Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery

The ability to respond effectively to natural, human-caused and technology-related disasters is essential to keeping populations safe, mitigating losses, and ensuring the continuity of essential services and business operations. Aging infrastructures, climate change, population growth, scarce natural resources, terrorist and active shooter scenarios, and sophisticated cyber-crime all contribute to the rapidly expanding need for individuals who are skilled at preventing, responding, mitigating, and recovering from a wide variety of threats. The Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery Specialized Studies certificate prepares professionals to enter or advance their careers in this rewarding and highly demanding field.

Who Should Enroll

The program is for individuals who wish to enter this exciting field and those already in the field looking to enhance their professional credentials with applicable knowledge and practical skills. The certificate is valuable for government employees, first responders, and private sector professionals who are or wish to become more skilled in emergency management, disaster recovery, and business continuity. The program is also ideal for military personnel transitioning to civilian careers, facilities and human resource managers, professionals who are assigned emergency management duties, and recent college graduates. The program is also valuable for individual citizens who wish to become effective members of an emergency response team.

Program Benefits

• Build skills and knowledge that are essential when preparing, mitigating, responding, and recovering from a wide variety of possible disasters
• Become an effective member of an emergency response team
• Have the confidence to take action in a crisis based on established models and practices
• Learn practical knowledge from experts in the field
• Create effective response plans for a variety of emergencies and disasters
• Understand the relationships between local, state, and federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, during a disaster
• Create hazard and risk analysis plans
• Create an incident management report to prevent future re-occurrences
• Enhance your knowledge of risk and threat assessments, prepare emergency plans, manage response, and develop and implement recovery plans
• Learn how to apply the regulations, standards, and tools that govern emergency management, such as Standard Event Management Systems (SEMS), National Incident Management Systems (NIMS), and the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA 1600) National Preparedness Standard
• Build a business continuity plan
• Learn how to reduce and/or eliminate long term risks and hazards

Eligibility and Requirements

Apply to become a candidate for the program: A Declaration of Candidacy is required to establish candidacy in this program. Complete the application and pay the application and candidacy fee of $125 (non-refundable). Learn more about the benefits of becoming a candidate. Candidacy is not required to enroll into individual course in a program.

A candidate in the program is awarded a specialized studies certificate upon the successful completion of a minimum of 9 units, each with a letter grade of “C” or better. All requirements must be completed within five (5) years after the student enrolls in their first course. To receive the Certified Digital Certificate after the completing all the program requirements, students must submit the Request for Certificate to initiate the certificate audit process. Students not pursuing the certificate are welcome to take as many individual courses as they wish.

Program Overview: Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery