An emergency management degree can make you competitive in a fast-paced world. In response to threats like campus shootings and domestic terrorist attacks, schools, universities, and organizations are developing emergency response routines. On campuses, this can include implementing and routinely testing a campus-wide alert system. In organizations, this can include training and designating staff to be alert for emergencies. With a degree in emergency management, you can become a key member of emergency and disaster response teams. The pay can also be competitive: according to the BLS, the average median pay for a Emergency Management Director in 2015 was $67,330 per year.
Resource: Top 10 Emergency Management Bachelor’s Degrees Online 2016-2017
However, as with any degree, completing a course of study in emergency management comes with challenges. Here are the top five to be aware of.
1. Choosing The Right Degree
With so many different specializations, it can be hard to find the emergency management degree that’s right for you. Should you pursue a BS in Emergency Management, or a BA in Emergency Services Management? Or, if you’ve already completed college, should you get a Master’s? A good place to start when trying to choose between programs is FEMA’s list of schools</a> that provide degrees in emergency management. FEMA also offers courses at its Emergency Management Institute, as well as Integrated Emergency Management Courses where working professionals can refine their emergency response plans through simulated crises.
2. Maintaining a Work-Life Balance
Once you’ve settled on a course, you may be wondering how to balance your studies and your life. Fortunately, some emergency management degrees are offered entirely online, and you can go at your own pace. Online programs may offer professional certificates as well as degrees, including dual degrees. Some programs also allow you to earn course credit if you are working in the field. Other programs are affiliated with FEMA’s National Training and Education Division (NTED) and offer NTED courses.
3. Choosing the Right Career After Graduating
As with choosing the right degree, it can be hard to pick the right specialization after you graduate. But no matter the specific field you choose, the employment outlook for emergency management professionals is promising. The BLS projects that emergency management jobs will grow by 6 percent from now until 2024, in line with the average growth for most industries.
4. Getting Additional Training
The BLS estimates that in addition to a bachelor’s degree, at least five years of additional work experience are required to become an emergency management director. If you’ve already been in the workforce for a while, obtaining these credentials shouldn’t be a hardship. But if you’re just starting out, where do you go from college? Having a bachelor’s degree in the field already gives you an edge. A typical entry-level job is an admin role in your state’s Emergency Management Agency.
5. Networking With Other Professionals in Emergency Management
Once you have obtained a degree in emergency management, how do you meet other professionals in the field? What organizations should you join? North Dakota State University has a list of professional emergency management organizations by state. These organizations offer an opportunity to advance your career with professional development events. They also provide a place to exchange ideas on programs and best practices.
Succeeding through the challenges of an emergency management degree program can set up for success in this growing career path.