Online Master of Emergency Management

Master of Emergency Management

100% Online

The Master of Emergency Management Degree (MSEM) at the University of New England Online is a 36-credit program designed to prepare students to successfully lead or coordinate an organization’s response to a disaster and to determine preparedness and training activities. These online graduate-level emergency management courses are built to be interdisciplinary, allowing students to pursue a range of careers upon graduation, including roles within emergency response teams, city /town leadership, training development, municipal planning, and more!

As a fully online degree program, the Master of Emergency Management can accommodate full-time and part-time students and is ideal for working professionals in various sectors. Emergency Management is a dynamic field, and our program is designed to benefit recent graduates, career changers, and those who are already working in a responder role. Additionally, this program can be completed in as few as 24 months.

At UNE Online, you can be sure your courses are aligned to current issues and trends in emergency management and are grounded in quality and standards required by the industry.

 

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Why Choose the University of New England Online?

Fully Online

Fully Online

Courses are delivered fully online, allowing you flexibility to complete coursework around your schedule.

Supportive

Supportive

Support staff who are committed to providing our online students with the highest level of academic and personal support.

FEMA Certifications

FEMA Certifications

Embedded into course content to maintain industry standards.

Practical Application

Practical Application

Interactive branching scenario allows students to apply learning outcomes within courses.

FEMA Competencies and Certificates

Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) competencies are integrated into UNE Online’s Master of Emergency Management program. FEMA competencies are the playbook for the federal response to emergency situations. Our students have the opportunity to bolster their resumes by earning five separate FEMA certificates of completion. Fundamentals of Emergency Management, an Introduction to National Response Framework, and an Introduction to the Incident Command System are examples of FEMA competencies incorporated into the MSEM curriculum. Our students are prepared to fill FEMA roles and responsibilities upon graduation.

Emergency Management Certificate

Students have an opportunity to get started in our graduate-level certificate program, which will stack into the MS of Emergency Management. In addition to working toward the goal of the full 36-credit master’s degree, students may achieve a smaller credential along the way since many of the required courses of the certificate are also part of the master’s degree curriculum.

Get started working toward your Master of Emergency Management Degree by applying to the following graduate certificate:

Admissions

Successful applicants to UNE Online’s Master of Emergency Management will possess a strong understanding of the role healthcare plays in advancing community health, a demonstrated ability to succeed academically, and the capacity to master a broad range of disciplines crucial for career success. We review applicants in a comprehensive manner, taking into consideration their previous academic coursework, professional experiences and application materials.

Admission Requirements:
  • A bachelor’s degree or above from a regionally accredited institution or its equivalent. See International Admissions for details regarding evaluation of international degrees for grade and degree equivalency.
  • Applications are reviewed holistically as a determination of academic readiness. The admissions committee values previous academic performance as indicated on transcripts and considers it as part of the review process.
  • Computer with an internet connection, including the hardware and software requirements described in our Technical Requirements. Must also possess sufficient computer skills to navigate the internet as all classes are accessed 100% online.

Application Process:

  • Completed online application
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  • Goal Statement/Writing Sample
  • Two professional/academic references
  • Official transcripts reflecting conferral of a bachelor’s degree or above from a regionally accredited institution.

Note: Transcripts for any coursework appearing as transfer credit on the transcript of the conferred degree can be waived if the coursework is unrelated to the degree being sought. The program admissions committee defines all coursework not eligible for waiver.

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Master of Emergency Management Curriculum

The Online Master of Emergency Management degree curriculum is designed to make earning a graduate education accessible for full-time working professionals. The MSEM offers convenient, flexible courses, which are focused on practice and management to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and values to gain employment or get promoted in the growing and critical field of emergency management.

Courses Include:

  • Introduction to Emergency Management
  • Project Management
  • Communication
  • Occupational Health
  • Leadership and Strategic Management in Health Settings
  • Homeland Security & Bioterrorism
  • Cyber Threat Identification & Analysis
  • Grant Writing
  • Data Analysis
  • Environmental Factors of Disaster Management
  • Emergency Management Technology

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the University of New England Online graduate certificate programs is competitive among other schools at $830/credit*, and because all of our courses are delivered 100% online, you will not incur the cost of traveling or relocating to complete your degree. (*Note: Tuition is subject to change.)

Cost per
Credit: $830

# of credits for program:
36 credit hours

Cost per program:
$29,880

 

 

Application Fee (non-refundable)
Free
General Services Fee (per semester, non-refundable for matriculated students)
$80
Tuition (per credit hour)
$830
Technology Fee (per semester)
$160
Registration Fee (non-matriculated students per semester)
$30

Accreditations

New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) logoThe University of New England is regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE), which accredits schools and colleges in the six New England states. Accreditation by the Commission indicates that the institution has been carefully evaluated and found to meet standards agreed upon by qualified educators.

Faculty

With a mission centered on teaching, research and service, the Master of Emergency Management program boasts a renowned faculty who are leaders in emergency management, training development, and research with extensive collaborative partnerships in the community. The Emergency Management faculty is a dynamic group of experienced first responders, leaders, researchers and educators. Faculty actively engage with students from across the nation and around the world through online group discussion, email, and traditional office hours.

Each faculty member is a respected member in the field of Emergency Management and Public Health. Our expert faculty are essential to the success of UNE Online and to the continued success of our students.

