State University's one-year M.S. in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, with its flexible start dates and emphasis on the practical application of learning, is ideal for emergency response professionals seeking new, specialized career roles or advancement to administrative posts. Students begin with a rigorous study of ethics, theory and methodology before undertaking practicum or independent research. While the campus is located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, online students can apply their real-world experiences toward their degree no matter where they are with a capstone internship option and faculty-approved mentorships. A-State online students are each assigned a teaching assistant with experience in their field of study, further expanding the student's support network.

3. Arkansas Tech University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$6,737	95%	38%	96%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

As the first program to receive accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Education, Arkansas Tech's M.S. in Emergency Management and Homeland Security integrates practical and scholarly perspectives on the field for existing career professionals and for aspiring doctoral candidates. Students here have the opportunity to study unique topics like extremism, border security and other emergency management policy issues, and many go on to pursue careers in policy. Based in Russellville, Arkansas, the school offers in-state tuition to students living in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas, making this online program a regional player.

4. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$12,256	76%	35%	88%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits

In the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Master of Security and Disaster Management program, students can prepare for the unique risks present in upper latitudes with a concentration in Arctic security. The Center for Arctic Security and Resilience presents opportunities to hear from experts around the world at virtual conferences and seminars. All students receive in-state tuition for the two-year program, and optional prerequisite courses in the principles of emergency management and community planning make this program ideal for students without a background in emergency management. The master's program is a member of both the FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Program and the Department of Homeland Security University and Agency Partnership Initiative, ensuring its learning outcomes are in line with industry and government standards.

5. Saint Leo University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7,296	72%	49%	100%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits

This St. Leo, Florida-based private university boasts small class sizes and a history of supporting active-military and veteran students, which extend to its online learning courses. Core courses for the M.S. in Emergency and Disaster Management emphasize the social, psychological, and political dimensions of emergency management, adhering to the university's value of service. Students take only one class at a time and complete each class in eight weeks, allowing current full-time professionals to complete the program in two years. For current fire service professionals, the concentration in fire science administration offers courses on personnel administration and fire service organizational dynamics.

6. Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$11,930	79%	56%	88%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

Millersville University of Pennsylvania brings together industry experts and faculty at the Center for Disease Research and Education to develop courses in the master's program reflecting current research and best practices, which working students can put to use in the capstone practicum course to upgrade their own employer's emergency response plan. Students with an interest in the relational side of emergency management can pursue an interdisciplinary communication program track or apply for a dual degree with an M.S. in Emergency Management and a Master of Social Work. By enrolling as a non-degree-seeking student or by applying for the Emergency and Disaster Management graduate certificate program, students earn credit toward the master's degree before committing to the full master's program.

7. Lander University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$9,856	43%	45%	100%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

Greenwood, South Carolina-based Lander University's M.S. in Emergency Management offers a great deal of flexibility to students with ongoing careers, offering credit for prior field experience and a fully online program. At any point during the two-year program, students may put studies on hold due to job responsibilities for up to a year. Faculty members have decades of experience in state and national-level emergency planning, defense and healthcare management. By working with FEMA, the National Guard and other employers in the field to develop courses, the program curriculum is particularly robust and offers students opportunities to complete requirements for FEMA training and other professional certifications.

8. Thomas Jefferson University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$21,978	66%	70%	99%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

Students in the M.S. in Disaster Medicine and Management program at Philadelphia's Thomas Jefferson University have access to several professional development and networking opportunities within and outside of classwork. All students complete at least 100 hours of experiential learning, which may include volunteer experiences, mentorships, and community outreach projects. The online graduate program also includes a one-week on-campus conference with lectures, skills labs, and a full-scale disaster simulation drill. Students have access to additional learning and professional networking resources through the Jefferson Trauma Education Network, Saint Louis University's Master of Public Health partnership and the Naval Postgraduate School University and Agency Partnership Initiative.

To get a more in-depth look at our school ranking methodology, please visit Study.com's ranking methodology page.

Tuition information is based on published tuition and required fees, per data by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Online master's emergency management degrees have gained popularity since the 2001 terror attacks on the World Trade Center, and are ideal for students who wish to devote themselves to rewarding, high-level governmental and non-governmental careers as public servants.

There are several advantages to online learning, including flexible, self-paced courses; savings on transportation, tuition, and educational materials; and more program options to choose from outside of a student's geographical region. In addition to attaining advanced emergency management expertise, students may also gain several transferable competencies through distance learning itself; such as time management, organization, communication, self-discipline, and technical skills.

How Long Does It Take to Earn an Online Master's in Emergency Management?

Full-time students enrolled in online master's degree programs in emergency management are usually able to complete their degrees in about two years; however, part-time students may take around three years to earn their degrees.

Most online graduate programs offer either 16-week or 8-week courses, and some schools allow students to enroll in an accelerated program, as well. Other factors that may impact the time it takes to earn an online master's degree include whether students choose to enroll in summer course offerings or if they must fulfill additional program requirements, internships, or seminars.

Distance learning master's degrees in emergency management usually offer students wide-ranging options to enroll in online public administration courses and cutting-edge emergency management topics. Some programs allow students to specialize in a specific study track, while a master's degree in management or public administration may offer an emergency management concentration. Students may also have the opportunity to pursue a thesis or non-thesis track.

In most instances, a non-thesis track emphasizes practical learning in the emergency management field and typically culminates in a terminal degree. A non-thesis track may also require a capstone project of some sort for students to demonstrate and apply their understanding of core concepts. A thesis track, on the other hand, focuses on academic research and investigation into emergency management; and students may choose to pursue a doctoral program upon completing their master's degrees.

Emergency Management Foundational Courses

Online master's programs in emergency management vary by school, however, students can expect to take similar variations of the following foundational courses:

Principles of Emergency Management

This course typically introduces several emergency management concepts and theme such as: leadership, response and recovery, risk communications, risk assessment, terrorism, and a general history of the field. Oftentimes, these courses introduce students to the National Incident Management System and the National Preparedness System, which serve as a framework for crisis management methodologies. Some course offerings may require students to interview emergency managers or visit an emergency operations center as part of their assignments.

Planning and Preparedness

This course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and tools for developing effective action plans for various kinds of crisis situations, such as climate change, economics, ecological disasters, energy, common-pool resources, and social justice. Typically, students will review real-world case studies of human-induced and natural disasters, as well as the different strategies used to develop crisis management programs. Other course topics may include risk assessment, resilience planning, and the most up-to-date Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines.

Interagency Emergency Management

This course aims to provide an overview of multi-agency cooperation at the federal, state, and local levels in which these different groups work together to achieve emergency management planning, response, and recovery objectives. Students may explore the management outlines provided by the National Response Framework (NRF) and NIMS with an emphasis on public-private disaster response alliances.

Emergency Management Specialist and Elective Courses

In addition to the foundational courses offered in online graduate-level emergency management curriculums, there are several specialist and electives courses for students to enroll in, as well:

Hazard Mitigation

This course usually provides a summary of natural and human-induced hazards that result in loss, including the ways in which policies, programs, and community management impact mitigation and recovery strategies. Students may examine case studies of real-world disasters, policies, reports, and strategic plans to better understand hazard governance and risk reduction.

Cybersecurity

This course tends to explore cyberinfrastructure and the impact technology has on several emergency management components such as: security, information dissemination, communication, task management, and other operational features. Students in this course may further investigate various preparation, mitigation, and recovery strategies as they pertain to economic, societal, and technological emergencies and public crises.

Strategic Planning and Management

This course is designed to provide an overview of organizational emergency planning, including operational strategies, leadership roles, goal setting, communication initiatives, and stakeholder alliances. Students may examine past histories in order to draw correlations with contemporary crises, as well as to better understand how organizations utilize strategic planning to implement crisis action plans, effective messaging, and response tactics.

Licensure and Certification in Emergency Management

Depending on an individual's chosen career path, credentialing may be mandatory; however, some emergency management professionals may opt to pursue non-compulsory credentialing to validate their field expertise and skills.

The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) offers the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) and Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) credentials, which may be necessary licensure to work in some states and/or agencies. Candidates for the AEM or CEM must meet specific education and professional experience criteria (e.g., 100 hours of training or three years of management experience), submit an essay, and pass a comprehensive exam.

The Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRI) also offers several individual or organizational certifications in disaster management in the business sector, cybersecurity, healthcare, government, or risk management. While each certification has its own eligibility requirements, most require that individuals meet specific education and professional criteria, fill out an online application, submit a series of essays on emergency management topics (related to their intended credential), and pass a comprehensive exam. Individuals must recertify their DRI credentials every two years.

