Emergency Management Degrees in Colorado

Colorado State University

OnlinePlus

Colorado State University is a public university located in Fort Collins. As the flagship university of Colorado State University and Colorado’s land grant university, it is a large school, with approximately 22,425 undergraduate and 3,800 graduate students. The university prides itself as the state’s “university of choice,” especially for science, technology, and engineering students.

Colorado State University OnlinePlus offers online degrees to students who are unable to attend on campus. OnlinePlus students will have the same access as regular students to its expert faculty, and all of its programs are regionally accredited. The program is designed to be flexible, allowing students to complete their degrees at their own pace.

Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services Administration

Colorado State University’s undergraduate program in Fire and Emergency Administration prepares students for a variety of services essential to community safety, including emergency preparedness, fire protection, emergency medical, and fire prevention services. It is designed to make students into leaders with advanced skills in fire and emergency services administration. Upon completing the program, students will be trained in personnel administration, program evaluation, emergency management, financial management, and other relevant administrative areas. Students are evaluated for their ability to incorporate their academic knowledge into the managerial and administrative roles they take on, to work as a team in order to respond effectively to fire and emergency situations, and to apply their expertise into solving the organizational problems involved in fire and emergency services. The degree can be completed in approximately two years, although this depends on previous coursework and the intensity of study.

Contact
Colorado State University
Division of Continuing Education
2545 Research Blvd.
Fort Collins, CO 80526
Link 

Colorado Technical University

Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado Technical University specializes in training students in technology, management, and business. Originally established to provide education for veterans, the university has branched out to offer programs for students from a variety of backgrounds. Over 23,000 undergraduate and 2,700 graduate students are enrolled in its wide slate of programs. Colorado Technical University is known particularly for its online programs, which have been frequently recognized as some of the best in the nation. The university’s Virtual Campus was named by the Computerworld Honors program as the “Best of the Best” in the Academic and Education category in 2009.

Master of Science in Homeland Security – Emergency Management and Public Health

The master’s program in homeland security offers an emergency management and public health specialization. It aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to respond quickly and effectively to threats such as natural disasters, public health emergencies, and terrorist attacks. Students are trained for planning and preventative initiatives as well as for rapid response and communication. In the program they will consider emergency situations that have occurred in the past and simulated situations. They will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of actual responses in history and to construct responses for new situations. Some of the career opportunities available to graduates of the program include jobs in administrative areas such as emergency management, non-police law enforcement, transportation security, public health, intelligence, and critical infrastructure protection.

Contact
Colorado Technical University
Colorado Springs Campus
4435 North Chestnut Street,
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Link 

Red Rocks Community College

Red Rocks Community College is a public community college with branches in Lakewood and Arvada. Over 650 courses in 150 programs are offered to its 14,000 students. These courses are delivered in different formats, from traditional and weekend classes to online classes. Students are able to organize their academic life around busy or variable schedules. One of the college’s greatest strengths is their low student-to-faculty ratio. Its faculty is specifically devoted to teaching and accessible to students outside of the classroom. The college also offers a number of free support services, which include tutoring, child care, career advising, and more.

Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Management and Planning

Red Rocks Community College offers an associate’s program in emergency management and planning recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as one of the leading programs in the nation. The program is dedicated to preparing students both for immediate entry into a career or for those considering advancing to a four-year institution for a Bachelor of Science degree in public administration with a specialization in emergency management and planning. The program introduces students to the modern emergency management and planning techniques currently employed in public and private sectors and emphasizes problem-solving, decision-making, and communication. It covers in depth the knowledge and skills required to respond appropriately and efficiently to a wide variety of disaster situations. In order to complete the degree, students must take a total of 60 credit hours, which includes emergency medical personnel training. Courses are available online, allowing students to maintain flexible schedules and to avoid the costs of traveling to the college.

Contact
Red Rocks Community College – Arvada Campus
5420 Miller St
Arvada, CO 80002
Link

Regis University

School of Management

Founded in 1877 by Jesuit priests, Regis University is a Catholic university based in Denver. It is a relatively small university, with approximately 5,750 undergraduate and 4,933 graduate students. At Regis University, students are encouraged to bring their academic learning to the wider community by volunteering with organizations around the metropolitan area.

