The MS in Emergency & Disaster Management is an online distance program or an on-campus program. The 36-credit, 12-course curriculum can be completed in one to three years, depending on a student’s course load. Coursework is available in the fall, spring and summer terms. Eight courses are required as outlined in the core section; with 4 electives that you choose from among the course offerings.

Online Distance-Learning Program

• While the majority of the program is online, all students are required to take the Psychological Aspects of Disasters course and the Principles of Disaster Exercises and Drills class that involves participating in the one-time, on-campus conference and exercise week (6.5 days) offered only in the summer.
• The on-campus week will include live lectures, hand-on skills labs, role-playing seminars, disaster drills and a table top exercise.
• Students complete the course sequence as it fits their schedule.

On-Campus Classroom-Learning Program

• This format combines in-person seminars and activities with supportive material in the online Canvas learning system.
• Students must meet with the faculty in person, on campus and in faculty-led activities in the community.
• These required sessions involve lecture material, as well as application to real world learning opportunities to gain experience, emphasizing the integration of theory and practice.

Students are required to take all eight of the below courses, all are three (3) credit hours. Courses in bold with asterisks (*) are part of the mandatory 6.5 day on-campus experience with online and group course work.

• Foundations in Emergency Management
  
• Organizational Management and Communications in Disasters
• Psychological Aspects of Disasters *
  
• Principles of Disaster Exercises and Drills *
  
• Public Health Implications of Disasters
• Logistic Management for Disasters
  
• Applied Research Methods and Statistics
  
• Capstone Experience in Disaster Medicine and Management
  • Master’s Project
  • Master’s Project with Internship (requires student on site)

Experiential Learning Requirement

In addition to the eight required courses, students are required to complete 100 hours of experiential learning, in which students will demonstrate the connection between academic learning and real world application by participating in local, regional, state or federal agency activities. This participation is a graduation prerequisite and supporting documents will need to be submitted to the program by the beginning of your final term.

Students select four electives from the following options:
All courses are three (3) credit hours unless otherwise indicated.

• Foundations in Homeland Security and Defense
  
• International and Humanitarian Disaster Management
• Hazardous Materials and Industrial Safety
  
• Disaster Mapping **
  
• Natural Disasters
  
• Weapons of Mass Destruction
  
• Organizational Risk and Crisis Management
  
• Business and Crisis Continuity
  
• Organizational Recovery and Planning
  
• Principles of Terrorism
  
• Emergency Preparedness for Special Needs Population
  
• Healthcare Emergency Management
  
• Clinical Disaster Medicine
  
• Internship in Disaster Medicine and Management
  
• Special Topics in Disaster Medicine and Management (1-3 credits)

**Requires Windows Operating System