UMUC

School of Undergraduate Studies

Emergency Management

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

Major 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.


Objectives

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

  • Analyze the response of government and industry to disasters and other significant events in history which resulted in current emergency management principles and policies.
  • Describe current emergency management policies, operational theories and functions, in relation to significant and potential disasters.
  • Describe the importance and interaction of ethical, political, social, environmental and economic considerations to emergency management planning and operations.
  • Demonstrate the critical thinking and program management skills necessary to provide leadership and support in emergency situations.
  • Explain the importance of leadership and performance in emergency management and identify the leadership traits of competent emergency management personnel.
  • Describe and analyze integrated emergency management planning and operations in relation to public safety agencies, different levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, private industry and public policy.

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).

Emergency Management Major - Course Requirements

Coursework for a major in emergency management includes the following:

  • Required core courses (15 credits): EMGT 302, 304, 306, 312 and 486A
  • Supplemental major course in needs and issues (3 credits): Chosen from EMGT 308 and IFSM 432, 433, 457 and 459
  • Supplemental major course in operations management (3 credits): Chosen from EMGT 310; BMGT 309, 366 and 405; and ENMT 310
  • Supplemental major course in planning and response (3 credits): HMLS 302 or EMGT 404
  • Supplemental major course in terrorism (3 credits): GVPT 406 or 407
  • Required capstone course (3 credits): HMLS 495
  • Required related course (3 credits), which may be applied anywhere in the degree ACCT 326 (or IFSM 300)

Recommended Sequence

The following course sequence will fulfill all the requirements for the BS in emergency management. 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.

Coursework for the major is indicated by ‡

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 Information Literacy and Research Methods (1)
  • WRTG 101/101X Introduction to Writing (3)
  • MATH 106 Finite Mathematics (3) or higher-level math course

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

  • GVPT 170 American Government (3) or other ANTH, BEHS, ECON, GEOG, GVPT, PSYC, SOCY or eligible AASP, CCJS, GERO or WMST course to fulfill the first behavioral and social sciences requirement
  • Both BIOL 101 Concepts of Biology (3) and BIOL 102 Laboratory in Biology (1) or BIOL 103 Introduction to Biology or other course(s) to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture and laboratory requirement
  • WRTG 291 Expository and Research Writing (3) or other course to fulfill the communications/ writing requirement
  • IFSM 201 Introduction to Computer-Based Systems (3) or CMST 303 Advanced Application Software
  • PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues (3) or a foreign language course or other ARTH, ARTT, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance or literature, course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirementral and social sciences requirement

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

  • PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3) or SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology or other course to fulfill the second behavioral and social sciences requirement (discipline must differ from first)
  • NSCI 100 Introduction to Physical Science (3) or ASTR 100 Introduction to Astronomy or other course to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture requirement
  • HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3) or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865 or other ARTH or HIST course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirement in historical perspective (discipline must differ from other humanities course)
  • ‡ EMGT 302 Concepts of Emergency Management (3)
  • ANTH 344 Cultural Anthropology and Linguistics (3) or SPCH 482 Intercultural Communication (recommended elective)
  • WRTG 390 Writing for Managers (3) or other course to fulfill the communications/ writing or speech requirement
  • IFSM 300 Information Systems in Organizations (3) or ACCT 326 Accounting Information Systems (fulfills the interdisciplinary issues/computing requirement; students should note prerequisites)
  • ‡ EMGT 304 Emergency Response Preparedness and Planning (3)
  • IFSM 304 Ethics in the Information Age (3) (recommended elective)

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

  • WRTG 394/394X Advanced Business Writing (3) or other course to fulfill the communications/ upper-level advanced writing requirement
  • ‡ EMGT 306 Political and Policy Issues in Emergency Management (3)
  • ‡ EMGT 312 Social Dimensions of Disaster (3)
  • ‡ EMGT 486A Internship in Emergency Management Through Cooperative Education (3)
  • ‡ IFSM 432 Disaster Recovery Planning (3) or other supplemental major course in needs and issues
  • ‡ BMGT 366 Global Public Management (3) or other supplemental major course in operations management
  • ‡ HMLS 302 Introduction to Homeland Security (3) or other supplemental major course in planning and response
  • ‡ GVPT 406 Global Terrorism (3) or other supplemental major course in terrorism

Capstone Course for Major (to be taken in the last 15 credits)

  • ‡ HMLS 495 Public Safety Policies and Leadership (3)

Minor and/or Elective Courses 40 (to be taken in the last 60 credits along with required major courses)

Recommended Elective

Total credits for BS in emergency management: 120