By EMDPG Staff
September 2016
Welcome to our ranking of the top doctorate in emergency management degrees online.
Why earn a doctorate in emergency management online? Why earn a doctorate in emergency management at all? The 21st century has ushered in a new era of opportunities and challenges. On one hand, technological innovations allow people to access high caliber education without leaving the house. On the other hand, changing tactics in warfare make violent threats more unpredictable and damaging than ever. Put your hands together, and you the exact reason to pursue a PhD in emergency management online.
Methodology
Admittedly, academic opportunities in this field are rare. We scoured the options all across the country to come up with this top 10 ranking – and these may very well be the only doctoral programs in emergency management in the entire nation available through distance education. As such, you can consider this your go-to resource for emergency management education at the highest level of study, whether your particular focus is on homeland security, cybersecurity, or biosecurity. We’ve arranged the programs in order from most to least expensive, assigning public schools an approximate cost that averages their in-state and out-of-state rates. Take a look and see what you think!
10. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA
Online PhD in Fire Protection Engineering
School Profile
The first school on this ranking doesn’t exactly have a PhD in emergency management online, but it does have a doctoral program in Fire Protection Engineering. This truly unique program offers an especially distinctive experience to students who have already chosen to pursue a highly specialized career. Courses range from Fire Dynamics to Explosion Protection, and collaborative projects – which bring both on and off-campus students as well as faculty together to solve problems – are a major part of the curriculum. And although WPI’s degree is the most expensive on this list, the department offers numerous scholarships just for students in the Fire Protection Engineering programs.
Tuition & Fees: $24,648/yr
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8. Northcentral University
Prescott Valley, AZ
Online Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration: Homeland Security Leadership and Policy
School Profile
Of all the emergency management doctoral programs online, Northcentral University has one of the few that focuses on homeland security. Emergencies can take several forms, and most would agree that terrorist attacks are among the most severe that a nation could experience. The evolving threats of the 21st century have increased the demand for professionals who can act as leaders in this field – and that’s where Northcentral comes in. The university’s targeted curriculum imparts valuable knowledge regarding intelligence operations, critical infrastructure security, defense strategy, and disaster preparedness, among other subjects.
Tuition & Fees: $17,171/yr
7. New Jersey City University
Jersey City, NJ
Online Doctorate of Science in Civil Security Leadership, Management and Policy
School Profile
A true standout on this shortlist of top online doctorate in emergency management degrees, New Jersey City University has a PhD unlike any other in the country. The degree is the brainchild of the Professional Security Studies Department, which has garnered national recognition from the National Security Agency for excellence in security education. Online students can choose from concentrations in Cybersecurity, Homeland Security and Intelligence, and Corporate Security. And although they can easily complete most of their classes online over a three-year period, occasional weekend trips to campus and summer residencies are required.
Tuition & Fees: $15,674/yr
6. Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK
Online Doctor of Philosophy in Fire and Emergency Management
School Profile
One of just two doctorate in emergency management degrees online to incorporate fire services as a main part of the curriculum, Oklahoma State University offers relevant, contemporary training from which any industry professional could benefit. Beyond traditional emergency management and fire science topics, OSU also dishes out useful lessons in organizational management, terrorism, public policy, human dimensions of disaster, and leadership. The doctoral program, which serves as an extension of the twenty year-old master’s degree by the same name, works equally well for students who seek careers in academia or industry.
Tuition & Fees: $14,307/yr
5. Capella University
Minneapolis, MN
Online Doctor of Philosophy in Emergency Management: Emergency Management Specialization
School Profile
If you’re committed to a career that will secure you top management positions while also providing meaningful work experience, Capella University’s School of Public Service Leadership has a degree for you. Within this school you’ll find the online emergency management doctoral program, a career-focused degree that incorporates coursework in Response, Continuity, Recovery, and Resilience; Critical Analysis and Research; and Risk Management, among others. In this program, the emphasis is on becoming a capable and experienced leader rather than simply amassing a certain amount of fixed knowledge. Thus, the ideal graduate is one who has evolved into a quick-thinking, confident, and decisive first responder.
Tuition & Fees: $14,175/yr
4. Colorado Technical University-Online
Colorado Springs, CO
Online Doctor of Management – Homeland Security
School Profile
At Colorado Technical University, you’ll find a degree program that not only blends your favorite aspects of business, law enforcement, and public policy, but is also available 100% online. Like many online PhDs in emergency management, CTU’s Doctor of Management with a concentration in Homeland Security shines a spotlight on our country’s need for professionals who are knowledgeable in all aspects of national security. 20 credits of concentration-specific courses such as Risk, Resilience, and Innovation in Security Policy and Issues in Public Health and Emergency Planning will put you on the fast track to success, while more than 40 credits of research-focused courses will give you plenty of time to complete that all-important dissertation.
Tuition & Fees: $13,731/yr
3. Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, AL
Online Doctor of Science Program in Emergency Management
School Profile
Jacksonville State University sometimes refers to itself as “the friendliest campus in the south.” But if you don’t live on campus – or even in the south, for that matter – JSU also offers a very friendly selection of distance learning option. This includes the affordable emergency management doctoral program online, which packs a wealth of industry-relevant lessons into just 60 credit hours. The curriculum is efficiently organized into themed segments that will keep you squarely on track to graduation: 35 credit hours in Administration and Policy, Research Methods and Statistics, Practice Areas (the most emergency management-focused courses), and Electives; three integrative seminar courses (one each year for three years), and 18 credit hours of dissertation research.
Tuition & Fees: $13,656/yr
2. Walden University
Minneapolis, MN
Online Emergency Management PhD in Criminal Justice
School Profile
Walden University is well known as one of the leaders in distance learning, a reputation due in part to its nearly 50-year history in higher education and its nearly 50,000 student enrollment. In many ways the school boasts universal appeal, but its top online emergency management doctoral program is one of a kind. The only such PhD available as a concentration within a criminal justice degree, Walden’s emergency management specialization blends security concerns and disaster response in a way not many schools can. In addition to 81 credits of advanced coursework and dissertation research, PhD students at Walden must also complete four on-campus residencies (a minimum of 16 days) in order to graduate.
Tuition & Fees: $12,609/yr
1. North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND
Online Emergency Management Doctoral Degree Program
School Profile
Officially, North Dakota State University snags the top spot on this doctorate in emergency management degree online ranking by offering the cheapest annual tuition rate. And while affordability is important, there are a lot of other factors that could make or break the academic experience for online students. Luckily, NDSU checks out in just about every area. The PhD program boasts a comprehensive curriculum that covers hazard events, disaster mitigation, vulnerability, and coping, among other subjects. The catch? NDSU’s program is not 100% online. In fact, PhD students will likely need to attend campus for more than 50% of their classes before starting on their dissertation.
Tuition & Fees: $10,894/yr
You’ve reached the end of our ranking of the best emergency management doctoral programs online.
See also: 20 Top Emergency Management Bachelor’s Degree Programs under $23,000 Average Net 2014
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