If you are seeking the formal training needed to respond to natural and manmade disasters, then you should consider one of the five emergency management degrees in Nevada that have been created for qualified students to learn the skills that will keep the state’s communities safe in the face of danger. Although the first thing that may come to mind when thinking of Nevada is the shining lights and gambling in the major tourist destination of Las Vegas, the majority of the state is largely semi-arid desert. As home to the famous Mojave Desert, Nevada has been declared as the driest state in the United States and has temperatures that reach over 100° regularly.
Therefore, it is common for the state to experience droughts, severe thunderstorms, and many wildfires each year. Since Nevada is the “Silver State” with a high percentage of the world’s gold and silver production, there tend to be a large number of life-threatening and fatal mining accidents annually as well. In order to listen to your calling in leading emergency efforts in response to devastating disasters like these, read on to find out more about the emergency management degrees in Nevada that can help you save lives.
College of Southern Nevada
School of Business, Hospitality and Public Services
Since being founded in 1971, the College of Southern Nevada has grown into being the largest public higher learning institution of Nevada with urban campuses located in Henderson, Cheyenne, and Charleston to serve more than 38,000 students. As a primarily two-year public college in Clark County with one four-year undergraduate degree offered in dental hygiene, CSN is the #1 source for associate’s degrees and vocational certificates throughout the Las Vegas Valley with over 180 academic programs to choose from. In particular, the School of Business, Hospitality and Public Services is focused on offering a wide range of career-oriented training options necessary to meet the diverse needs of students in their chosen fields.
A.A. in Emergency Management Administration
Leading to a two-year Associate of Arts degree with the completion of at least 62 semester credits, the A.A. in Emergency Management Administration program is designed to prepare students for a career in the area of emergency management and/or homeland security. Students are trained with the skilled necessary for managing hazardous material incidents, tactics, strategies, safety protocol, fire department operations, customer service, and natural or manmade disasters in the public sector. Most students use the program as a stepping stone to a career as emergency managers, emergency management planners, environmental compliance planners, emergency management specialists, or emergency operations coordinators in all levels of government. With the convenience needed to accommodate working professionals, the program is available on a full-time or part-time basis with courses offered during the daytime, at night, on weekends, and even online from a distance.
Accreditations
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
700 College Drive
Henderson, NV 89002
(702) 651-3111
finita_wells@csn.edu
http://www.csn.edu/pages/199.asp
Truckee Meadows Community College
Technical Sciences Division
Identified as Nevada’s jobs college in preparing qualified students for jobs in industries across the state, Truckee Meadows Community College is a comprehensive two-year public junior college based with five teaching sites scattered around the city of Reno. As northern Nevada’s fastest-growing higher learning institution with over 28,000 students, TWCC offers associate’s degrees, one-year certificates, and diplomas in more than 50 relevant career fields. Within the Technical Sciences Division, students can choose from a diverse selection of career-oriented training programs in architecture, construction technologies, criminal justice, manufacturing, public safety, transportation, veterinary technologies, and more.
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Emergency Medical Services
From the standpoint of being an emergency medical technician (EMT), the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Emergency Medical Services program is intended for students who are interested in working within an ambulance service, fire department, law enforcement, hospital emergency department, mining operation, or in another occupational field where medical emergencies commonly occur. Within the two-year program, students will receive an overview on human anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, patient assessment procedures, basic life support, ambulance operations, weapons of mass destruction, trauma, and other medical emergencies. To complement classroom instruction, all students will need to complete eight hours of clinical rotation in a local emergency department and eight hours of a ride-along with an advanced life support ambulance for hands-on learning.
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Fire Science Technology
As part of the Truckee Meadows Community College Fire and Rescue Academy, the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Fire Science Technology is designed to provide several learning opportunities for students who are anticipating careers in the fire service or want to enhance their current level of training. To ensure that all graduates can properly work in the different theaters of firefighting and use various equipment needed in fire prevention, the 60-credit curriculum includes courses in EMT basic training, fire protection, firefighting tactics, fire company organization management, fire science, building construction, and hazardous materials. If students are interested in pursuing a career in wildland firefighting, it is recommended to receive this degree with additional training courses in the Wildland Fire Training Program.
Accreditations
Commission on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (COAEMSP)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
5190 Spectrum Blvd.
Reno, NV 89512
(775) 789-5555
janenichols@tmcc.edu
http://www.tmcc.edu/ems/
University of Nevada – Las Vegas
School of Environmental and Public Affairs
Strategically located on a 358-acre urban campus in the heart of the downtown Las Vegas medical district with nearly 28,000 students, the University of Nevada – Las Vegas is a comprehensive public doctoral degree-granting research institution classified for having high research activity. In dynamic southern Nevada, UNLV has been named as one of the country’s most diverse campuses in a tie with two other universities at sixth place by Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine. Furthermore, the NASPAA-accredited School of Environmental and Public Affairs is highly regarded by the U.S. News and World Report for offering the 121st best graduate public affairs degree programs in the entire United States.
Executive M.S. in Crisis and Emergency Management (ECEM)
Intended to train graduate students to recognize the major elements of natural, intentional, and technical disasters in today’s evolving world of terrorism across all three levels of government, the Executive M.S. in Crisis and Emergency Management (ECEM) program is focused on building the advanced leadership skills needed to evaluate exercise design elements in developing effective organizational response plans for emergencies. In a format geared towards full-time working professionals who cannot easily commute to campus regularly, the program is completed primarily online with five to six long weekends of on-campus seminars. As the only executive graduate degree centered on emergency management in the United States, the 36-credit program provides well-rounded learning experiences to current and future leaders in crisis intervention within just 24 months.
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Following a 39-credit curriculum plan for completion in just two years full-time, the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is focused on fostering an in-depth understanding of the federal, state, and local government environments to learn the essential principles of public management, development of public policies, and regulatory processes of government. As a flexible degree that can be tailored to meet students’ individual career interests, the program offers a wide range of electives in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, business administration, emergency management, homeland security, architecture, and education. For those who do not have appropriate professional or administrative experience, the MPA also features a required semester-long internship experience in a local governmental agency or non-profit organization too.
Accreditations
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs & Administration (NASPAA)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
4505 South Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89154
(702) 895-4835
christine.springer@unlv.edu
http://sepa.unlv.edu/programs/ecem.html
Pursuing any one of these emergency management degrees in Nevada can provide the accredited training needed to realize your fullest professional potential in an in-demand field for organizing the emergency response plans of local, state, and federal governments as well as making split-second challenging decisions that can keep communities safe from harm.
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