Emergency management professionals may work in homeland security, crisis management, and disaster recovery roles. Their work involves coordinating agencies and resources following natural and other large-scale disasters.
Individuals with backgrounds in emergency management, the military, law enforcement, fire safety, and related fields often pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees in this field to advance in their careers. Emergency management degrees prepare graduates to respond to man-made or natural disasters.
Other degrees can prepare you to work as an emergency management director in government agencies, educational institutions, hospitals, or private companies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that emergency management directors earned a median salary of $76,730 as of May 2021.
Many professionals earn their emergency management degrees online. Some colleges and universities offer general bachelor's degrees in emergency management, while others feature degrees that focus on specific sectors within emergency management.
Learn more about emergency management careers and the types of online degrees commonly held by professionals in this field.
Pursuing an Affordable Emergency Management Degree
People interested in saving lives and protecting the safety of millions can consider degrees in emergency management. The field commonly involves four areas of disaster relief work: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Start by determining the agency you'd like to work in to find your ideal online emergency management degree. For instance, students looking to work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security can prioritize programs focusing on homeland security.
Professionals in the field aim to prevent and respond to natural and man-made emergencies. They may work as emergency management directors, firefighters, and community health workers.
Featured Online Management Programs
Find a program that meets your affordability, flexibility, and education needs through an accredited, online school.
What Can You Do With a Degree in Emergency Management?
Graduates with online degrees in emergency management can pursue work in all areas of disaster response. Depending on your experience, you might pursue emergency management roles in cybersecurity, firefighting, law enforcement, or public administration. Job titles held by people with emergency management degrees include crisis and risk managers, relief organization personnel, and public information officers.
Graduates can pursue work in public and private organizations. These might include nonprofit, federal, or state institutions, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, the National Guard, or the Department of Homeland Security.
What Kind of Emergency Management Degree Should You Get?
Broad emergency management programs often suit most aspiring professionals in this field. In these programs, learners can select concentrations in their areas of interest, such as homeland security or firefighting. These specializations help tailor their studies to their career goals.
Busy students or those who plan to continue working while earning their degree may benefit from online programs. An online emergency management degree gives students flexibility in scheduling, completing assignments, and school choice.
Individuals looking for other affordable online degrees can browse our list of the most affordable online schools.
How Much Money Do People Make With an Emergency Management Degree?
Salary for graduates with emergency management degrees varies by job, employer, and location. According to the BLS, emergency management directors earn a median annual salary of $76,730 as of May 2021. However, the BLS projects jobs for these professionals to grow at a slower-than-average rate of 3% from 2021-2031.
Graduates can also pursue work as firefighters, who earn a median salary of $50,700 per year, or law enforcement officers, who take home a median of $66,020 per year. Emergency management degree-holders can also pursue cybersecurity careers. They may work as information security analysts to protect organizations' computer networks from security breaches. As of May 2021, these professionals earn a median annual salary of $102,600.
What Are The Requirements for a Degree in Emergency Management?
Most bachelor's degrees in emergency management require at least 120 credits. However, this varies by institution, as many provide prior learning credit for past work, military service, or transferable college courses. Students receive training in communication, homeland security, and disaster response.
While enrolled in undergraduate studies, most learners take general education courses. These courses may include writing and college algebra. Enrollees also complete coursework in emergency management and their chosen specialty areas.
A broad, interdisciplinary mindset can benefit candidates for online emergency management degrees. Students also need strong communication skills and a passion to serve the needs of society.
What Are The Best Emergency Management Degrees?
The best online programs in emergency management tailor their curricula to busy working students. Many schools offer quality, asynchronous online programs that allow emergency management students to gain industry knowledge through interactive classes without set login times.
General education, electives, and advanced courses comprise a typical emergency management curriculum. Experiential learning opportunities supplement enrollees' academic experiences, as degree-seekers gain first-hand knowledge of working in the emergency management field through research, internships, and externships.
Admissions offices can tell applicants more about the eligibility requirements for enrollment. Students should always meet with financial aid departments to see if they qualify. Funding opportunities, such as scholarships and fellowships, help qualified learners decrease their educational expenses.