Student Support & Resources

At the University of New England Online, we are committed to providing our students with the highest level of academic and personal support possible. Our online Emergency Management programs were created with the working professional in mind, and as such we realize that students need easy access to resources that can help them manage the degree requirements alongside their career and home life. Learn more about our Student Support and Resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Admissions

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, six times per year for our Master of Emergency Management graduate programs. Contact an Enrollment Counselor for program and enrollment information: (866) 722-5096 or owladmissions@une.edu

A bachelor’s degree or above from a regionally accredited institution or its equivalent. See International Admissions for details regarding evaluation of international degrees for grade and degree equivalency.

Yes! Applications are reviewed holistically as a determination of academic readiness. The admissions committee values previous academic performance as indicated on transcripts and considers it as part of the review process.

 

Registration

The online Master of Emergency Management program offers six terms of enrollment per year. Each term consists of two 8-week sessions. Students are eligible to take more than one course per session for accelerated learning.

Students taking one course per 8-week session are considered full time students, and eligible to receive financial aid.

No. The Emergency Management program is completed 100% online in an asynchronous format with no campus visits required. Students are welcome to visit campus and we offer all on-campus resources to online students.

We design the online classroom experience to suit the demanding schedule of full-time professionals. And recommend students log in to courses 3-5 times per week. Program assignments will vary by course and be shaped for best content delivery. These assignments include discussion boards, written papers, reading, exams, and collaborative group work.

For the best outcomes, our student support specialists recommend that you reserve 15-20 hours a week for coursework and studying.

 

Master of Emergency Management Program (MSEM)

The MSEM utilizes software that tracks the choices made by students and groups in various scenarios. Among learning design experts, this is known as a type of sophisticated branching scenario. The simulated emergency provides a direct context for the content students are learning each week – in a safe environment. In MSEM courses, students are making decisions about communications, supply chain, etc. Being able to apply their theoretical knowledge in a simulation and then creating an after-action report allows for a great deal of reflection – and by examining their decision-making process, students learn from their mistakes differently.

FEMA competencies are the playbook of federal response, and are goldmines of information. The competencies taught within them are the fundamentals of organization and leadership, which are foundational to this course. In addition, these skills are what FEMA requires of their staff. We produce graduates who are ready to step into those FEMA roles.

Students have the opportunity to achieve five separate FEMA credentials when they complete each FEMA competency during the MSEM courses. For each FEMA course, the student earns a certificate of completion, which looks great on a resume. In addition, if you need Continuing Education (CE) credits for your job, each certificate is worth a certain amount of CE credits. You can achieve two goals at once!

Below are some of the examples of the competencies and FEMA credentials that are part of the degree. There will be additional FEMA credentials available as well.

IS-230.D: Fundamentals of Emergency Management

The goal of this course is to introduce you to the fundamentals of emergency management. This course presents emergency management as an integrated system with resources and capabilities networked together to address all hazards. This is the first course in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute’s independent study Professional Development Series.

IS-800.D: National Response Framework, An Introduction

The goal of the IS-0800.d, National Response Framework, An Introduction, is to provide guidance for the whole community. Within this broad audience, the National Response Framework focuses especially on those who are involved in delivering and applying the response core capabilities.

IS-240.B: Leadership and Influence

Being able to lead others—to motivate them and commit their energies and expertise to achieve the shared mission and goals of the emergency management system—is a necessary and vital part of every emergency manager’s, planner’s, and responder’s job. The goal of this course is to improve leadership and influence skills.

IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System

This course provides an overview of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The National Incident Management System defines the comprehensive approach guiding the whole community—all levels of government, non-governmental organizations (NGO), and the private sector—to work together seamlessly to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the effects of incidents. The course provides learners with a basic understanding of NIMS concepts, principles, and components.

IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100

ICS 100, Introduction to the Incident Command System, introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) and provides the foundation for higher-level ICS training. This course describes the history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System. It also explains the relationship between ICS and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

The above are just a sampling of FEMA credential examples in the course. If you have questions about additional FEMA credentials not listed above as part of the course, reach out to your admissions representative.

 

Transfer Credits

Yes. Upon acceptance, students may apply to transfer up to three, 3-credit courses (maximum nine semester credits) into the program.

Yes, students who successfully complete the graduate certificate in Emergency Management can “stack” their 12 earned credits into UNE’s 100% online 36-credit Master of Emergency Management degree program. This can be done immediately or within several years after completion of the graduate certificate. Reach out to an enrollment counselor at healthcareadmin@une.edu or (866) 722-5096 for more details on this opportunity.

 

Student Support

Our motto is “A successful student is a supported student.” And we take that to heart. Upon entering the program, you will be assigned a dedicated Student Support Specialist to provide you with support and to answer any questions you may have.

Your Support Specialist is your on-the-ground advocate at the University – from questions on textbooks, to registration, to financial aid and more, they are there to help you make your academic journey successful. And of course, this dedicated support is provided in addition to the tremendous support you will receive from program staff, your academic advisor, course instructors and fellow classmates.

The Emergency Management program uses the Brightspace D2L Learning Management System.

 

Accreditation

Yes, the University of New England is regionally accredited, the most prestigious and widely-recognized type of accreditation, by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE). To learn more, please see www.une.edu/accreditation/.

 

Financial Information

Tuition information for the MSEM is available here.

UNE is proud to be among ‘America’s Top Colleges’ according to Forbes and one of the ‘Best Colleges for your Money’ based on a 2019 MONEY magazine ranking. We value each graduate’s return on investment and ensure academic quality translates to higher earnings. More than 90% of our students receive some form of financial aid. Please visit our financial aid page for more information.