The School of Management at Regis University offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of subjects in business, finance, management, and public administration. These programs challenge students to think critically and creatively, act responsibly in positions of leadership, and promote positive changes in their communities.

Bachelor of Science in Public Administration

The bachelor’s program at Regis University is intended to instruct students in not only providing services critical for the public good but also in becoming successful leaders in their organizations. Students are taught to understand the processes involved in public administration in order to best deliver services under limited resources and high public demand. Specifically, the program enables students to analyze and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of public policies, deal with stakeholder interests, and to influence those responsible for making public policy changes. Furthermore, students will gain an invaluable insight into building partnerships with both public and private institutions in order to achieve a common set of goals. To this end, the program hires professionals with experience in public, private, as well as non-profit sectors. Students will become qualified to pursue careers in city/county management, grant writing, policy analysis, lobbying, budget consulting and analysis, occupational safety coordination, and other public policy occupations.

Contact
Regis University
College for Professional Studies
3333 Regis Boulevard
Denver, Colorado 80221-1099
Link 

University of Denver

University College

Founded in 1864, the University of Denver is the oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain regions. It enrolls over 5,000 undergraduate and 6,000 graduate students. The university is known for its achievements in research, and it is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a university with a high level of research activity. It has also earned recognition for its excellence in teaching. The university was ranked 91st by U.S. News and World Report in its “National Universities” category and 103rd by Forbes in its list of “America’s Top Colleges.”

The University College is the school for continuing studies at the University of Denver. Dedicated to adult students with busy lifestyles, it offers bachelor’s and master’s programs in a variety of subjects such as management, technology, and public policy.

Master of Applied Science in Security Management with a concentration in Emergency Planning and Response

University of Denver’s graduate program in emergency planning and response is designed for students with busy or variable schedules, and required courses are offered online. Students in this program will learn to design and execute emergency plans by evaluating responses to various crises and disasters in history. Particular emphasis is placed on effective communication and leadership skills. Students will also learn to examine the functions of emergency response teams, businesses, government agencies, and private citizens in each phase of a disaster. Finally, the program will teach students to consider the financial costs of various security programs, analyze and evaluate current issues, threats, and regulations, and to secure vital assets, such as human beings, structures, equipment, and information, during emergency responses. All courses are led by professionals with experience in both private and public sectors.

Contact
College of Professional and Continuing Studies
University College
University of Denver
2211 South Josephine St.
Denver, CO 80208
Link 

University of Colorado-Colorado Springs

School of Public Affairs

The University of Colorado-Colorado Springs is a state university that enrolls over 10,000 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate students. The university offers 37 bachelor’s, 19 master’s, and five doctoral degrees. In 2013, it was ranked 42nd by U.S. News & World Report in the category, “Regional Universities West,” and 6th in the category, “Master’s Universities West.”

The School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs is a nationally ranked school noted for both its curriculum and its advances in research. According to the website, the school is the only school of public affairs in the Rocky Mountain region, and it offers a variety of unique concentrations exclusive to the school.

Master of Public Administration

The master’s program in public administration aims to prepare students for leadership in both non-profit and public sectors. It is interdisciplinary in its pedagogical approach and will enable students to pursue careers in a variety of settings, including public, private, non-profit, criminal justice, and national security systems. It includes a core curriculum designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of public administration. The program also arranges internships with non-profit and public agencies for students without extensive professional experience. Students are encouraged to bring both their experiences in the real world into the classroom and to use their academic learning effectively in the real world. All coursework required for the degree can be completed online, allowing those who have day jobs and those who cannot travel to the university to pursue their educational goals. Students on average take around three years to complete the program.

Contact
UCCS School of Public Affairs
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Link 

Prospective students in Colorado looking for an undergraduate or graduate program in emergency management or its related fields will benefit from the variety of excellent programs listed above. Many of these programs are tailored to the needs of working students so that they may acquire their degrees by attending evening, weekend, and online courses.

For more information on Emergency Management degrees, please see this article on “Top 10 Best Online Emergency Management Degree Programs“.