Emergency Management Master's Degree

Started by James Shaw, July 22, 2011, 10:59:16 AM

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James Shaw

I am not sure how many people on the CAPTalk board have experience or college training in Emergency Management. I am looking for an Emergency Management Master's Degree and wanted to see if anyone has any recommendations based on their experiences.

I really like the program offered by Capella University (MS in Public Safety with Emphasis in EM).

I won't attempt to start the program until Jan 2012 but would appreciate any suggestions.

I have Bachelor's degrees in Human Resource Management and one in Occupational Safety & Health.
Dr. Jim Shaw, D.O.S.H.
Occupational Safety & Health / Emergency Management
USN: 1987-1992
GANG: 1996-1998
CAP:2000 - SER-SO
USCGA:2019 - National Safety Team
SGAUS: 2017 - MEMS Academy State Director (Iowa)

BillB

Jim if you Google it, you'll find many accrediated colleges and Universities that offer a Masters in Emergency Managament. A couple even have a PhD.  Most can be done as distance learning, but very few give credit for the FEMA courses.
Gil Robb Wilson # 19
Gil Robb Wilson # 104

James Shaw

Quote from: BillB on July 22, 2011, 11:27:03 AM
Jim if you Google it, you'll find many accrediated colleges and Universities that offer a Masters in Emergency Managament. A couple even have a PhD.  Most can be done as distance learning, but very few give credit for the FEMA courses.

Thanks Bill. I have been doing some research and have found some programs. I was hoping to get some first hand expereince or knowledge from others about programs they may have participated in.

I didnt think that the FEMA courses would work, they are lower level associate classes and have no chance of transfer.

Thanks for the info.
Dr. Jim Shaw, D.O.S.H.
Occupational Safety & Health / Emergency Management
USN: 1987-1992
GANG: 1996-1998
CAP:2000 - SER-SO
USCGA:2019 - National Safety Team
SGAUS: 2017 - MEMS Academy State Director (Iowa)

EmergencyManager6

Correct FEMA courses , for college credit dont transfer to a whole lot of places.   Look online.  there are plenty.  Just make sure they are accredited, or you will be wasting your time and money.

You can also call your States Emergency Management Office, and ask them what they suggest.

arajca

FEMA's Emergency Mangement Institute has a list of school that offer degrees in Emergency Management from AA/AAS to PhD.

isuhawkeye

I work full time in the Emergency Management Industry and I spent the last year conducting a lot of research trying to determine what degree path I should pursue for my Masters. 

After a lot of this soul searching and program review I personally decided to not chase the Homeland Security or Emergency Management Specific degree.  I found that a Masters in Public Administration, or Public Policy would be more universally accepted and It would provide a solid foundation for advancing my career.  This broader foundation capped by a CEM (Certified Emergency Manager) through the International Association of Emergency Managers gives me the right balance between academic formal education and industry specific training. 

One acceptation to this is the Masters in Homeland Security offered through the Naval Post Graduate School.  If I get accepted to this program I will certainly take advantage of it. 


GroundHawg

FEMAs list is way outdated. My suggestion is to find a brick and mortar school that offers a online Masters program. I know that Eastern Kentucky University and Jacksonville State University both offer Masters of EM. Im sure there are others.  If you do decide to go to a virtual only institution, Ive heard good things about American Military University and Thomas Edison State College.

There is a great board at allmilitary.com that goes into this at great length 8)

BillB

I earned a degree from Thomas Edison, (had to take several courses from the University of Florida above the credit hjours i already had)  but looking at their catalog, they do not offer a Masters in EM
Gil Robb Wilson # 19
Gil Robb Wilson # 104

RADIOMAN015

Quote from: isuhawkeye on July 22, 2011, 03:10:36 PM
I work full time in the Emergency Management Industry and I spent the last year conducting a lot of research trying to determine what degree path I should pursue for my Masters. 

After a lot of this soul searching and program review I personally decided to not chase the Homeland Security or Emergency Management Specific degree.  I found that a Masters in Public Administration, or Public Policy would be more universally accepted and It would provide a solid foundation for advancing my career.  This broader foundation capped by a CEM (Certified Emergency Manager) through the International Association of Emergency Managers gives me the right balance between academic formal education and industry specific training. 

One acceptation to this is the Masters in Homeland Security offered through the Naval Post Graduate School.  If I get accepted to this program I will certainly take advantage of it.
I think you made a very wise decision on this.  Many schools jumped on the bandwagon for "Home Security" and to a lesser extent 'Emergency Management'.   I never seen a job announcement specifically asking for a degree in either one of these disciplines.  Surely any degree with actual specialized experience and  FEMA emergency training, would likely go further than all of these "gee wiz" degrees with no experience.

Basically you don't need a Master's Degree to write a disaster or emergency plan.  I think the Masters in Public Administration would give one more wiggle room for a career, which could include emergency management.  I know one of the local city's Director of Emergency Management, actually has a PHd in Public Health.     

I wouldn't waste my hard earned money on either Emergency Management or Homeland Security degrees
RM     

CAP4117

caphistorian - I'm in the same boat you are. Have you looked at North Dakota State University? I've been to their website and they seem to have a pretty developed program, but I'm not sure as to the quality of it. I have also been on the fence about whether to pursue emergency management or something more general. Anyone else in the field have any insight on that?
Radioman - While it may be true that most job opportunities don't specifically ask for an emergency management degree program yet, it's a relatively new program and that may become more likely in the future. 

Capt_Redfox30

Several Members of my Emergency Management group have received degrees BA, MA from this location.
http://www.apu.apus.edu/academic/programs/school/apupsh/public-safety-and-health

http://safetymanagement.eku.edu/emergency-management-degrees/
I will be starting online courses in occupational safety at this school but it has an EM program as well. 
Kirk Thirtyacre, Lt Col, CAP
(Acting) Group Commander
Group 3 HQ

isuhawkeye

I have a friend who completed his Masters at North Dakots State.  He had nothing but good things to say about their program.  He was recruited heavily to stay and complete his Phd there.  Instead he went to vwork for the state of arizona (Better winters) 

North Dakotas porgram is interesting in that it lies in the Sociology department.  http://www.ndsu.edu/ndsu/academic/factsheets/ahss/emermgmt.shtml

for anyone who is interested here is the ultimate Homeland Secuirty Masters Degree and its free. 
http://www.chds.us/?masters/overview