Emergency management degrees in North Carolina are available for qualified students who are seeking formal training for responding to natural and manmade disasters that place the state’s communities at serious risk for harm. With its unique position in the southeastern United States along the Atlantic coastline and at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina often falls victim to natural disasters from wacky weather changes. In addition to being hit with at least one major hurricane per decade, the “Tar Heel State” has to deal with an average of 20 tornadoes and 50 days of thunderstorm activity each year. During the winter months, the northwestern region of North Carolina also suffers from severe ice events due to a natural phenomenon called “cold air damming.” If you have received the calling to lead emergency efforts in response to devastating disasters like these, the following are the emergency management degrees that can help you save lives and property in North Carolina.
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
Emergency Management Program
Nestled in the state’s northwestern mountains just minutes away from the famous Blue Ridge Parkway in the small town of Hudson, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is an accredited two-year public community college that serves more than 12,000 students in Caldwell and Watauga counties of west North Carolina. With more than 100 curriculum programs to choose from, CCC&TI enables students to pursue an Associate in Arts, Science, Applied Science, or Fine Arts as well as numerous diploma and certificate options.
Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Emergency Management
Since responding to emergency needs and providing disaster recovery efforts is an increasingly pressing concern in the 21st century, the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Emergency Management program has been created to provide students with the essential skills needed for providing effective emergency services in local, state, regional, and/or federal government bodies. In preparation for technician-level occupations in emergency management, the 62-credit associate’s degree delivers a foundation of professional knowledge in law enforcement, emergency medical services, fire protection, and national security fully online in just two years.
Certificate in Emergency Preparedness Technology
Specifically focused on the knowledge needed to respond in a time of disaster to save lives and property, the Certificate in Emergency Preparedness Technology program is designed to encompass all activities for the mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery related to natural, technological, or manmade disasters. Over the course of just 16 weeks, students pursuing this undergraduate certificate will receive the enhanced training needed to response to emergency situations as police officers, first-line supervisors, prevention workers, firefighters, emergency management specialists, and more.
Accreditations
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
2855 Hickory Blvd.
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 726-2750
dhopkins@cccti.edu
https://www.cccti.edu/
Durham Technical Community College
Department of Applied and Public Service Technologies
Situated on an urban campus near downtown Durham in the epicenter of North Carolina’s famous Research Triangle Park as a hub of educational activity, the Durham Technical Community College is an accredited two-year public technical training school of higher education that serves more than 26,000 students. With one of the college’s largest distance education programs and numerous online course offerings, the Department of Applied and Public Service Technologies is specifically dedicated to offering two-year degree and certificate programs on technology in relation to ensuring the well-being of communities.
Associate Degree in Emergency Preparedness Technology
As the needed for emergency response planning increases with our exposure to natural, technological, and terrorist disasters, the Associate Degree in Emergency Preparedness Technology program has been designed to develop graduates with the abilities to perform competently in the face of disaster with the essential skills in emergency operations for saving lives. Regardless of whether individuals are seeking employment at the local, state, or federal government level, the program offers foundational coursework for building communication, critical thinking, decision making, and problem-solving skills in circumstances of crisis. Through a blend of classroom and laboratory exercises, the 68-credit degree can be achieved within five semesters full-time before providing in-demand emergency services.
Accreditations
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1637 East Lawson Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 536-7200
scottd@durhamtech.edu
http://www.durhamtech.edu/programs/emergmgt.htm
East Carolina University
Department of Political Science
As a nationally recognized major comprehensive public research institution with more than 27,000 students from around the world, East Carolina University is based on a vast 530-acre urban residential campus in the city of Greenville within just 80 miles from the state’s capital of Raleigh. Renowned for being one of the nation’s fastest-growing institutions of higher education, ECU is currently ranked as the 181st best college, 101st top public university, and 48th best school for veterans in the country by the U.S. News and World Report. Through a blend of government with politics, the Department of Political Science is committed to preparing successful citizens who can address new challenges for governance at the local, state, and federal levels in the 21st century.
Security Studies Undergraduate Minor
As an interdisciplinary program hosted by the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences for undergraduate students in a wide array of other degree programs at the university, the Security Studies Undergraduate Minor is focused on developing the writing, communication, and analytical skills that are critical for working in any career related to national security. Through a 24-hour program of study, the minor pools knowledge together in the areas of political science, criminal justice, environmental health, history, geography, public administration, sociology, planning, international studies, information technology, and safety to better understand emerging security threats.
