Alabama residents are no strangers to major emergencies, and numerous emergency management degrees in Alabama are helping to make sure that professionals can adeptly handle everything from a tornado outbreak to an oil spill, a nuclear plant meltdown to a political catastrophe. These degree programs, offered at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, all prepare students to handle the managerial, psychological, and personal effects of major emergencies. They teach the key skills need to draft an emergency management plan, put that plan into action, and communicate effectively with the public in a way to creates orderly safety rather than mass chaos. For those who thrive in high-pressure, intense situations, these degrees are a natural fit and one that will lead to a rewarding career in both private enterprise and public service scenarios.
Columbia Southern University
Department of Safety and Emergency Services
Columbia Southern University’s Department of Safety and Emergency Services enjoys several distinctions among similar programs in the state of Alabama. It’s frequently ranked at or near the top in terms of the most affordable master’s degree programs in both Alabama and the entire country. Columbia Southern’s programs, including its graduate-level degree in emergency management, are typically ranked near the top of rankings that study the best distance education programs for those in the Armed Services which, when combined with its affordable price tag, makes this a natural fit for both distance learners and local students who are looking to minimize their student debt load after graduation.
M.S. in Emergency Services Management
Affordable tuition and excellent distance learning technologies at Columbia Southern University are backed by a doctoral faculty that teaches emergency communication, disaster response coordination, plan development and enforcement, and communication with assisting agencies. The degree focuses extensively on the role of both public and private agencies and employers when responding to natural disasters and man-made emergencies, highlighting the importance of cooperation among different groups of people to ensure the safety of the largest number of people. At the conclusion of the program, students will be prepared to enter a management role and lead a department or an entire organization toward better planning, effortless communication with other agencies, and sound awareness programs that keep the public safe. Contact Columbia Southern University Department of Safety and Emergency Services 21982 University Ln. Orange Beach , AL 36561 Phone: (800) 977-8449 Email: info@columbiasouthern.edu Website
Jacksonville State University
Department of Emergency Management
Jacksonville State takes pride in its emergency management faculty, each of which has obtained real-world experience and expertise in the field prior to joining the university’s undergraduate and graduate-level degree programs. Faculty members prepare students for a wide array of careers, with each degree progressively narrowing down the types of coursework that students pursue. Undergraduates receive a generalist education in virtually every area of emergency management, crisis planning, and coordination. Those in the master’s degree program move on to things like hazard and risk assessment. At the doctoral level, the faculty expects students to engage in scholarly research, teaching assistantships, and coursework that is even more highly specific and advanced.
Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management
Students who take part in the B.S. program at Jacksonville State University will receive a general primer on what it means to predict, assess, and respond to an emergency in real-time. That means they’ll take courses that focus on both natural and man-made hazards, how to best respond to crises in a number of groups, and how to communicate with the public in the event of a real disaster. They’ll learn the role of state and federal agencies in emergency response and disaster aid relief, and they’ll understand the importance of having a plan always in place, and a staff always at the ready. Combined with a strong liberal arts education and some of the most prestigious classes in the country, students will be prepared for a great, entry-level position in the field.
Master of Science in Emergency Management
The M.S. in Emergency Management at Jacksonville State University is a bit more involved than the undergraduate program. Students who enroll in this particular degree program will be more concerned with assessing the likelihood of major disasters of all kinds. They’ll learn how to calculate and estimate the potential human toll of natural and man-made disasters, and they’ll study alongside professors who have conducted extensive research into emergency preparedness and the biggest potential risks facing both the Alabama and American populations. Students will be able to engage in research alongside those professors during their time in the graduate degree program if they wish to do so, and they’ll have the opportunity to seek internships and professional placements with local public and private agencies specializing in disaster relief.
Doctor of Science in Emergency Management
Jacksonville State offers one of just 10 doctoral programs in emergency management anywhere in the United States. This degree is typically reserved for those who feel that they might best help with disaster response by teaching a new generation of leaders. The doctoral program also gives emergency planners the ability to specialize in a very narrow area of planning and response. Many people choose to research natural disasters specific to Alabama, including tornados in the northern part of the state and the risks posed by hurricanes and flooding in southern Alabama. Others choose to study the risks of offshore oil drilling and oil spills, or man-made disasters on land. At the conclusion of the program, this very specific area of study equips students for a teaching role or for leadership of a major emergency management firm. Contact Jacksonville State University Department of Emergency Management 100 Gamecock Drive Anniston, AL 36205 Phone: (256) 782-5925 Email: em@jsu.edu Website
University of Alabama
College of Arts and Sciences
The University of Alabama is the state’s flagship public institution and also one of the most prestigious universities in the Deep South. To that end, the College of Arts and Sciences maintains two degree programs that can help aspiring emergency planners respond to crises virtually anywhere in the country. Thanks to a doctoral faculty and some of the best community connections available at any university, students will find that the Alabama name and prestige gives them unparalleled internship and practicum experiences that can deepen their understanding of emergencies and how to best manage them for the safety and long-term health of the broader public.
