Firetrucks at emergency site

Master of Science in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Online


Keep your community safe when you strengthen your understanding of emergency management with a CAEMHSE-accredited M.S. in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.

Next Apply Date: 5/14/24
Next Class Start Date: 5/28/24
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 5/14/24
Next Class Start Date: 5/28/24

Program Overview


What our online disaster preparedness and emergency management master's offers you

Timely and relevant, the Master of Science in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (DPEM) online program offers you the career and educational preparation you need to support large and small communities during natural catastrophes. Learn to prevent, mitigate and oversee crises resulting from natural disasters such as weather emergencies or other events causing functional physical, emotional and/or social disruption to society.

This accredited online program will educate you on the hazards, risks and theories of various disasters and emergencies and how to distinguish between types as well as how to actively apply your knowledge. By studying historical and contextual occurrences, you will understand the social, cultural and economic dimensions of emergency management within political, legal and fiscal contexts. You will also learn to use various communication methods and technological tools to navigate relevant public, private, governmental and non-governmental sectors. This online degree program is designed to prepare you for new career roles or for advancement within the disaster preparedness and emergency management field.

During this online master’s program, you will be fully supported by highly qualified faculty and staff and gain practical experience through an internship or practicum by working with faculty-approved mentor(s) or at an emergency management site.

As a graduate, you will be prepared for expanded positions in disaster preparedness, such as:

  • Disaster Recovery Manager
  • Emergency Management Program Specialist
  • Emergency Response Team Leader
  • Emergency Services Director
  • Environmental Health and Safety Manager
  • Hospital Emergency Preparedness Administrator
  • Hurricane Program Manager
  • Nuclear Emergency Planner
  • Safety Specialist
  • Disaster Recovery Manager
  • Emergency Management Program Specialist
  • Emergency Response Team Leader
  • Emergency Services Director
  • Environmental Health and Safety Manager
  • Hospital Emergency Preparedness Administrator
  • Hurricane Program Manager
  • Nuclear Emergency Planner
  • Safety Specialist

Also available:

A-State offers a variety of graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online graduate programs.

Total Tuition: $12,240
Program Duration: As few as 12 months
Credit Hours 36

Accreditation

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Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

Tuition


Discover the value of our low-cost tuition

Our M.S. in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management online program offers the same affordable tuition to in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $340
Total Tuition: $12,240

Calendar


Arkansas State Online dates and deadlines

Our M.S. in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management program is designed to be flexible and convenient for working professionals, offering 100% online coursework and multiple start dates a year.

Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring 23/4/242/19/242/23/242/29/243/1/244/26/24
Summer 15/28/245/14/245/17/245/23/245/24/246/27/24
Summer 27/2/246/18/246/21/246/27/246/28/248/1/24
Fall 18/20/248/5/248/9/248/15/248/16/2410/4/24
Fall 210/14/249/30/2410/4/2410/10/2410/11/2412/6/24

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 5/14/24
Start Class 5/28/24

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

Admissions


Find your fit in our online emergency management degree program

A-State Online offers a streamlined admission process for both new students and transfers. Students who are interested in the disaster preparedness and emergency management online program must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Review full admission requirements below.

Admission Requirements:

  • Online application
  • Bachlor's degree
  • GPA of 2.75

  • Complete online application and pay a nonrefundable $30 fee
  • Bachelor's degree in any discipline
  • Undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale or a 3.00 GPA in the last 60 hours*
  • Official transcript(s) sent from the registrar of the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.
  • Students must complete the following FEMA Emergency Management Institute classes prior to admission or within the first seven weeks of this program (students can enroll in the courses here: https://training.fema.gov/):
    • IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System
    • IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
    • IS-800.D: National Response Framework, An Introduction
    • IS-200.C: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
  • Students must also complete these courses prior to admission or within the first seven weeks of this program:
    • Core Disaster Life Support (CDLS)
    • Basic Disaster Life Support (BDLS)
    • Health Care Provider CPR

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467


Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

Additional information

Transfer credits

Up to 9 graduate hours from A-State or other higher education institutions may be credited toward a program. No course can be older than six years by graduation time. Transfer credit will be evaluated by the Director of the Program. To request prior credit be evaluated, please complete the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.

Courses


A look at the online M.S. in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management curriculum

Students in the M.S. in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management online program must complete a total of 36 credit hours. Required coursework includes six core courses (18 credit hours), three emphasis courses (9 credit hours), one practicum course (3 credit hours) and one capstone course (6 credit hours).

Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Evaluates existing governmental and institutional policies related to disaster preparedness and emergency management (DPEM). Formulation, implementation and evaluation of policy will be discussed. Students will propose and develop one new policy related to DPEM.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Incorporates the process of theory development in disaster preparedness and emergency management to facilitate formation of a conceptual basis for advanced knowledge and practice. Includes the analysis of various models and case studies.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Considers quantitative and qualitative research methods in disaster preparedness and emergency management (DPEM). Review of current research in the field will be conducted. The course culminates in a research proposal in DPEM.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Probes national and international ethical and legal frameworks of disaster preparedness and emergency management. Course content includes human rights and injustices associated with disasters and other emergencies and codes of ethics in emergency management.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Evaluates disaster preparedness around the world including the economic, health, political, psychosocial, cultural and religious impact of current and major historical disasters.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Analyzes the private and public exchange of information before, during and after a disaster. Multiple communication strategies will be explored, including the use of social media.

Students must choose three of the following courses.

Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students review, discuss information, and practice skills necessary to effectively respond to a radiological incident. Topics include Radiological Concepts, Radiological Response Team Operations, Commercial Nuclear Power Facilities, Plume Modeling, Radiological Instrumentation, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Decontamination.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Incorporates the use of telecommunications and technology to support response efforts during and after a disaster. Public health biosurveillance will be examined. Legal and ethical considerations in information technology will be analyzed.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Measurement of adverse health effects of natural and human disasters as well as factors contributing to those effects. Assesses needs of disaster-affected populations and then matches resources to prevent further adverse health effects. Evaluates program effectiveness and plans for contingencies.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines multi-agency response to disasters and other emergencies to include government agencies, non-government organizations and the private sector. Cooperation and collaboration among the agencies will be analyzed. Pre and post-disaster planning and mobilization of resources will be emphasized.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Analyzes the effects of disaster on vulnerable populations. Conceptual frameworks and characteristics of vulnerable populations will be utilized to determine preparedness, planning, mitigation, response and recovery during disasters for these groups of people.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Promotes knowledge and skills to effectively plan and prepare for a pandemic, culminating in a practical exercise. Steps for developing an effective planning and preparedness program and development of a pandemic annex are included.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Prepares hospital leadership to utilize the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS). Integrates the community emergency response network with the operation of an Emergency Treatment Area (ETA). Includes hospital personnel as first responders during a Mass Casualty Incident involving patient contamination.

Students must choose one of the following courses.

Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is discussion driven by current events related to disaster preparedness and emergency management. Discussion will focus on analysis of a current event, applicable research, historical events of similar significance and other emergency management issues in the news.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will work with an expert in disaster preparedness or emergency management. The mentor must be approved by the faculty. The student may suggest mentors or the faculty may assign a mentor.

Students must choose one of the following courses.

Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Final Project Internship is one of three options students may choose to complete the six credit hours of the Final Project curriculum. Students choosing this option will complete 240 contact hours at an approved site related to disaster preparedness and emergency management.
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Final Project Research is one of three options students may choose to complete the six credit hours of the Final Project curriculum. Students choosing this option will complete a research project related to disaster preparedness and emergency management. Prerequisites: DPEM 6123 and instructor permission.

*For Conditional Admission, students must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale or a 2.75 GPA in the last 60 hours for admission into a graduate program or for admission as a non-degree student.

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