If you’re planning to earn a degree in emergency management, then you may be wondering if there are any benefits to pursuing a program online. In experience-based professions like crisis preparedness, virtual programs don’t always offer the hands-on opportunities that you need to impress future employers. However, there are ways around this drawback, and web-based programs offer several advantages, especially if you have a full-time job or need flexible scheduling for personal reasons. Before you enroll, understand the pros and cons of distance learning.
Resource: Top 10 Online Emergency Management Degree Programs 2015
Greater Flexibility
Earning a degree through distance learning isn’t a new concept, but it’s an evolving process, particularly within the field of crisis preparedness. One of the greatest benefits to studying emergency management via the Internet is flexibility. Web-based programs are typically designed to support working students, which means that you can view lectures, read discussion groups and interact with your peers on a schedule that works for you. You won’t have to sacrifice your full-time job to get an education. For students who come from underserved areas, distance learning also enables them to study with top professionals in the field without having to pay for the privilege of attending a physical class.
Broader Base of Knowledge
Attending school on campus limits students to the professors and classmates that they see in one set environment. Online, students can interact with a wider range of people and professors. They can learn from professionals in the crisis management industry, post their own thoughts to message boards and hold discussions with a diverse student body from around the world. Schools typically set up interactive programs for distance learning that enable students to communicate with their classmates and instructors. As a result, students have more time to post thoughtful responses, ask deeper questions and engage in communication that goes beyond the confines of a standard 50-minute class.
Posting in web-based forums may not seem like an advantage compared with real-life discussions held in person, but organizing your thoughts and responding to questions requires critical thinking, analytical thinking and strong communication skills, particularly in terms of writing. Crisis management goes beyond disaster response to include written reports and communication. Attending classes from behind your computer helps students to develop nonverbal communication skills, a crucial aspect of this career field.
Creative Field Experiences
Careers in emergency preparedness and crisis management require experience, which you can’t get through virtual seminars and web-based discussions. Many programs offer internships and outside opportunities for students so that they can learn from professionals within the field, but it may not be enough to compete with students who get involved with networking events and on-campus organizations. Enrolling in a distance learning program forces you to get creative in obtaining the necessary experience for future jobs. You’ll have to find ways to supplement your virtual education, and employers will appreciate both your initiative and your willingness to think outside the box.
The field of emergency and crisis management is expanding, and employers need qualified workers with experience, training and education to handle the increased demand. Students who pursue a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree via the Internet can be successful provided that they enroll at an accredited school and take appropriate courses. When studying emergency management online, it’s important to recognize the benefits that a virtual education provides.
Additional Resource: 50 Most Affordable Schools for an Emergency Management Degree 2015