Emergency Management Degrees in Arizona may not be as famous as the Grand Canyon, but they are becoming more and more necessary, noteworthy, and important. Professional Emergency Managers must deal with impressively challenging careers. Technological advancements and changes in political and social climates have created the potential for a slew of previously unimaginable disasters. Emergency Managers should be able to analyze risks, predict possible dangers, prevent emergencies from occurring, and failing that, must be able to adeptly alleviate the effects of any disaster. Arizona-based universities currently offer a number of degrees in Emergency Management and Public Administration, aiming to equip future generations with the tools and techniques to become capable and efficient Emergency Managers.
Arizona State University
College of Public Programs, School of Public Affairs
Arizona State University was founded in 1885 and is currently that largest public university in the United States according to enrollment. The University’s faculty, as of 2012, have earned a number of achievements, including two Nobel Prizes, three Royal Society memberships, and six Pulitzer Prizes. Arizona State University’s College of Public Programs prepares future public service leaders and innovators by offering students a range of academic opportunities, from Criminology and Criminal Justice to Tourism Development and Management. The college prides itself on preparing students to lead principled professional lives and to serve their communities to the best of their abilities. With the help of over 240 community partners, the College of Public Programs has placed students in a variety of internships and careers both locally and globally.
Bachelors in Applied Science (Emergency Management)
The Bachelors in Applied Science is a flexible degree program allowing concentrations in a variety of fields. The BAS in Emergency Management is a 60 credit hour program designed only for students who have already earned an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science from an accredited institution. As the program is not available to freshman, students interested in studying Emergency Management at ASU usually transfer in after completing the required two-year course at a community college. The program focuses on preparing students for the professional world through capstone classes with coordinating internships. Students are expected to graduate with a sound foundation in scientific and technical disciplines, as well as possessing superior management skills.
Contact Information
Arizona State University
PO Box 870112
Tempe, AZ 85287-0112
1-480-965-7788
undergraduate-inquiry@asu.edu
Link
Grand Canyon University
Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University is a premier private Christian university that provides on-campus and online postsecondary educational services. Currently serving 8,500 students, GCU dedicates itself to helping students find their purpose in life, through their future careers and their trust in Christ. The university emphasizes Christian moral and ethical values in and out of the workplace, and commits itself to four pillars — Academic Advancement, Christian Camaraderie, Extracurricular Excellence, and Wellness & Well-Being. Grand Canyon University has been recognized as one of the top five online business schools in the country by Fortune.
Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Emergency Management
Grand Canyon University’s Bachelor’s degree offers an interdisciplinary education to students using a combined theoretical and applied approach. The degree is currently offered as an online or evening program and is designed to be completed in four years. In addition to 35 to 40 credit hours of general courses, students are expected to complete 80 to 86 credit hours of public safety and emergency management related programs, including History and Development of Emergency Management, Mitigation Planning, and Terrorism’s Impact on Emergency Planning. By graduation students are expected to be competent critical thinkers, effective communicators at the professional and public level, and skilled in the foundations of public safety and emergency planning. For students looking to further their education after receiving their Bachelor’s degree, Grand Canyon University offers an online Master’s Degree in Public Administration with emphases in Health Care Management or Government and Policy.
Master of Public Administration with an Emphasis in Government and Policy
Students interested in becoming government officials in the public sector should consider Grand Canyon University’s Master of Public Administration with an Emphasis in Government and Policy. The degree opens up opportunities at federal, state, and local government levels. The 38 credit hour program, offered in both online and evening class format, covers administrative leadership skills, management of human capital, the specific responsibilities of servant leaders, and intergovernmental relations, among other things. Degree holders will have learned how best to serve their communities as government leaders, will have an acute understanding of current policy issues, and will understand how best to manage resources, organizations, and regulator powers.
Contact Information
Grand Canyon University
PO Box 11097
Phoenix, AZ 85061
1-602-639-7500
Link
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University traces its routes to a single-room college serving 23 students in 1889. More than 40 years later, the university has expanded its student body by more than 25,000 students, has multiple statewide campuses, and offers over 150 graduate and undergraduate programs. Class sizes average at 38 students strong, displaying the university’s commitment to building student-instructor relationships. Rigorous programs are designed for students interested in degrees that are personally and socially valuable. The university was named the top Fulbright Scholar producer in the 2009-2010 academic year, and according to Entrepreneur magazine, stands alongside Harvard, Duke, and Northwestern as one of the top universities for market preparedness.
