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Bree Nicolello
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Schools with Accredited Emergency Management Degree Programs
“Good emergency management is about preparedness and mitigation for potential disasters, not simply responding to the one happening now.”David Merrick, Director of the Emergency Management and Homeland Security (EMHS) Program and the Center for Disaster Risk Policy, Florida State University
From the Covid-19 epidemic to intensive flooding and wildfires, communities around the globe have faced natural epidemics at an unprecedented scale. Public and private agencies turn to emergency management professionals to help them analyze risks, assess potential solutions, build their capacity, respond to crises, and move on from disasters.
Those working in emergency management may help community members recover after a flood, work with utility companies to improve their critical facilities, administer grants to small businesses impacted by disasters, using tools like GIS to map hazards, and working with policymakers to inform decisions.
Emergency management professionals can work with private companies managing security measures and mitigating risk, hospitals and colleges with medical facilities that perform critical operations, local governments whose communities need to prepare or mitigate risks, federal agencies who administer grants, and even nonprofits that impact policy or who respond to disasters. Most emergency management positions are required to be on-call full-time and work nights and weekends as needed to respond to emergencies.
Read on to learn about emergency management degree programs and certification options.
Ask the Expert: David Merrick
David Merrick is the director of the Emergency Management and Homeland Security (EMHS) program and the Center for Disaster Risk Policy at Florida State University. Merrick developed and oversees EMHS’s Disaster Incident Research Team, which deploys to disaster-impact areas to perform field research on disaster and emergency management. He also developed EMHS’s unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) courses and curriculum.
Merrick is part of the team that developed the EMHS/CDRP UAS capability for use in disaster management and has led teams performing this work in Florida, Texas, Haiti, Belize, and Jamaica. The team has deployed to hurricanes including Matthew, Harvey, Irma, Michael, Dorian, Ida, and Ian, as well as other incidents such as missing persons, flooding, the 2018 eruption of Kilauea, and the 2021 Surfside condominium collapse. He spearheaded the creation of multi-discipline UAS teams across the state, including Florida UAS 1 based in Tallahassee.
Merrick has a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a master’s in humanitarian relief and disaster logistics from the Florida Institute of Technology.
ForensicsColleges.com: What is something you wish the public understood about emergency management?
Merrick: Good emergency management is about preparedness and mitigation for potential disasters, not simply responding to the one happening now. Yes, a good, coordinated response is critical, but the outcome of an incident will depend more on the time, money, and resources spent before the event than on what happens during the fire, flood, hurricane, or earthquake. We are all better off if we have reduced a community’s risk to the hazard (such as a hurricane) ahead of time, as opposed to simply being reactive to events.
ForensicsColleges.com: What advice would you give to potential emergency management students?
Merrick: Emergency management is all about communication and coordination. There are certainly skills to learn, but one of the most critical is the ability to quickly convey information in a clear and concise manner, whether that is in writing or face-to-face. Look for opportunities to grow these skills and be comfortable communicating under pressure.
Finally, be comfortable being uncomfortable. Despite all the preparedness, mitigation, and planning that goes into EM, during an actual incident, just about everything will go “wrong” or not according to expectations. Be flexible and comfortable in this position because each day will bring you something new and different.
ForensicsColleges.com: What does the future of the field look like to you?
Merrick: Emergency management is a growing field, both in government and in the private sector. We have already seen a huge increase in the role of private consulting firms in EM, working in concert with “traditional” EM practitioners.
I started in EM in 2004, and I was convinced that Hurricane Michael in 2018 was going to be the “big one” of my career. But we’ve seen a continual growth in the number and severity of disasters, from record wildfires in California to the devastation of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina and Tennessee. The workforce will have to be larger and more agile—and ready to handle multiple events at once.
Common Courses & Requirements in Emergency Management Programs
As mentioned above, there are a variety of degrees and certificates for aspiring emergency management professionals. The common entrance prerequisites (i.e., admissions materials), courses, and sample programs at each degree level are followed.