B.S. in Professional Health Sciences
Emergency management all starts with the University of Alabama’s Bachelor of Science in Professional Health Services program. Though not a traditional degree in emergency management, this undergraduate pursuit prepares students for the management of health organizations and the pursuit of graduate work in emergency management, healthcare management, public administration, and more. The program focuses on the nature of crisis response and hospital treatment both in emergency and non-emergency scenarios. Students receive an excellent amount of coursework in the sciences, in healthcare management and administration, and in the best ways to ease into a leadership role during a time of catastrophe. This is a unique perspective, to be sure, and it’s one that could help aspiring emergency managers land a private-sector job that directly responds to the effects of a local emergency, rather than one that predicts and prepares for the event itself.
Master of Public Administration
The key skill taught to students who enroll in Alabama’s Master of Public Administration program is analysis. Though this is another degree that isn’t typical of the emergency management track, the coursework required at the University of Alabama gives students some of the same outcomes. They’re expected, by the conclusion of the degree program, to be able to establish a firm leadership structure within a public department or agency. Students will learn how to create management plans and public outreach campaigns, and they’ll learn the importance of efficient management within a large, publicly funded organization. This degree is an essential way for aspiring emergency managers to learn how public organizations work and how to run them smoothly. These skills are absolutely essential to ensure that any disaster response is well funded, perfectly planned, and ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice. Contact University of Alabama College of Arts and Sciences Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Phone: (205) 348-7007 Email: webmaster@as.ua.edu Website
Troy University
College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences at Troy University is one of the largest schools on campus, with a massive number of programs that prepare students for everything from political leadership to careers in the arts and education. CAS is also the school behind Troy University’s Master of Public Administration program, which is easily one of the best in the state. Students can opt to take all of their courses online, with affordable public tuition rates that stay the same whether students are in-state or out-of-state according to official residency. The all-doctoral faculty has extensive experience in public agency management and resource allocation, making them an excellent resource for graduate students who are looking to gain real-world insight and post-graduation networking opportunities that will serve them well over the course of their career.
Master of Public Administration
The key skills emphasized by the MPA program at Troy University include policy analysis, strategic allocation of limited state funding and resources, implementation of a public agency budget, and sound management of the staff that works within a public agency. These skills are essential to any emergency manager, since they include the skill necessary to make sure that any disaster responses is properly planned, well-funded, and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Students within the Master of Public Administration program have the opportunity to work alongside a supervising professor as they conduct scholarly research into public agency management and analysis, and they can opt to teach related courses on campus or seek practical experience in an internship throughout Troy and the surrounding areas alongside their graduate-level coursework. Contact Troy University College of Arts and Sciences, MPA Program 600 University Ave. Troy, AL 36082 Phone: (800) 414-5756 Website
University of South Alabama
Department of Political Science
The University of Southern Alabama is the only public institution of higher education for Alabama residents in the Gulf Coast region of the state. As such, it has a very large student body and a rather prestigious reputation. Both its Department of Political Science and the university at large tend to rank consistently highly in Forbes, Princeton Review, and US News and World Report rankings. IN the case of the MPA program, that’s because the department manages numerous student organizations and honor societies, conducts a very large amount of institutional scholarly research, and maintains excellent employment connections all along the Gulf Coast. This combination of attributes means that students receive an excellent classroom environment and just the right amount of practical experience to land a job once they receive their degree.
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Analysis is the name of the game for MPA students at the University of Southern Alabama. As part of the program, students will learn how to analyze existing public policy and determine whether it’s in the best interest of the agency and the public itself. If it’s not, their subsequent coursework will teach them how to make adjustments that fit within the agency’s budgetary confinements and overall list of responsibilities. For emergency management aspirants, these skills make it easier to craft a comprehensive disaster response plan that will work in the best interests of both the people and their limited government. With scholarly research encouraged, students can narrow their focus into one area of public administration, staff management, budgetary policy, and disaster response planning. Contact University of South Alabama Department of Political Science 307 N University Blvd Mobile, AL 36688 Phone: (251) 460-7161 Email: admiss@southalabama.edu Website
South University
College of Arts and Sciences
South University is one of the leading distance learning institutions in Alabama and several other states throughout the American southeast. Since its inception, the university has been committed to offering an affordable, online education that gives students the same excellent amount of knowledge and practical experience as more traditional, campus-based programs. The College of Arts and Sciences maintains a physical presence in Alabama, with a compact campus Montgomery that allows for meeting with advisors and for arranging necessary internships and other practical experiences. With affordable tuition and intensive, immersive online coursework, the MPA program at South University is just as rigorous and involved as virtually any other similar degree offered throughout the state.
Master of Public Administration
Students are taught by an all-doctoral faculty in the MPA program, and many of those people are still active professionals in public agencies throughout the country. As part of the program, graduate students will learn how to manage teams and departments within government agencies, and they’ll learn the importance of strategic planning, agency coordination, and budgetary alignment. Thanks to the online nature of these programs, degree candidates are free to seek engaging internships while they continue their courses full-time. Others can simply enjoy the benefits of the MPA program while maintaining an existing full-time or part-time position within an Alabama government agency. Contact South University College of Arts and Sciences 5355 Vaughn Rd. Montgomery, AL 36116 Phone: (334) 395-8800 Email: sumonadm@southuniversity.edu Whether it’s public administration or a strict program in emergency preparation, the numerous emergency management degrees in Alabama are a great way for undergraduate, graduate-level, and doctoral students to learn more about assisting the public in their time of need. Each program has unique benefits that set it apart from the pack and cater to a unique kind of student, a unique kind of career, and different long-term job prospects.