Emergency Management, Bachelor of Applied Science
Northern Arizona University offers its BAS in Emergency Management degree in 16 of its statewide campuses and online. Students are educated in all facets of Emergency Management, such as prevention, mitigation, and emergency response, as well as ethical leadership values, emergency response budgeting, and public communication. The program emphasizes experimental learning, and students are exposed to theory only as a tool to solve real life emergency management problems and cases. The 120 credit hour degree requirement includes 64 units in an associate’s degree transfer block, or a previously earned AAS degree from an accredited Arizona community college. Students are also expected to complete a liberal arts requirement and a series of electives as part of the program. The Emergency Management specialization consists of six 300- to 400-level courses, which introduce students to Public Administration, planning and decision making in the public sector, and the legal and ethical issues involved in Emergency Management. Students can elect to take field-work experience courses comprising single-semester public sector internships.
Contact Information
South San Francisco Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
1-928-523-9011
Link
Ottawa University, Phoenix
Ottawa University, as its motto suggests, prepares students “for a life of significance.” Established in Ottawa, Kansas in 1865, the private, regionally accredited institution offers degree programs to students based in Kansas, Arizona, Indiana and Wisconsin, as well as offering Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs online. Ottawa University began as a faith-based educational institute, and continues to pursue its mission of educating Christ-inspired individuals. The university’s robust curriculum is frequently updated and enhanced to meet the standards of educational innovation. Students are able to earn prior credit through a number of routes, including CLEP credits, military experience, and prior work experience. The 40,000 square foot Phoenix campus opened in 1977 and hosts a collection of undergraduate and graduate programs.
Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration
Ottawa University’s Public Administration program prepares students for civic leadership roles through an understanding of duties, policies, philosophies, and management methods. The university offers nine concentrations to enhance the public administration degree, and to entice students who are interested in a narrower career path. Concentrations such as Leadership and Management of Community-Based Organizations offer students the chance to customize their degree program to best suit their personal and professional needs. The degree requires the traditional liberal arts foundation courses, such as writing, mathematics, and statistics, as well as six courses designed specifically for the Public Administration major. Students are also expected to complete six to seven courses related to their specific concentration. Students who complete the program are fully equipped to enter public administration positions at local and national levels, equipped with essential leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Contact Information
10020 N 25th Ave,
Phoenix, AZ 85021
1.866.648.1977
Link
Rio Salado College
Rio Salado College is a community college that opened its halls in 1978. The college is accredited through The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and first began offering online classes in 1996. Rio Salado has been recognized by Forbes and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as a premier institution and a leader in innovative higher education. It was one of the first schools to move to an almost completely online education system, and has specialized in distance learning since 2006. Rio Salado’s custom-built online learning management system is considered versatile, flexible, and personable, offering 24/7 support to its 43,000 students. The visionary institution currently offers associate degree and certificate programs via online, on-campus, and hybrid learning.
Associate in Applied Science in Public Administration
Rio Salado’s AAS degree in Public Administration is offered solely as an online program. The program’s requirements cover the history of public administration, and its present and future significance. The curriculum is suited to students hoping to advance civic or government careers. Management, communication, teamwork, and policy-making skills are emphasized. The online format allows students to accelerate their attainment of the degree from the comfort of their own home. The degree requires a total of 61 to 64 credit hours and a grade of C or better in each course. Total credit hours comprise of a number of general education credits and 21 industry-specific restricted electives. Courses are between 8 and 14 weeks long, with many 12 and 14 week courses offering an accelerated 8-week option. Students carrying the AAS degree in Public Administration will also earn the Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Public Administration.
Contact Information
2323 W 14th St,
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 517-8000
Link
University of Arizona
School of Government & Public Policy
The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885, almost thirty years before Arizona achieved statehood. As of 2013, the university served 40,223 students as a public institution of higher education and research. The University of Arizona prides itself on its world-renowned expert faculty, which includes a number of Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners. As a research school, UA has generated more than $625 million in research, thus supporting the economic development of the state of Arizona, and the United States. The University of Arizona’s School of Government & Policy is a multi-disciplinary school with a wide variety of programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. It is one of the university’s two largest schools and has received prestigious recognitions. The School of Government & Public Policy currently hosts the National Institute for Civil Discourse headed by President George Herbert Walker Bush and President Bill Clinton, and the International Studies Association, with 5800 global members.