Master of Science (M.S.) in Security Studies
Founded with the mission of developing critical thinking abilities about security issues within today’s changing global environment, the Master of Science (M.S.) in Security Studies program follows a holistic approach to the development of responses to security threats for future policy analysts and program administrators in emergency management. Within the 36-credit curriculum with a full-time senior internship, the program is strongly focused on the areas of international security, homeland security policy, technology security, and environmental health. All core courses in the program are offered in an online distance learning format to enable security professionals to pursue the degree without relocating to campus.
Graduate Certificate in Security Studies
Ideal for graduate students who are currently working towards a master’s degree related to public administration, international affairs, criminal justice, or even business administration, the Graduate Certificate in Security Studies program is designed to allow individuals to pursue their interests in national security through less formal arrangements. As a self-paced 15-hour non-degree program that can be achieved on a full or part-time basis, the certificate allows all course requirements to be completed through online distance learning from anywhere in the nation.
Accreditations
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Brewster Hall Room A-124
East Fifth Street
Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 328-5869
cooka@ecu.edu
http://www.ecu.edu/polsci/sec/
Nash Community College
Public and Human Services Department
With a total headcount of more than 12,000 students, Nash Community College is a public two-year comprehensive higher education institution with an open-door admissions policy on an 86-acre suburban campus in Rocky Mount. Among the 99 academic programs offered at NCC, the Public and Human Services Department is focused on delivering quality accredited programs to build the workforce in the public health professions and address today’s most challenging public health issues.
Associates in Emergency Management
Established as a two-year degree program that accommodates students working full-time in the public services field while attending school full-time on off-duty days, the Associates in Emergency Management program provides a broad-based foundation of the professional knowledge needed to deliver emergency services at local, state, or federal government agencies as well as private firms. After completing the 70-credit curriculum, graduates often go on to find abundant job opportunities in ambulance services, law enforcement agencies, industrial firms, government bodies, emergency management offices, educational institutions, fire marshal agencies, and more.
Accreditations
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
522 North Old Carriage Road
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 443-4011
admissions@nashcc.edu
http://www.nashcc.edu/index.php/emergency-preparedness-publicsidebar-327
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Gillings School of Global Public Health
Currently ranked as the 30th best college, 5th top public school, and 17th top value university in the entire nation by the U.S. News and World Report, the University of North Carolina is an elite public research institution with more than 29,000 students on a 729-acre urban campus in the vibrant college town of Chapel Hill. As the top-ranked public school of public health in the United States, the Gillings School of Global Public Health is deeply dedicated to cutting-edge research for improving public well-being and eliminating health disparities worldwide.
Certificate of Community Preparedness and Disaster Management (CPDM)
Since being developed a decade ago by one of the top departments of public health in the nation, the Certificate of Community Preparedness and Disaster Management (CPDM) program has grown to receive high praise from emergency management professionals in the field for providing rich educational experiences that build an understanding of current issues facing disaster management. Designed to help highly skilled professionals enhance the tools and skills needed to become more productive emergency responders, the nine-credit program consists of 16-weeks projects centered on how security agencies respond to catastrophic events.
Accreditations
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
135 Dauer Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
(919) 966-7350
cpdm@unc.edu
http://sph.unc.edu/hpm/hpm-degrees-and-certificates/community-preparedness-and-disaster-management-cpdm-3/
Western Carolina University
Criminology and Criminal Justice Department
As a comprehensive residential public four-year institution that serves more than 10,000 students within the University of North Carolina system, Western Carolina University is located on a 682-acre rural campus in the town of Cullowhee near the Great Smoky Mountains. In addition to being ranked as the 39th best college and 16th top public school in the South by the U.S. News and World Report, WCU is also nationally acclaimed for offering the 34th best online bachelor’s degree programs in the United States, including one of the largest emergency management programs available wholly online.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Emergency and Disaster Management
Featuring an innovative online format that provides the unique opportunity to advance professionally by taking requisite courses through part-time study, the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Emergency and Disaster Management program is specifically designed to prepare undergraduate students to assume leadership positions in government, non-profit, and private agencies for public safety management after graduation. Utilizing the nation’s first-ever virtual collaborative incident management system known as WebEOC, the online program follows a 120-credit curriculum with a hands-on internship to obtain work experience.
Accreditations
Committee on Accreditation of Education Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1 University Way
Cullowhee, NC 28723
(828) 227-2172
pswentzel@email.wcu.edu
http://www.wcu.edu/academics/departments-schools-colleges/cas/casdepts/crimcj/edm/
Pursuing an emergency management degree program can be an excellent option for undergraduate and graduate students who wish to organize emergency response plans for local, state, and federal government agencies. If you think you have the natural affinity for making challenging decisions in the face of danger and assisting communities in weathering the storm, be sure to check out these accredited emergency management degrees in North Carolina to realize your fullest potential in a growing field.
You may also like:
Using Social Media as a Crisis Management Tool (Infographic)