Major in Emergency Management

Students may seek either an academic major or minor in emergency management.

The emergency management major develops the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for leadership in emergency management, with a focus on disaster prevention, planning, preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery. The curriculum covers needs and issues, operations management, planning and response, and terrorism and is designed to provide students with a global outlook, interpersonal skills, and emergency management knowledge and skills. Students are prepared for management positions in emergency management in government and industry or for graduate study in emergency management, homeland security, or management and leadership. Coursework may also fill requirements related to the National Fire Protection Association Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs (1600), qualification as a Certified Emergency Manager, and other professional association certifications.

Intended Program Outcomes

The student who graduates with a major in emergency management should be able to

• Facilitate and support leadership and vision in emergency management to administer successful programs, including intergovernmental, interagency, and interdisciplinary outreach.
• Utilize informed decision making, calmness under stress, goal orientation, teamwork, ethical behavior, professional development, the integration of assets and resources, enhanced technology, and communication to ensure effective administration of emergency management related programs.
• Use clear and effective oral and written communication strategies in concert with strong interpersonal, technology, and social media skills to facilitate building collaborative partnerships in emergency management.
• Identify risks and design responses, plans, training, and exercises that coordinate public and private resources to effectively encourage disaster prevention, improve emergency response, enhance recovery, and effectively mitigate disasters.

Degree Requirements

A degree with a major in emergency management requires the successful completion of 120 credits of coursework, including 30 credits for the major; 41 credits in general education requirements; and 49 credits in the minor, electives, and other degree requirements. At least 15 credits in the major must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

Requirements for the Emergency Management Major

Coursework for a major in emergency management includes the following:

• Required core courses (12 credits): EMGT 302, 304, 306, and 312
• Supplemental major course in needs and issues (3 credits): Chosen from EMGT 308, CCJS 390, CSIA 459, and IFSM 432 or IFSM 433
• Supplemental major course in operations management (3 credits): EMGT 310, BMGT 466, or ENMT 310
• Supplemental major course in planning and response (3 credits): EMGT 404 or HMLS 302
• Supplemental major course in terrorism (3 credits): EMGT 314, GVPT 406, or GVPT 407
• Required workplace learning course (3 credits): EMGT 486A
• Required capstone course (3 credits): HMLS 495
• Required related course (3 credits), which may be applied anywhere in the degree: IFSM 300

Recommended Sequence

The following course sequence will fulfill all the requirements for the BS in emergency management. Coursework for the major is indicated by . Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may make it necessary to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Students should consult an advisor whenever taking advantage of other options.

Emergency Management Degree Courses

First Courses (to be taken within the first 18 credits)

Note: Placement tests are required for math and writing courses.

• EDCP 100 Principles and Strategies of Successful Learning (3)
  (strongly recommended as first course)
• LIBS 150 Introduction to Research (1)
• WRTG 101 Introduction to Writing (3)
  or WRTG 101S Introduction to Writing (3)
• MATH 106 Finite Mathematics (3)
  or a higher-level math course

Introductory Courses (to be taken within the first 30 credits)

• ECON 103 Economics in the Information Age (3)
  or other behavioral and social sciences course
• BIOL 103 Introduction to Biology (4) 
  or other biological and physical sciences lecture and laboratory course(s)
• WRTG 293 Introduction to Professional Writing (3)
  or other writing course
• IFSM 201 Concepts and Applications of Information Technology (3)
  prerequisite to requirements for major
• HUMN 100 Introduction to Humanities (3)
  or other arts and humanities course

Foundation Courses (to be taken within the first 60 credits)

• BEHS 103 Technology in Contemporary Society (3)
  or other behavioral and social sciences course (discipline must differ from first)
• NSCI 100 Introduction to Physical Science (3)
  or other biological and physical sciences lecture course
• HIST 125 Technological Transformations (3)
  or other arts and humanities/historical perspective course (discipline must differ from other humanities course)
• EMGT 302 Concepts of Emergency Management (3)
• COMM 202 Media and Society (3)
  or other communication, writing, or speech course
• IFSM 300 Information Systems in Organizations (3)
  (related requirement for the major; also fulfills the computing requirement)
• EMGT 304 Emergency Response Preparedness and Planning (3)

Additional Required Courses (to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)

• WRTG 394 Advanced Business Writing (3)
  or other upper-level advanced writing course
• EMGT 306 Political and Policy Issues in Emergency Management (3)
• EMGT 312 Social Dimensions of Disaster (3)
• EMGT 486A Workplace Learning in Emergency Management (3)
• EMGT 308 Exercise and Evaluation Programs (3)
  or other supplemental major course in needs and issues
• EMGT 310 Continuity of Operations Planning and Implementation (3)
  or other supplemental major course in operations management
• EMGT 404 Planning and Response for Catastrophic Disasters (3)
  or other supplemental major course in planning and response
• EMGT 314 Terrorism Issues in Emergency Management (3)
  or other supplemental major course in terrorism

Capstone Course for Major (to be taken after all other courses for the major)

• HMLS 495 Public Safety Policies and Leadership (3)

Minor and/or Elective Courses (46)
(to be taken in the last 60 credits along with required major courses)

Recommended Electives

• STAT 200 Introduction to Statistics
  (students should note prerequisite)
• HMLS 302 Introduction to Homeland Security
  (may meet requirements for certain graduate degree programs at UMUC)

Total credits for BS in emergency management: 120

Emergency Management Degree Planning Worksheet