Disaster and Emergency Management Degrees at Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University appears in our ranking of the Top 10 Emergency Management Master’s Degrees Online.
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Fort Lauderdale, FL, offers students two different paths to obtain degrees in disaster and emergency management. Only master’s degrees are offered in this field. Students can choose the Master’s in Public Administration (M.P.A.) concentration offered by the Huizinga College of Business and Entrepreneurship. This concentration requires students to take four courses, three of which are through NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and one through the business school. The mission of the M.P.A. concentration is to enhance the operation of local and state government, along with non-profit organizations. Both traditional and online classes are available.
The other major route is the Master of Science program in Disaster and Emergency Management offered by the Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine. This comprehensive program covers the theory of emergency management along with hazard prevention, response, mitigation and recovery. Specialty tracks in maritime safety and security, cyber security, fire administration, public health and criminal justice are available. All classes are taught online.
NSU’s Institute for Disaster and Emergency Preparedness (IDEP) is involved in creating course curriculum for the Master of Science Program through the Patel Osteopathic College. IDEP also offers a variety of online continuing education courses for professionals working in emergency preparedness. Upon completion of one of these courses, students received a certificate from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).
About Nova Southeastern University
Originally called Nova University of Advanced Technology upon its establishment in 1964, NSU began operation as a graduate institution for physical and social science. The original institution merged with Southeastern University of Health Sciences to form Nova Southeastern University in 1994. NSU has a reputation of being a top research institution as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and currently uses more than $82 million in outside funding for research projects in health care, biotechnology, life sciences and more. A total of about 24,000 students attend the school at its main campus in Fort Lauderdale and at satellite locations throughout the state of Florida. NSU is also the largest private, non-profit institution of higher learning in the United States that meets the U.S. Department of Education’s criteria for superior service to Hispanic populations.
In just a little over five decades, NSU has established a stellar academic reputation. The school has 16 separate colleges covering various academic fields that include law, medicine and health-related careers, social sciences, education, natural sciences, humanities, engineering and computing. In addition to its academic efforts, NSU provides cultural enrichment to the Florida community through its Arts Museum in Fort Lauderdale, the Miniaci Performing Arts Center and the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center.
Nova Southeastern University Accreditation Details
The Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges (SASCOC) has provided general accreditation to NSU to award associate’s, bachelor’s master’s, doctoral and professional degrees along with educational specialist designations. The Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (NASPAA) has granted accreditation to the M.P.A. Concentration In Disaster And Emergency Management. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association.
Nova Southeastern University Application Requirements
Admission to the M.P.A. Concentration in Disaster And Emergency Management in the Huizinga College of Business is competitive, so each application is individually reviewed. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college to be considered for admission along with a minimal grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Individuals with a GPA lower than 2.5 will be considered with a Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score of 450 or higher or the equivalent score on the Graduate Records Examination (GRE). Students whose first language is not English must submit an acceptable English language proficiency test score. A completed admission application and a non-refundable $50 fee are required along with official transcripts from all schools attended.
Admissions requirements for the Master of Science program in Disaster and Emergency Management offered by the Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine are slightly different. In addition to the required online application, $50 fee, official transcripts and English language test, if applicable, students must also submit an essay describing their interest in the field, along with two letters of recommendation. GRE or GMAT test scores are also required unless an applicant has already pursued another area of graduate study.
NSU does not spell out admission requirements for students interested in continuing education courses available through its Institute for Disaster and Emergency Preparedness.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for the M.P.A. concentration ranges from $100 to $899 per credit hour depending on the course selected. For master’s degree courses taught by the College of Osteopathic Medicine faculty, the cost is $585 per credit hour.
A variety of financial aid opportunities are available through NSU. The school requires its students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to become eligible for student loans and grants available through the federal government. Scholarship opportunities from the College of Osteopathic Medicine are limited. Disaster Management students can apply for the Osteopathic Medicine Chancellor’s Scholarship if they are a resident of Florida, come from a disadvantaged background and demonstrate financial need through the FAFSA application. The Huizinga College of Business has more scholarship opportunities available to graduate students studying disaster management. These include the Government Employee Tuition Award, Graduate Business Student Tuition Award, Jacki Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship, Military Tuition Award, Not-for-Profit Organizations Tuition Award and the NSU Alumni Tuition Award.
NSU students may also apply for grants such as the Florida Bright Future Scholarship or federal Pell grants. Veterans of the United States military can also qualify for reduced tuition at Nova Southeastern University through a variety of programs that include the Montgomery GI Bill, the Post 9/11 GI Bill, Survivors and Dependents Assistance, the Montgomery GI Bill for the Selected Reserve and the Reserve Education Assistance Program.
For more information on all graduate programs and courses related to disaster and emergency management at Nova Southeastern University, contact the Disaster and Emergency Medicine Program or the M.P.A. Concentration In Disaster And Emergency Management for master’s programs. For continuing education, visit the Institute for Disaster and Emergency Preparedness.