Associate Degree in Emergency Management
- Prerequisites: Official transcripts from all secondary (and/or postsecondary) schools or General Educational Development (GED) diploma, personal statement, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for non-native speakers of English, application fee
- Common courses: English Composition, Technical Writing, Multicultural Composition, Interpersonal Communication, General Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, Statistics, State and Local Governments, The Science of Weather, Introduction to Environmental Science, Physical Geology, Geography, All Hazards Emergency Planning, Technology and Emergency Management, Public Information, Disaster Recovery, Homeland Security Law and Policy, Public Administration, and Emergency Operations.
- Sample program: Cascadia College
Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management
- Prerequisites: Official transcripts from all secondary (and/or postsecondary) institutions with a competitive GPA (e.g., >3.0) or GED, completion of specific coursework (e.g., high school level mathematics), personal statement, letter(s) of recommendation, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) scores, TOEFL scores for non-native speakers of English, application fee
- Common courses: Public Administration, Public Personnel Administration, Public Financial Administration, Nonprofit Administration, Ethics, Applied Statistics, Organizational Theory, Principles of Emergency Management, Municipal Government, and Communication and Informational Technology, and GIS.
- Sample program: West Texas A&M University
Master’s Degree in Emergency Management
- Prerequisites: Official transcripts from a bachelor’s program (e.g., computer science, engineering, emergency management, or a related technical discipline) with a competitive GPA (e.g., >3.0), completion of specific coursework (e.g., information and technology coursework, GIS, policy, or public administration), personal statement of purpose, interview (in-person or video), letter(s) of recommendation, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores, TOEFL scores for non-native speakers of English, application fee
- Common courses: Cybersecurity law and policy, public and private sector preparedness, risk assessment and management, government and industry strategic planning, terrorism and counterterrorism, public health preparedness and planning, research methods, and a capstone and assessment course.
- Sample program: Virginia Commonwealth University
Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management
- Prerequisites: Official transcripts from post-secondary program (e.g., information technology, geography, emergency management, or engineering), personal statement, proof of experience, resume (i.e., CV), interview, TOEFL scores for non-native speakers of English, application fee
- Common courses: Principles of Emergency Management, Disaster and Climate Change Planning, Public Policy and Analysis, Risk Assessment, Environmental and Hazards Law, Program Evaluation, Collaboration Across Sectors, and Conflict Resolution.
- Sample program: University of Colorado – Denver
Hybrid & Online Emergency Management Programs
Arizona State University (ASU)
ASU offers an online master of arts (MA) in emergency management and homeland security with a concentration in emergency management. This program is recognized as a certificate program by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It is ranked as the best graduate homeland security and emergency management program in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
- Location: Tempe, AZ
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Ranked within the top 15 percent of social work schools in the country, Tulane offers a dual degree master’s program in social work (MSW) and disaster resilience leadership (MS-DRL). This program heavily focuses on working closely with communities to support hazard mitigation, adaptation to hazards, recovery and resiliency, mental health support, and other initiatives that build community strength and dignity through policies and programs.
Coursework is offered either in-person or entirely online and delivered by practitioners that approach emergency management from an interdisciplinary, people-driven lens. Tulane offers both online and in-person coursework.
- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Boston University (BU)
Boston University offers an online master of science in healthcare emergency management. With offerings for full-time and working students, the program provides on-campus and online coursework for students looking for a high-impact educational experience. The curriculum heavily focuses on internships and practicums, allowing students to build real-world experience and stand out to future employers.
- Location: Boston, MA
- Duration: One year (full-time), two years (part-time)
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Florida State University (FSU)
Florida State University offers a certificate in emergency management and homeland security through the College of Social Science and Public Policy. The certificate is available as a 12-credit undergraduate certificate or a 15-credit graduate certificate.
This flexible program includes coursework on public health, technology and disaster management, homeland security, domestic and international emergency management, and policy and planning. Both certificate options are available online and in-person, designed to meet the needs of full-time and working students.
- Location: Tallahassee, FL
- Duration: One year
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
George Washington University (GWU)
George Washington University offers a 60-credit bachelor of science in homeland security that can be completed online in as little as two years. With an adaptive curriculum designed with practical applications to government, military, and law enforcement settings, the BS in homeland security from GWU has alumni working at the United States Secret Service, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Coursework includes industry experts teaching anti-terrorism strategies, cyber threat countermeasures, emergency management, and more.