To enroll in an online master's degree program in emergency management, students should submit an online application to their prospective schools. Application requirements and additional program criteria may vary by college or university, so students should visit the program websites to determine what information and supplemental documents are needed for consideration. We will review common graduate admissions criteria in the next section.

After submitting the online application (in which some colleges may charge a nominal fee), students should immediately request any test scores and official undergraduate transcripts from their previous college to be sent directly to their intended school's admissions office, as this process often takes a few days.

Students with questions regarding their application, required documentation, or status of their admissions review can contact an academic advisor at the school. Additionally, students may benefit from creating a checklist for each school or program that details the admissions requirements and coinciding submission deadlines.

Admissions into an online emergency management graduate program can be rather competitive, and students may need to demonstrate a high level of academic achievement for consideration. In addition to submitting the online application and official transcripts, additional admissions criteria may include:

• Holding a minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0
• A current resume highlighting the student's academic and professional experience, volunteer work, skills, and honors
• A personal statement regarding their interest in the program or career aspirations
• One or two letters of recommendation from faculty members or mentors

The majority of online master's degree programs do not require students to submit their Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, however, students should speak with their admissions representative to make sure that it is not a requirement for individual programs. For more information on admissions requirements, students should once again contact their academic advisors for guidance.

Graduates with emergency management master's degrees may pursue several careers in governmental and non-governmental agencies, organizations, businesses, healthcare, research, and academia. While most public service careers do not require an advanced emergency management degree (e.g., first responder, fire rescue, or community health worker), obtaining a master's degree may give professionals a competitive edge in seeking high-level positions, such as managerial or city administrator careers.

Graduate-level emergency management majors are typically critical thinkers with strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. They also usually possess leadership skills in order to train other emergency personnel and more effectively respond to public crises.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2019, individuals who worked in emergency management and related careers had an annual median salary of:

• Emergency Management Directors: $74,590
• Environmental Specialists: $71,360
• General or Operational Managers: $100,780
• Health and Safety Engineers: $91,410
• Information Security Analysts: $99,730
• Mental Health Counselors: $42,840

Job Outlook for a Master's in Emergency Management

The emergency management field has career opportunities well beyond the scope of disaster relief. Individuals with master's degrees in emergency management may fill positions in management, government, community and social services, and mental health counseling at the federal, state, and local levels. Additionally, many individuals with an emergency management background may work in unrelated careers and be called on to respond when a crisis occurs.

Openings for disaster management specialist or director positions are usually dependent on state budgets and tend to be rather limited. However, the need for emergency planning and response structure puts the job growth for this career at 4 percent (2019-2029) according to the BLS.

Emergency management professionals who work in the environmental field also anticipate job growth of 8 percent (2019-2029). As the global population and environmental hazard risks increase, the BLS anticipates a need for environmental specialists to analyze ecological challenges (climate change, spills, etc.) and develop effective solutions.

Additionally, individuals who work as general and operations managers are projected to have a job outlook of 6 percent in the coming decade, according to the BLS. Businesses and organizations depend on these managerial professionals to ensure their organizations run smoothly.

How to Become an Emergency Management Director

Emergency management directors typically lead planning and response initiatives for natural and human-induced disasters. Working with several other public officials, organizations, and government departments, these professionals may be required to conduct risk assessments, organize training for emergency staff and volunteers, update local emergency response procedures, and generate reports on funding, equipment, and preparedness.

Although emergency management directors mainly work in offices, some may be required to travel or work in strenuous situations, especially during a crisis. Emergency management directors typically hold full-time positions and many may be on call at all times. Likewise, some emergency management directors may be required to conduct their work on weekends or evenings in order to develop or revise community emergency response procedures.

The top skills for emergency management directors generally include advanced leadership, communication, decision-making, and critical thinking skills. Individuals in this field must be able to convey their emergency plans both verbally and in writing, anticipate complications associated with disasters, and ensure that responders are prepared and organized to handle several crises.

How to Become a Health and Safety Engineer

Health and safety engineers are responsible for preventing public harm by developing comprehensive safety procedures and systems. This may pertain to machine operations, chemicals, and heavy objects that could cause impairment or damage to a person or property. Other responsibilities tend to include reviewing safety requirements, identifying potential hazards, ensuring that buildings or objects meet specific codes and safety standards, and analyzing and recommending changes to employee safety plans.

