Students pursuing emergency management degrees in Maryland receive in-depth training on how to effectively plan responses to crisis situations in an effort to keep people and their property safe from damage. In addition to the natural threats for floods, blizzards, hurricanes, tropical cyclones, and tornadoes, Maryland’s position adjacent to our nation’s capital also places the state at an increased risk for domestic or international terrorist attacks. Therefore, many of the top-ranked universities and colleges within the “Old Line State” have created the following accredited emergency management programs to encourage qualified students to protect communities from danger in a rapidly growing career path.

Anne Arundel Community College

Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Institute

Since first opening its doors in 1961, the Anne Arundel Community College has grown into an award-winning accredited public two-year institution with more than 53,000 students on a 230-acre urban campus in Arnold within minutes from Maryland’s capital of Annapolis. Benefiting from the strategic location near the National Security Agency (NSA) and the U.S. Cyber Command, the Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Institute is focused on preparing expert leaders for succeeding in various law enforcement fields.

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Homeland Security Management

As a comprehensive 62-66 credit hour program leading to a wide array of career opportunities in law enforcement, fire fighting, emergency management, port security, corporate intelligence, customs security, border patrol, and other emergency operations, the A.A.S. degree in Homeland Security Management provides a fundamental overview to developing contingency plans for catastrophic incidents and emergencies. While students may choose to pursue the general studies track, there is also a concentration available in Intelligence Analytics focused on national security and cyber forensics.

Accreditations

Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact

101 College Parkway
Arnold, MD 21012
(410) 777-1159
admissions@aacc.edu
http://www.aacc.edu/homeland/degree.cfm

Frederick Community College

Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management

Centrally located on a beautiful suburban campus in the town of Frederick at the midway point between the major metropolitan hubs of Baltimore and the District of Columbia, Frederick Community College is an accredited two-year public higher learning institution that serves the academic needs of more than 16,000 students each year. In particular, the Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management (MACEM) is committed to delivering innovative educational opportunities for students seeking professional development in the emergency management field.

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Emergency Management

With the goal of providing undergraduate students with a broad-based education on preparedness for emergency management operations, the A.A.S. in Emergency Management program requires the completion of at least 60 credit hours. As one of the nation’s most rapidly growing career options, the program is strongly focused on preparing vital management professionals at every level of the industry with the critical skills and technological expertise needed for success.

Accreditations

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact

7932 Opossumtown Pike
Frederick, MD 21702
(301) 624-2854
emailadvising@frederick.edu
http://www.frederick.edu/workforce-continuing-education/emergency-management.aspx

Johns Hopkins University

Krieger School of Arts and Sciences

Currently ranked as the 12th best college and 20th top value school in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report, Johns Hopkins University is an elite private research institution based on a 140-acre tree-lined urban campus in the Charles Village neighborhood of northern Baltimore with four satellite centers around our nation’s capital. The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences offers a wide array of on-site and online degree programs, ranging from applied economics and government to biotechnology and public management.

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Government with Concentration in Security Studies

Designed to provide graduate students with the tools to examine governmental institutions in today’s society and bring about change, the M.A. in Government program offers a unique concentration in Security Studies to specifically cover the fundamentals of administering and preserving national security systems in America. As a dynamic program in the most politically connected city in the world, the curriculum covers 36 credits that can be completed in a flexible online degree format.

Certificate in National Security Studies

As the perfect credential for graduate students seeking to capitalize in a rapidly growing field, the Certificate in National Security Studies is structured to provide expertise on the broad range of security threats to the United States in the 21st century. For a dynamic multi-perspective grounding in the political, scientific, and theoretical analysis of national security topics, the certificate requires the completion of five courses on-campus in downtown Washington, DC.

Accreditations

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact

3400 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8171
kwagner@jhu.edu
http://advanced.jhu.edu/academics/graduate-degree-programs/government/

Towson University

College of Health Professions

Situated on a 328-acre suburban campus within just ten miles away from the downtown hub of Baltimore as a large four-year public institution with one of the nation’s highest graduation rates, Towson University is currently ranked as the 54th best college and 11th top public school in the North by the U.S. News and World Report. In addition to offering the 234th best graduate nursing degree programs, the College of Health Professions provides graduate degree options for emergency management professionals seeking to protect citizen’s well-being in crises.

Master of Science (M.S.) in Integrated Homeland Security Management

Built on three areas of specialization in Information Assurance, Health Preparedness, and Security Policy, the M.S. in Integrated Homeland Security Management program is offered exclusively online for graduate students seeking to become qualified practitioners for protecting homeland security at the local, state, or federal government levels. After completing the cross-disciplinary curriculum with at least 36 credits, graduates will have the proficiency in critical agency infrastructures to lead teams in executing rapid responses to disasters.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Security Assessment and Management

Delivered in a fully online flexible format from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection, the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Security Assessment and Management is designed from an inter-disciplinary approach to provide a broad education to personnel working in related areas of homeland security. Within the five-course certificate program, students extend their expertise in the areas of emergency response, crisis communications, risk protection, security management, and disaster planning.

Accreditations

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact

8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252
(410) 704-2132
gradstudies@towson.edu
https://www.towson.edu/cla/departments/interdisciplinary/grad/homelandsecurity/

University of Maryland – College Park

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

As the flagship comprehensive public research institution based on a vast 1,250-acre urban campus at the midway point between Washington, DC and Baltimore, the University of Maryland – College Park is ranked as the 62nd best college and 21st top public school in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. As an award-winning research and education center headquartered at UMD, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) consists of a worldwide network of scholars from over 50 universities who are committed to the scientific study of the fundamental questions of terrorism in the United States and abroad.