- Location: Washington, District of Columbia (DC)
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
With a focus on fire and emergency services, Purdue offers a dynamic online bachelor of science in fire and emergency management or a master’s in Homeland Security and Emergency Management for students looking to serve their community as fire chiefs, emergency planners, or emergency management directors.
The U.S. Fire Administration also recognizes this degree program as an official Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Institution, meaning coursework meets the highest standards for professionalism in the emergency services field. A degree from Purdue University is also a great investment for U.S. military service members, veterans, and their spouses, who can receive reduced tuition.
- Location: West Lafayette, IN
- Duration: Four years (undergraduate), two years (graduate)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Columbia College provides a bachelor of arts in disaster and emergency management designed for professionals returning to school and ready to take the next step in their careers. This online 120-credit program takes an all-hazards approach, focusing on a holistic and comprehensive curriculum that prepares students to take on man-made and natural disasters in various settings.
Key skills developed in this program include management planning, communications, problem-solving, critical decision-making, research and interviewing, computer literacy, and critical thinking. Classes last just five weeks and new cohorts of students start every six weeks. Best of all for professionals? Potential students can transfer up to 90 credit-hours or certified job training hours towards their degree.
- Location: Columbia, SC
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Auburn University offers a dynamic certificate in Emergency Management for professionals looking to leverage the full capacity of their community to mitigate or recover from disaster. By relying on the strength of the agencies, institutions, and organizations that make a community resilient, emergency managers can help governments assess, organize, and improve their capacity to handle natural disasters.
This certificate consists of five courses, including four core courses and one elective. Coursework includes planning and preparedness, disaster preparedness for healthcare professionals, unmet needs and challenges facing homeland security and emergency management, critical infrastructure protection and continuity, and building an effective emergency management program.
- Location: Auburn, AL
- Duration: One year
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Professional Certification in Emergency Management
As a field that relies heavily on professional experience after completing a degree program, emergency management professionals looking to be competitive in the job market may want to pursue a professional certification to demonstrate their skills and knowledge of emergency management.
Many emergency managers may take coursework through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to prepare for the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) examination, offered by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). The CEM examination is the only nationally and internationally recognized professional examination for emergency managers. More information on these certifications are below.
- The National Emergency Management Academies through FEMA offers several options focused on building foundational, advanced, and executive-level emergency management concepts. There is also an academy focused on public information awareness, designed to support part-time and experienced public information officers in disseminating information during a crisis.
- The IAEM offers two certification options for professionals in the emergency management field – the Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) certificate and the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM). Those pursuing the AEM certificate must have 100 hours of Emergency Management Training and 100 hours of general management training; a signed reference letter; contact information for three additional references; and passage of a 120-question examination. Those interested in the CEM certificate must meet all AEM requirements, as well as demonstrate three years of comprehensive emergency management experience; experience participating in two functional exercises, a major public event, a full-scale exercise, or actual disaster, and cover all phases of emergency management; completion of six professional contributions within the last 10 years; and a bachelor’s degree or higher in emergency management
Applicants should check certification websites for information on maintaining credentials, a process typically involving completing continued education (CE) hours.
Emergency Management Degree & Certificate Program Accreditation
Aspiring emergency management professionals are encouraged to verify their program’s accreditation status. This process evaluates the faculty, curricula, and student outcomes of a program or institution and can indicate program quality to prospective employers or graduate admissions committees.
Although no specific body accredits emergency management or digital forensics programs, the US Department of Education recognizes six regional accreditation organizations. These agencies include:
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
In addition, several federal agencies recognize or maintain a list of emergency management programs.
How Much Do Emergency Management Directors Make?
These numbers represent data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023 — the latest figures available as of December 2024.
Emergency Management Directors
- Number employed in the U.S.: 11,910
- Average annual salary (mean): $93,690
- 10th percentile: $50,340
- 25th percentile: $62,630
- 50th percentile (median): $83,960
- 75th percentile: $112,190
- 90th percentile: $151,560
Bree Nicolello is an urban planner and freelance writer based in Seattle, WA. She has worked on land use and housing policy issues throughout the Pacific Northwest. She previously led Run Oregon Run, a nonprofit dedicated to helping Oregonians run for office and apply to boards and commissions. When not writing, she is lovingly tending to her cast iron
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