Five Hallmarks of a Quality Emergency Mangement Degree Program – Emergency Management Degree Program Guide

January 29, 2018July 31, 2020

5 Characteristics of Great Emergency Management Programs

Accreditation
Professors with Relevant Experience
An Active Alumni Association
Rigorous Admissions Standards
Partnerships with Local or Federal Agencies

In the past two decades, many universities have opened new programs in emergency management in response to rising national demand. How can prospective students know if a program is worth its tuition and fees? High-quality emergency management degrees share the following five characteristics.

1. Accreditation

Emergency management is a newcomer to academia. Many older emergency managers were professionally trained on-the-job as they transitioned from careers in policing, fire safety or occupational health. While most academic fields boast a wide number of accredited schools, emergency management currently has only three universities that have been accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Emergency Management Education (CAEME). Because the field is so new and CAEME is still growing, it hasn’t been possible to evaluate many of the colleges currently offering degrees in emergency management. This means diligent students must also consider accreditation from other sources like regional accreditation agencies, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and state government departments.

2. Professors with Relevant Experience

The best programs in emergency management feature professors and lecturers with careers in the field. Students will benefit from hearing real-world examples and syllabi designed to teach practical, hands-on skills. Well-connected professors can offer meaningful career advice, letters of recommendation and academic guidance. It’s also important for professors to pursue research agendas that mirror the needs of active emergency management practitioners. Field experience lets academics know the most critical areas for research.

3. An Active Alumni Association

Ideally, graduates end up in relevant, rewarding jobs and feel their studies adequately prepared them for their work. Satisfied graduates participate in alumni networks because they want to help their employers recruit other qualified candidates. Strong, well-regarded academic programs in emergency management can boast active alumni programs with recruitment events, networking opportunities and mentorship programs.

4. Rigorous Admissions Standards

Quality programs want quality students. Although there are no specific tests to indicate readiness for a master’s degree in emergency management, good programs will require applicants to take the Graduate Readiness Examination (GRE). Quality programs will also ask for writing samples, motivational statements and a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA). At the undergraduate level, programs will often require applicants to complete certain prerequisite courses in English, Math or Science before applying for admission.

5. Partnerships with Local or Federal Agencies

Many great programs require students to complete an internship in emergency management. For these internships to be helpful, schools need strong relationships with local agencies. If state and federal programs are eager to work with students from a particular program, as evidenced by recent internship placements at these agencies, that’s a good sign that the school produces quality graduates. Great departments will also share staff with local departments; it’s common to see associate professors who teach emergency management classes in the evenings and spend the day at a government office.

Completing a university degree is a major commitment. It’s worth the time to evaluate if a school has these five hallmarks of a quality emergency management program.