10 Best Master’s Degrees in Emergency Management 2020

The best master’s degrees in emergency management prepare you to deal with disasters both natural and manmade, while giving you job security for life. Climate change and terrorism; two topics that have dominated headlines throughout the beginning of the 21st century. And, two areas in which an emergency management degree can drive you towards a varied and interesting career. A localized disaster can have repercussions that ripple across the globe, meaning a career in emergency management can set you up for international opportunities. From the Californian wildfires to the hurricanes that devastated the Carribean, emergency management is needed everywhere. A career in this field will give you variety and excitement, while preparing you to be at the forefront of national or international crises. What Is a Master’s Degree in Emergency Management? Emergency management refers to the cooperation that happens between multiple organizations that respond to man-made or natural catastrophes. It deals not only with response to and recovery from such disasters, but also to the readiness for and mitigation of them. Emergency management programs typically aim to equip students with knowledge of each of these areas, plus the ability to specialize. Youll study the kinds of small and large-scale disasters that can occur and focus on the implementation of preventative measures. You’ll look at how to reduce the impact of natural or man-made crisis scenarios. Youll study disaster response, recovery, and how to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen communities. Schools differ in their requirements, though most bachelor programs ask for a minimum GPA of 2.0. Within emergency management programs, students can specialize in a variety of concentrations that prepare them for careers in different but relevant fields. These may include specializations such as disaster preparedness, disaster relief, business continuity, homeland security, and fire science. Careers After Getting a Master’s in Emergency Management Some emergency management graduates opt for a career in emergency medical aid, working as an EMT or a paramedic. But with broad specializations available, you’re not limited to a specific career and can instead pursue managerial positions. If your preference is for the logistical side of emergency management, you may follow the emergency management directors career path. Behind the scenes, information security analysts work with technology to support their colleagues in the field. You might be installing and monitoring software to bolster international cyber security or carrying out penetration tests to detect weaknesses in infrastructure. Following a disaster, you could be working to restore critical systems and mitigate weaknesses. Beyond this program of study, graduates gain accreditation towards certain licenses and other certifications. Depending on your specialization, you could obtain certification as an Associate business continuity professional or associate emergency manager. There’s also the certified emergency manager and certified functional continuity professional, though this list is not exhaustive. Master’s in Emergency Management Salary Potential Like any profession, the salaries available in the field of emergency management can vary based on experience in the role. The average salary for an emergency management degree can vary from around $45,000 to $110,000, with a median of around $70,000. However, certain career paths can exceed this number, for example, working within the federal executive branch. State government or local government roles pay from $60-70,000 on average, while hospital roles average at $85,000. Working with a college or university averages at around $93,000, while working in electric power distribution and generation averages around $100,000. Salaries over $100,000 are routinely found within gederal roles or those in scientific research and large enterprises or corporations. In some areas of the country, particularly where demand for workers is greater, the earning potential can be higher. Additionally, by studying for an advanced degree, youll typically earn more than if you only have a bachelors degree. With one of the above specializations, or another approved accreditation, youll increase your subject matter expertise and your earning potential. What are the Best Master’s in Emergency Management Programs? We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of CollegeRank utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following three aspects: 40% Potential Salary After Graduation: Average mid-career salary of school alumni 30% Institutional Accreditation: Regional and National Accreditation for the 2019-2020 school year 30% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school At CollegeRank, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@collegerank.net. 1New Jersey Institute of TechnologyLocationNewark, New JerseyAverage Net Price$17,855More information The New Jersey Institute of Technology was founded in 1885 as the Newark Technical school. This first incarnation of the school was attended by only 88 students, but NJIT has grown; today, it hosts more than 11,000 students on its Newark, NJ campus. Students at NJIT can also cross-register with Rutgers University Newark, as the schools’ campuses border each other. NJIT offers a Master of Science program in Emergency Management and Business Continuity. Students complete 30 credit hours of coursework, which is divided among fundamental, elective, and specialty area courses, which account for 12, 6, and 12 hours of the requirements, respectively. Some of the early fundamental courses in the program include Command and Control Systems and Emergency Management Informatics. Students then choose two electives from options such as Geographic Information System and Social Dimensions of Risk. Finally, students select a focus area from the following: Critical Infrastructure, Computer Engineering, Environmental Science, Information Systems, and Management.