Health and safety engineers typically have strong communication, creativity, critical thinking, observational, and solutions-based skillsets. Although credentials are not required to work in the field, some professionals may choose to obtain certifications, such as Safety Management Specialist (SMS) or Certified Safety Professional (CSP).

Most health and safety engineers are full-time employees; and although many professionals in the field will work in offices, others may be required to travel to different sites to conduct safety standards testing and examine work environments.

Emergency management degrees are available at the associate and bachelor's levels and may be delivered in-person or online. Associate-level emergency management degrees typically take two years to complete and comprise of 60 credits, about half of which are general education courses in math, reading, writing, and science. The remainder of the courses is usually a series of emergency management topics and electives that aim to provide students with foundational learning in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Most associate emergency management degrees are an Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), or an Associate of Applied Science (AAS).

Typically, students with two-year emergency management degrees either seek entry-level employment or carry their associate degree over into a bachelor's program. Bachelor's degrees usually take about four years and include 120 credits of general education, core requirements, and electives. Many bachelor's degrees in emergency management cover similar topics that include planning and preparedness for natural and human-caused disasters, terrorism studies and homeland security, emergency communications strategies, risk assessment, strategic planning, and multi-agency response measures. Most emergency management bachelor-level degrees culminate in a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS); however, some schools offer a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS).

There are a few post-graduate options for students with master's degrees in emergency management. Students may opt to continue their studies in a doctoral program, which is the highest level of scholarship students can obtain in the field. Oftentimes, doctorates in emergency management prepare students for careers in research, postsecondary teaching positions, or leadership roles.

Doctoral candidates typically must meet stringent admissions requirements and complete a rigorous curriculum pertaining to the theories and practice of emergency management, leadership strategies, and innovative problem-solving. Most doctoral emergency management programs require approximately 45 to 60 credits and may culminate in a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or a Doctor of Public Administration (DPA). Depending on the program, students may need to complete a capstone project or research-based thesis/dissertation coupled with field experience to obtain their degree.

Graduate Certificates

Students with online master's degrees in emergency management may decide to obtain one or more certificates in niche subject areas related to their major. Graduate certificates typically take about a year to complete and may consist of 15 to 18 credits of core subject matter, although some programs may require less or more credits to be taken.

Students pursuing graduate certificates have the potential to improve their skill sets, gain new skills, enhance subject area expertise, or seek career advancement. Examples of emergency management graduate certificate programs include Environmental Hazard Mitigation and Restoration, Environmental Risk Assessment, Terrorism Studies, Homeland Security, Cybersecurity, Public Administration, and Strategic Management.

Online education typically offers a cost-effective learning opportunity for students pursuing a graduate degree in emergency management. However, for students who need assistance in paying for school, there are several options that may include federal financial aid, scholarships, and grants.

To determine how much federal financial aid they qualify for, students can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Graduate-level eligibility for federal aid is similar to undergraduate; for example, students must demonstrate financial need, be enrolled in an accredited higher education institution, and provide proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizenship. When filling out the FAFSA form, graduate students do not need to disclose their parents' information.

Additionally, scholarships and grants are widely available for students to search for and apply to online. Some scholarship awards even focus on emergency management majors of study. Other options for financial aid may include an employer tuition reimbursement program, military or veteran benefits, or state aid.

For additional information on tuition and financing, federal assistance, or scholarship opportunities, students can visit their school's financial aid office and speak with a representative.

Addison E. Slayton Jr. Scholarship

The Addison E. Slayton Jr. Scholarship is available to U.S. college students majoring in emergency management at an accredited school. To apply, students must submit the online application along with the following:

• A 500-word essay about their emergency management interests and career aspirations
• Two letters of recommendation
• An updated resume
• Official transcripts
• Proof that they are currently enrolled in college
• Optional copies of awards and/or a personal statement describing their academic financial need

The winner of the scholarship award must apply the money towards their tuition, loan reimbursement, semester course fees, learning materials, or tutoring services.

Michigan Public Risk Management Association (MIPRIMA) 9-11 Memorial Scholarship

Graduate students with a minimum 3.2-grade point average who are attending a U.S. accredited college for risk management or a related program are eligible to apply for the Michigan Public Risk Management Association (MIPRIMA) 9-11 Memorial Scholarship. Applicants must submit a copy of their most recent unofficial transcript, a current resume, a personal statement, and an explanation for their scholarship request. One or more winners of the scholarship will receive a minimum award of $750 that may be applied to their upcoming fall semester tuition.