Online Master’s Degree in Emergency Management

The online Master’s Degree in Emergency Management engages individuals in coursework that deepens their critical thinking, strengthens their analytical reasoning, and enhances problem-solving abilities. Through classes that incorporate content from various subject areas, the online masters degree in emergency management prepares individuals to plan for extraordinary circumstances, and to provide leadership when crises arise. Good online master’s programs in emergency management blend concepts in psychology, economics, criminal justice, and business so that learners are able to manage catastrophic events and to better deliver relief to those affected by disaster. Graduates of top online masters emergency management degree programs not only address complications that suddenly surface, but also support the people most impacted by these kinds of tumultuous situations.

Online Master’s Degrees in Emergency Management Requirements

Individuals who enroll in online masters programs in emergency management must be able to prioritize competing demand as this skill is essential to effectively plan and to efficiently coordinate efforts to counter disaster. Candidates must remain abreast of technological innovation and industry-specific advancements that will enable them to enact the most up-to-date emergency response mechanisms available. Emergency management master’s degree online students must also possess awareness of best practices in administration to ensure that they provide cost-efficient services that nonetheless respond to individuals’ needs. Moreover, given the unpredictability of when, where and how emergencies will erupt, graduates of emergency management masters programs online must be change adaptive so that they can readily address and resolve dilemmas.

People who seek admission to online masters degrees in emergency management often have masters degrees in programs like non-profit management, public administration and public health. Additionally, students may also have bachelor’s degrees in:

• Psychology
• Criminal Justice
• Business

In addition to their academic studies, those who enroll in online masters degree programs in emergency management may have relevant professional experience in health care, community service, or criminal justice occupations.

Online Emergency Management Master’s Degree Education

Good online master’s degree programs in emergency management typically take between 2 to 3 years to complete. The types of emergency management degrees offered by the best master’s programs online include:

• Master of Science in Emergency Management (MS in Emergency Management)
• Master of Arts in Emergency Management (MA in Emergency Management)

Information on Emergency Management Courses

Students in online master degree programs in emergency management learn the social implications that disaster poses and how agencies such as the media, the government, and non-profits influence the management. Accedited online master in emergency management classes may include:

• Social Dimensions of Disaster
  Students study disaster sociology literature to examine the social science definition of disaster, to understand how external agents impact relief strategies and to understand the coalition-building challenges post-emergency events.
• Emergency and Disaster Planning and Management
  Students enrolled in this online master degree in emergency management course focus on essential pre-emergency functions necessary for relief systems to be implemented. They study risk management and all relevant issues associated with emergency planning up to the point when disaster actually occurs.
• Economics of Disaster
  This class explores the financial aspects of international, national, state and local emergencies. Students review, analyze and research direct and indirect economic losses brought about by disaster, as well as consider the financial impact of emergencies on public and private institutions.
• Case Analysis: Crisis and Disaster
  Online masters in emergency management students investigate the preparation, response and recovery elements of specific public crises. They analyze issues of leadership, decision making, organizational structure and training that arise when emergency situations erupt.
• Emergency Management Health and Medical Issues
  This class explores the health care issues of emergency management when there are mass-casualty and high-impact incidents. Students learn about the planning and coordination needed to respond to natural, industrial and conflict-related disasters, as well as they kinds of education necessary before, during and after these events occur.

Specializations and Concentrations

Because emergency management is a broad field, in order to become an expert in a specific niche, some online master’s emergency management students will pursue specialties or concentrations in areas including:

• Fire Science
• Homeland Security
• Disaster Medicine and Management
• Biosecurity

Careers in Emergency Management

Individuals who earn online master’s emergency management degrees understand both the business and human aspects of emergency circumstances and are able to work within organizations to meet the needs of those whose lives are comprised when disaster strikes. Examples of the types of careers that graduates of accredited online master’s degrees in emergency management enter include:

• Emergency Management Specialist
  These professionals coordinate crisis management activities, prepare emergency plans and provide disaster preparedness training. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average income of emergency management specialists to be $56,900. By 2018, the number of people in this career is anticipated to have increased by 18% as more of these practitioners will be needed to respond to natural, wartime and technological crises.
• Criminal Investigator
  Individuals in this occupation protect public safety through the collection and analysis of evidence that they use to apprehend people who commit criminal behavior. The national average salary for this career is $65,860, with the southwestern states of New Mexico, Arizona and Texas the top-three highest paying. The number of criminal investigators is expected to increase by 10% by 2018 in correspondence with the growing population that will necessitate more police services.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Agent
  FBI agents investigate federal crimes and national security issues, often working with agencies such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Secret Service to manage emergency situations. Although the law dictates the salaries of federal employees in law enforcement, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the approximate median income of federal detectives to be $73,000. Employment projections for FBI agents are contingent on government spending for law enforcement, although layoffs are rare because of retirement rates.
• Management Analyst
  Practitioners in this profession design workplace evaluations, conduct work simplification studies and create procedure manuals to ensure the efficient operation of organizations, including policies in response to emergencies and security complications. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average annual income for
  management analysts as $84,650. The number of professionals in this career will increase by nearly one-quarter (24%) over the next several years as organizations rely more heavily on experts to help enhance performance.
• General and Operations Manager
  These professionals plan, direct and coordinate the activities of organizations, including management of emergency preparedness and crisis recovery. The annual income for this career is $110,550. While the number of experts in this career is projected to remain fixed over the next several years, these positions will be in high demand because of their affiliated prestige and pay, making those who possess online master’s emergency management degrees top candidates for these jobs.

An online master’s in emergency management prepares experts who will respond to disasters that take place both globally and domestically so that people are well supported and able to overcome the resultant consequences of catastrophic events. Graduates of these programs are able to focus on the big picture without losing sight of the critical details so that unfortunate situations are effectively handled as quickly and as diligently as possible.