Bachelor of Science in Public Management and Policy
The University of Arizona’s Bachelor of Science in Public Management and Policy is a rigorous and immersive program built to prepare students for the challenges of working in administrative and managerial positions in nonprofit and government agencies. The program emphasizes strong civic leadership skills and values, with courses in areas such as Law & Public Policy, Intelligence & U.S. National Security, and Environmental Policy. Students are required to complete 122 credit hours, with 48 units specific to the Public Management and Policy major. An internship or independent study course is also required, worth 3 units, and requiring 135 to complete. Students with a 3.0 GPA may qualify for the state-funded Legislative Internship Program. Students in the program receive a modest stipend, and spend one semester as full-time staff members for the Legislature, the Governor’s Office, and the Supreme Court. All students who wish to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Management and Policy at the University of Arizona must also declare and complete a minor. Students wishing to continue their education with a Master’s degree may choose to remain at the University of Arizona to complete a Masters in Public Administration. Link
Masters in Public Administration
The University of Arizona’s Masters in Public Administration is one of the highest ranked programs in the United States according to the US News and World Report. The program mission is “to prepare students to effectively manage, govern and lead in a dynamic, increasingly interconnected world,” through a combination of theoretical knowledge, applied research, and on-site fieldwork. Students expand their knowledge while honing skills specific to high-performing Public Administrators. The MPA is an extremely versatile degree, offering students the chance to begin their careers in local governments, non-profit organizations, criminal justice systems, and healthcare administrations. The University of Arizona offers career guidance to all pupils enrolled in the Master’s program. Students are taught best market themselves for career placement, and given placement-specific aid in the final year of their study. The MPA also has a Peace Corps Fellows Program which offers four returned Peace Corps Volunteers the opportunity to become Peace Corps Fellows, combine their professional Peace Corps experience with their academic careers, and receive non-resident tuition waivers. Link
Contact Information
University of Arizona
315 Social Science Bldg.
P.O. Box 210027
Tucson, AZ 85721-0027
1-520-621-7600
milward@email.arizona.edu
Western International University
Western International University was created in 1978 to offer quality post-secondary education to adult learners. Initially campus-based, the university quickly evolved to best meet the needs of modern adult learners, offering the majority of their streamlined programs online or in evening classes. More than 80% of Western International students attend classes online. The university is continually evolving and fine-tuning its approach to post-secondary education, and is considered a trailblazer in educational course delivery. Western International is currently a fully accredited university, but has been put on notice by the Higher Learning Commission, as of June 27, 2013, a sanction that requires university officials to take action to avoid losing accreditation. Western International’s quality education, dedication to adult learning, and acute awareness of the realities of 21st century education, however, make it likely that the university will continue to flourish.
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Western International University’s Master of Public Administration program is designed to furnish students with the professional and practical skills needed to become ethical and responsible public administrators and leaders. The 19-month program requires a total of 39 credit hours, a portion of which are core courses intended to provide foundational education for Public Administration students. Major courses offer students interdisciplinary education about effective global communication, ethical responsibility through case-analysis, strategic planning and management, public finance, and public law. Graduates of the program should have the technical skills to succeed in all facets of the public policy domain. Students who complete the program have the opportunity to find serve in the executive arms of local, state, federal government, non-profit organizations, research establishments, and advocacy groups.
Contact Information
1601 West Fountainhead Parkway,
Tempe, AZ 85282
1-602-943-2311
Link
Technological advances and current political and social climates have boosted the visibility and the impact of public administration and emergency management sectors. It is more important now than ever to have effective, professional individuals in place, capable of evaluating risks, predicting issues, and offering innovation emergency management and mitigation procedures. The top candidates will be dedicated to civil service, will flourish in high-pressure situations, and will be excellent communicators and organizers. Emergency Management Degrees in Arizona serve these individuals, by providing high quality education to tomorrow’s leaders.