The Master of Science in Emergency Management program prepares students for responsible positions and leadership in public, non-profit, and private organizations. The program includes preparing for, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating future losses from the broad range of threats including natural and public health hazards and man-made or technological events. The program includes courses in emerging technologies, legal and organizational frameworks, and necessary knowledge to design and implement effective programs to reduce the toll that disasters and other emergencies take on individuals, organizations, and society in complex urban environments. This program is consistent with the College's long-standing mission in public safety, and graduate emergency management courses already offered at the College.
Courses in the online Master of Science in Emergency Management program are offered in various sequences to allow for individualized flexibility. Students complete the program typically within two years. All courses in the online M.S. in Emergency Management program are offered in six accelerated eight-week sessions each year, including two sessions in the Fall, two in the Summer, and two in the Spring. Students admitted to the program may enroll in up to to six credit hours of courses during each eight-week session.
To complete the program, a student must earn a total of 36 credit hours, including:
- 12 credit hours in Core Courses
- 12 credit hours in Management Analytics
- 12 credit hours in Electives
(For credit transfers from another program, please visit the Admissions page for details.)
Listed below are some of the courses offered by the program. All of them are three-credit courses, except the six-credit Thesis elective.
All students in the program must pass a Comprehensive Exam that measures knowledge essential to emergency management and is administered by the program. The exam is offered every six months. The Program Director will issue a list of readings and texts at least 30 days before the administration of each exam. Students must complete 24 credits in the program in order to be eligible to complete the exam. Students who fail the exam have two additional opportunities to retake it, in accordance with normal academic calendar.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the online Master of Science in Emergency Management program is competitive, and evaluation is based on the student's academic and professional records of achievements. Although students are not required to have an undergraduate degree or prior coursework in emergency management, preference will be given to those with relevant experience.
To be considered for admission, students must meet the following requirements:
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or an international equivalent
- An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher ( or meet contingency requirements as determined by the program on a case-by-case basis)
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or IELTS, is required for international applicants who have not studied in English-speaking countries. John Jay College's TOEFL code number is 2115-99. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, and 79-80 for the internet-based test. The minimum score for IELTS is 7
- Submission of a complete application (see Application Process below)
Application Process
Applications for admissions may be submitted online using the Online Application System. Applicants need to create an account before beginning the application process. A dedicated Enrollment Advisor for the program is available to walk applicants through the application process, in coordination with the program faculty and the Office of Admissions at John Jay College.
The following items must be submitted for a completed application:
- A nonrefundable application fee of $125 USD, in check or money order, made payable to John Jay College
- Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities
- Two academic letters of recommendation
- A personal statement of approximately 500 words about your interest in the program and career goals
Apply Online
Students may ask for approval from the Program Director to complete the program through the Thesis Track, which allows eligible students to earn six credits in Electives for completing a Thesis prospectus and Thesis document. This option is available only to students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.