The market for emergency management personnel is on the brink of exponential expansion. One reason why: The field is emerging as an independent profession that offers the promise of increased identity, prestige, and monetary benefits for those holding degrees in the discipline. Before September 11, 2001, the job market for emergency management was already expanding quickly. The movement of populat
ions into the “Sunshine States” and into risk-prone areas such as coastlines, floodplains, and forests made natural events such as hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes far more threatening and challenging to communities and businesses. After September 11, terrorism in all forms — including biological and chemical — became a crucial and inextricable part of emergency management. Only the second such program in New England, the M.S. in Emergency Management program offers 36 credits of interdisciplinary coursework — delivered both online and on campus — that prepares students for successful roles in disaster mitigation and prevention. Students in the program complete eight required core courses covering topics in hazard mitigation, catastrophe readiness, disaster recovery, emergency incident management, and more. An additional four courses are required for the degree and can be completed as electives or as requirements to satisfy a graduate certificate in criminal justice management, fire science, public administration, national security administration, or another area.