Undergraduate Minor in Global Terrorism

With the goal of providing undergraduate students from all majors with the educational training needed to pursue graduate education focused on terrorism research or employment in the growing homeland security field, the Undergraduate Minor in Global Terrorism program is designed to train the nation’s next leading generation of terrorism analysts. Within the five-course minor program for a total of 15 credits, students will take coursework covering topics in terrorist motivations, responses to terrorism, terrorism practices, criminology, global studies, public policy, and global ecopolitics.

Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Analysis

Founded in a fully online format with open enrollment through the UMD Graduate Schools’ Advanced Special Student program, the Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Analysis is structured to provide post-baccalaureate learners with an advanced education on the causes, dynamics, and effects of domestic and international terrorism. With a flexible curriculum that can be completed in nine to 24 months, the certificate also is focused on honing the essential skills needed to conduct advanced research for analyzing terrorism in academic or practice settings.

Accreditations

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact

8400 Baltimore Avenue Suite 250
College Park, MD 20742
(301) 405-6632
education@start.umd.edu
http://www.start.umd.edu/education/about-education

University of Maryland University College

Department of Public Safety

As a regionally accredited member of the University System of Maryland that offers a convenient online education from a world-class public research institution, the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) offers more than 95 programs through the innovative online platform WebTYCHO for over 95,000 students around the world. The Department of Public Safety is specifically committed to delivering online degrees that develop skills for leading within local, state, or federal justice systems.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Safety Administration

With the mission of helping undergraduate students develop the knowledge, abilities, skills, and competencies needed for leadership in organizations that provide public safety, the B.S. in Public Safety Administration program is focused on building an awareness of current security issues from a global outlook. Students in the 120-credit program will receive a comprehensive core study of public safety with coursework in strategic planning, risk management, public policy planning, program development, ethics, supervision, and emergency management.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Cyber Security

Since there is predicted to be a critical need to fill 50,000 cyber security jobs in the near future for the federal government and private industries around the world, the online B.S. in Cyber Security program is designed to prepare undergraduate students for this fast-growing field at the epicenter of the Department of Defense’s Cyber Command in Maryland. In addition to the 120-credit curriculum, all students will partake in hands-on learning through the innovative Virtual Security Lab to combat simulated security attacks online.

Minor in Emergency Management

Available for any undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the University of Maryland University College in good academic standing, the Minor in Emergency Management is intended to complement students’ major discipline by providing comprehensive knowledge and skills for emergency response operations. Through the completion of 15 credits, the minor will deliver the latest practices in disaster planning, allocation of limited resources, risk management, national security, and more.

Minor in Homeland Security

Featuring the completion of at least 15 credits with at least nine credits of upper-level coursework, the Minor in Homeland Security has been established to supplement the practical skills that students obtain in their major discipline by delivering a comprehensive knowledge base of the most essential concepts of domestic and international security. While learning about homeland security policies, students will grow their skills to help organizations better prevent, respond to, and recover from natural and man-made disasters across jurisdictions.

Minor in Terrorism and Critical Infrastructure

Undergraduate students also have the option to pursue a Minor in Terrorism and Critical Infrastructure to better understand the primary components that are involved in protecting our nation’s public and private infrastructures from the effects of terrorism. Within the 15-credit minor program, students from any major are welcome to take courses related to criminal investigation, cyber crime, institutional security, global terrorism, counterterrorism, homeland security, strategic planning, and contemporary history of the Middle East.

Master of International Management (MIM): International Emergency Management

With a specialization available in International Emergency Management, the Master of International Management (MIM) program is designed to prepare graduate students for assuming management responsibilities in helping global communities cope with emergencies and reduce their vulnerability to hazards. After completing the 36-credit program, students will qualify for becoming disaster response specialists, emergency management directors, emergency planners, humanitarian assistance specialists, emergency response managers, emergency services analysts, and risk management officers.

Master of Science (M.S.) in Information Technology: Homeland Security Management

Structured to serve as career development for entry-level, mid-level, and upper-level positions in the rapidly growing security fields, the M.S. in Information Technology with a specialization in Homeland Security Management (HSMN) program prepares graduate students with the in-depth background needed to cope with a broad spectrum of man-made and natural threats. While the program typically follows a 36-credit curriculum, students who complete their undergraduate degree at UMUC with a homeland security major can receive both degrees concurrently with a total of 150 credits of coursework.

Master of Science (M.S.) in Technology Management: Emergency Management

Requiring the successful completion of at least 36 credits of advanced graduate coursework through a fully online degree format, the M.S. in Technology Management with a specialization in Emergency Management program is geared towards students who intend to take on upper-level management roles in mitigating against, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. Through an inter-disciplinary approach, the program has a strong emphasis on leadership, management, cross-agency collaboration, and the use of technology in the growing field of emergency management.

Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management

For graduate students who are not interested in enrolling in more formal training to receive a master’s degree, the Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management is available to provide a critical understanding of the most essential principles of emergency management for obtaining professional development into leadership roles. Graduates of the 18-credit certificate program will be qualified for entry to mid-level practitioner positions in public, non-profit, or private organizations that respond to emergency situations.

Accreditations

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact

3501 University Blvd. East
Adelphi, MD 20783
(800) 888-8682
robert.ludwig@umuc.edu
http://www.umuc.edu/academic-programs/public-safety.cfm

While Maryland may be one of the smallest states in land side, its position on the Atlantic coast and proximity to many of our nation’s largest metropolitan areas ensure abundant career opportunities related to emergency preparedness. For realizing the most promising job prospects, be sure to consider enrolling in one of these excellent emergency management degrees in Maryland to get on the right track towards a rewarding professional career.

Perhaps an online program is right for you:

Top 10 Best Online Emergency Management Degree Programs 2014