Master of Science - Emergency and Crisis Management
Program Overview
Master of Science - Emergency and Crisis Management
The Emergency and Crisis Management Master of Science degree is designed to give students the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to become leaders in their profession. The mission of the program is to provide current and future emergency and crisis management leaders with a well-rounded graduate learning experience, enabling them to effectively address natural, intentional, and technological disasters.
About
Students will learn how to create and analyze emergency plans for organizations and communities, lead during challenging periods, and offer pathways for community resiliency. The program will also teach students about legal and political issues relevant to disasters and terrorism. UNLV was one of the first universities to create an Emergency Management Master's degree program after the September 11th attacks. The program continues to grow and develop, increasing its partnerships with agencies and experts in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze the evolution of emergency management policy and practice in natural, intentional, and technical disasters, including the scientific principles in defining, measuring, planning, and recovering from these events.
- Identify the characteristics, growth, and trends of terrorism, as well as the underlying social, political, and economic causes, as it relates to emergency management.
- Differentiate the authority, responsibility, legislation, and policies between levels of government tasked with managing natural, intentional, and technical disasters.
- Evaluate organizational leadership theories and individual styles, as well as decision-making models used in coordinating with internal or external stakeholders.
- Investigate community vulnerability and resilience, including the psychological, economic, and sociological impacts on individuals and groups, through the development and implementation of exercise elements and organizational response plans.
- Analyze the principles in the prevention, planning, risk, mitigation, response, and recovery, culminating in the design of a comprehensive emergency management program incorporating operational procedures and available resources.
Career Possibilities
The program prepares students for success in the rapidly growing emergency management profession, enabling them to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and human-created emergencies and crises.
Requirements
Plan Description
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Department of Criminal Justice offers a Master of Science Degree in Emergency and Crisis Management (ECM). The ECM professional degree program prepares students for success in the emergency management profession. The program is designed for individuals to develop skills that enable them to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and human-created emergencies and crises.
Plan Admission Requirements
- A minimum grade point average of 2.75 overall for all undergraduate work. When GPA is below 2.75, applicant will need to submit a detailed account of how their work history and/or educational experiences relate to the program.
- A completed Graduate College application.
- Submission of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
- A resume indicating professional experience.
- A personal statement.
- Three letters of recommendation from either academic or professional sources.
- A nonrefundable admission application fee.
Plan Requirements
- Total Credits Required: 36
- The degree requires twelve courses (36 credits), taken both online and on campus.
- All students who enter the program are expected to complete the program as a cohort.
- Each cohort will come to campus for five weekend on-campus sessions; the remainder of the educational experience involves interaction with instructors and classmates via web-based applications, email, and telephone.
Course Requirements
Required Courses – Credits: 27
- ECEM 711 - Crisis and Emergency Management
- ECEM 714 - Community Resilience
- ECEM 716 - Technology in Emergency Management
- ECEM 721 - Leadership, Innovation, and Adaptability
- ECEM 724 - Exercise Design and Response Plan
- ECEM 725 - Crisis Communication
- ECEM 726 - Trauma and Stress Management
- ECEM 731 - Risk Assessment, Mitigation, and Communication
- ECEM 733 - Response and Recovery
Additional Required Courses - Credits: 3
Students are required to complete either ECEM 722 or ECEM 723.
- ECEM 722 - Community Preparedness
- ECEM 723 - Human Considerations
Elective Courses - Credits: 3
Students must choose one of the three courses listed below.
- ECEM 712 - Science of Catastrophes
- ECEM 713 - Evolution of Terrorism
- ECEM 715 - Special Topics in Emergency and Crisis Management
Culminating Experience – Credits: 3
- ECEM 734 - Research in the Implementation of Concepts in Crisis and Emergency Management
Degree Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 36 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
- The degree requires the twelve courses listed above (36 credits), taken both online and on campus.
Plan Graduation Requirements
Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college.