According to U.S. News and World Report, emergency management is currently one of the most lucrative degrees to pursue, based on both job security and growth as well as income. People who specialize in emergency management help to develop emergency response plans on a local, state, and national level; train the corresponding personnel on these plans; and ensure that logistics are in place in the event of a disaster. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, emergency management specialist earn an average of $59,770 per year, and typically have a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience. There are currently about 9,900 emergency management directors in the United States, and this number is expected to grow by 8 percent over the next 10 years. However, this number will spike by 22 percent in the professional, scientific, and technical services and 18 percent in health care management, with growth in the public sector limited by budget constraints. Read on to learn more about emergency management degrees in Virginia.
George Washington University
Institute for Crisis, Disaster and Risk Management (ICDRM), Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering
ICDRM is a research institute within the university that provides both cutting-edge research and master’s level career programs for the purpose of furthering the field of emergency management. Located within the Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, the Institute prepares its graduates for careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Master of Science (MS) in Engineering Management with a concentration in Crisis, Emergency and Risk Management
To obtain this degree, students must take four core Engineering Management & Systems Engineering, along with a selection of courses that focus on Crisis, Emergency and Risk Management. Areas of specialization include homeland security, information technology in crisis, management of risk, medical and public health considerations, terrorism, and environmental hazard management. The master’s program, which includes 36 credit hours of coursework, is designed to prepare students with an interdisciplinary foundation in emergency management.
Accreditations
The emergency management master’s degree at George Washington University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation..
Contact
INSTITUTE FOR CRISIS, DISASTER AND RISK MANAGEMENT
1776 G. St., N.W. (Suite 101)
Washington, DC 20052
Phone: 202-994-6736
Fax: 202-994-0245
Email: icdrm@gwu.edu
http://www.gwu.edu/~icdrm/
Virginia Commonwealth University
L. Douglas Wilder School of Government of Public Affairs
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University takes an interdisciplinary approach to preparing students for careers in criminal justice, homeland security, emergency management, public administration, and urban studies and planning. Graduates from all Wilder’s programs are prepared to work on complex problems at a local, state, national, and international level.
Post-baccalaureate graduate certificate in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
This program is designed for both those who are currently working in homeland security and emergency management and would like to position themselves to work in a management capacity, and those who plan to move into this career. The post-graduate certificate consists of 15 credit hours of courses, including a combination of online courses and in-person seminars. In addition, if you complete the certificate and plan to go on to the master’s program at Virginia Commonwealth, all credits from the certificate program are fully transferable.
Accreditations
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University is fully accredited by The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.
Contact
William Pelfrey Jr.
Program Chair
Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program
Phone: (804) 828-8467
Email: wvpelfrey@vcu.edu
http://www.wilder.vcu.edu/academic/certificate/security.html
While the majority of emergency management professionals work for state and local government entities, others are employed by hospitals, nonprofit corporations, and even private companies. There is a strong research component to this career, as emergency management directors must stay abreast of best practices in the field as new studies and technologies emerge. While positions in emergency management are typically full time during the week, there is also a need for on call personnel in the event of an emergency situation. Travel to conferences and meetings may also be required.
The ideal candidate for an emergency management career has spent several years working in the public safety realm before moving into emergency management. If you’re interested in this career path, you may first consider becoming a firefighter, police officer, emergency dispatcher, or emergency medical technician, as you complete your schooling in emergency management. The most important traits for someone in this role are excellent communication skills, keen critical thinking and decision making skills, strong leadership, and interpersonal abilities. If you want to learn more about emergency management degrees in Virginia, contact these specific programs to get details about enrollment and matriculation.
You may also like:
Using Social Media as a Crisis Management Tool [Infographic]