Master of Science In Emergency Management

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.

When opportunity knocks

Before September 11, 2001, the job market for emergency management was already expanding quickly. The movement of populations 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.

A unique experience

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 of electives are required for the degree, with the approval of the program advisor students may select courses from areas of study such as criminal justice, fire science, public administration, national security, or another area.

Welcome Message from the Program Coordinator

Welcome! Our online and on campus programs cater to everyone who has successfully earned a bachelor’s degree in any field and is interested in earning a master’s degree or graduate certificate in Emergency Management.

Our faculty offer a balance of advanced academic researchers and expert practitioners who get a charge out of sharing their own and learning from student experiences and well-grounded research into how best to handle emergencies and disasters. Our focus on student needs and goals means that whatever you want to get out of your graduate program, we are here to help make it happen. Do you want to get experience in both emergency management and another related field? No problem. We will work with you to arrange a personalized program where you can earn a graduate certificate in another department while also earning your master’s degree. If you are equally interested in a related field and in emergency management, we will work with you to craft multiple degree and/or graduate certificate programs to help meet your goals.

Whether joining the online M.S. program or the on-campus M.S. program, you will find your fellow students range from people who have no direct experience with emergency management to certified emergency managers, fire department chiefs, and practicing medical doctors interested in understanding how emergency management works in the United States. So, if you’re already experienced but interested in brushing up on specifics while earning your degree to get a promotion, or whether you see what’s happening in the world today and feel it’s important to know how to effectively prepare for, mitigate against, respond to, and/or recover from emergencies and disasters, the University of New Haven’s Master’s Degree Program in Emergency Management is here to help you help your community.

Please feel free to contact me at rdowtybeech@newhaven.edu with any questions.

Peace, health, and safety,
Dr. Rachel Dowty Beech
Coordinator, M.S. Program in Emergency Management

Envision Your Future

The information below is designed to show the many possible careers you could pursue with your major. The research is provided by Encoura, the leading research and advisory firm focused exclusively on higher education. It includes median national salaries and industry growth projections over the next decade. Click here to view the full report.

$116K

Personal Services Manager

7% Growth 2021-2030

$93K

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

5% Growth 2021-2030

$76K

Emergency Management Directors

3% Growth 2021-2030

Nationally Recognized Center for Career Development

All University of New Haven students have access to the many resources available through the University’s Career Development Center, which has been named one of the best in the nation by The Princeton Review.

From career assessments, networking, and job shadowing to on-campus interviews and salary negotiation, the Career Development Center provides the skills and connections to identify a meaningful career and an opportunity to pursue your passion.

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Selected Courses and Programs
  • This course will provide the student with an understanding of the principles and practice of hazard mitigation in the United States at the local, state, regional, and federal levels of governance, emphasizing the importance of avoiding or preventing future and recurring losses of life and damage to public and private property. Based on this understanding, a further objective of the course is to familiarize students with the tools, techniques, resources, programs, intergovernmental relationships, and broader social context involved in planning for and implementing hazard mitigation. Case studies, exercises, and discussions will be used to encourage critical review of the philosophy and principles of emergency management.

  • This course will provide a study of the effective organization and management of emergency resources at various fire and large-scale emergency incidents. Includes a review of national standards and federal regulations impacting emergency incident management.

  • Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to describe and discuss the characteristics of catastrophic events and the differences in strategies, techniques, and tools that are needed to prepare for and coordinate the response to catastrophes as compared to the disasters that form the core assumption of most modern emergency management work. This course is designed to help students step into a leadership role in catastrophe readiness and response. Case studies, exercises, and discussions will be used to encourage critical review of the philosophy and principles of emergency management.

  • This course will provide an overview of empirical vs. theoretical approaches; human behavior in disaster, myths and reality; group disaster behavior; community social systems and disaster; cultures, demographics, and disaster behavior distinctions, and model-building in sociological disaster research.

  • The University of New Haven offers a wide variety of in-depth courses that create a transformational educational experience for our students. To view the complete list of courses you'll take while pursuing a Masters of Science in Emergency Management, check out the Academic Catalog:

    Emergency Management, M.S.

    Emergency Management Certificate

Learn from professors who are dedicated to your success.

Our faculty are leaders and innovators in their fields, bringing both deep professional experience and academic rigor to the classroom.

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Next Steps
  • An advanced degree from the University of New Haven will help you take your career to the next level. Each program offers convenient scheduling, personalized attention, and state-of-the-art facilities.

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  • The University of New Haven Graduate School is an excellent value with reasonable tuition. Of course, you will still have bills to pay and the Financial Aid office can help.

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