An emergency management degree can be the first step toward one of the fastest growing careers in the United States. Emergency management directors plan responses to natural disasters, terrorist threats, and other life-threatening situations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, emergency management directors make an average of $59,000 a year and expect faster than average career growth over the next 10 years. Read on to learn about the emergency management degrees that can get you there.
Bachelor’s Degrees
In most cases, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree to pursue a career in emergency management. According to the New York Times, there are about 119 universities in the country that offer this degree, including the State University of New York at New Paltz, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, and North Dakota State University. If the university you’re considering doesn’t specifically have a program in emergency management though, there are several other options. Bachelor’s degrees in public administration, business administration, and fire science are also good choice if you are interested in a career as an emergency management director.
Certificate Programs
Beyond bachelor’s degrees, there are two other primary choices for emergency management degrees. Many colleges now offer a certificate program in emergency management, which is a good complement to one of the alternative bachelor’s degrees mentioned above. Dozens of colleges and universities maintain certificate programs in this discipline, some of which are online. The most notable include Drexel University, Florida State University, and the University of Idaho, as well as many based in community colleges.
Master’s Degrees
For those who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in another discipline, emergency management degrees at the master’s level are also available. These programs allow even further specialization; for example, categories for healthcare, public safety, administration, and more exist within the classification of emergency management. Some of the most notable programs exist at Georgetown University, Boston University, and Oklahoma State University.
On-the-Job Training
While not a degree per se, experience will be one of the most important aspects of building a career in emergency management. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most departments seek candidates who already have many years of experience in fire, police, public safety, or other government agencies that deal with disasters. Volunteering with the bureaus in the town where you’re interested in working as early as possible will help you get the experience you need while you’re working on your degree.
Similar Disciplines
There are other common degrees that can help you get a job in this field beyond those that are labeled as emergency management. For example, many universities now offer degrees in homeland security and public safety, both of which can be attractive to employers in this field.
For further research, the Federal Emergency Management Administration maintains a list of accredited degree programs in Emergency Management. This site also has many resources, such as free training materials and textbooks, that you may want to peruse if you’re considering this career path.