Emergency Management Degrees Offered at Capella University
Capella University appears in our ranking of the Top 10 Doctorate Degrees in Emergency Management Online.
Capella University is a distance learning university with all courses offered online. The university has several options for emergency management degrees, including a Master of Science in Emergency Management, a Ph.D. in Emergency Management and a Doctor of Emergency Management, all within the School of Public Service Leadership.
The MS in Emergency Management program requires seven core courses, four electives, and an integrative project. The program focuses on the impact of research on policy, leadership models, strategic thinking, evidence-based decisions, organization management, and professional communication.
The Ph.D. in Emergency Management program includes 14 core courses, four elective courses, a comprehensive exam, and a dissertation. In addition, students must complete three in-person dissertation research seminars. Students in this program are expected to conduct original research in the field.
The Doctor of Emergency Management (DEM) is similar to the Ph.D. in terms of requiring the 14 core courses and four elective courses. Rather than a dissertation, students in the DEM program complete two in-person doctoral research seminars and an online capstone project. This capstone project can be in the way of a submission to an academic journal, a portfolio or a project.
All three of these programs are in Capella’s GuidedPath program. This means that students enroll in courses with set start dates. Students have weekly and quarterly deadlines that must be met, but within those deadlines, students are free to complete coursework at their convenience. Courses are led by faculty facilitators and include discussion boards to discuss weekly assignments and collaborate with colleagues. The doctoral-level courses also have week-long research seminars that provide face-to-face learning experiences with students who are all nearing the research portion of their degree program.
Capella offers several community and networking groups, primarily online, to help graduate students collaborate and interact. In addition, the university offers access to a career center to help students determine the potential career path that is right for them. Students also have access to an online library with dozens of databases and a full range of professional peer-reviewed journals.
About Capella University
Capella University is a for-profit online university based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing, education, psychology, counseling, public health, emergency management, business, and information technology. The university is designed for non-traditional students, including those in active military and adults already working in a career field. The average age of a Capella student is 39. It currently has an enrollment of approximately 38,000 students, with over a quarter of students working towards a degree in business and technology. Nearly half of Capella University students are in a master’s degree program.
Because Capella is designed for non-traditional students, nearly all students are enrolled part-time. However, full-time status is available for students interested in completing their degree sooner. The university has over 1,500 faculty members, with 88% having doctorate or terminal degrees. These faculty members teach in 53 degree programs and 138 specializations. Capella University currently offers over 2,100 courses within these programs.
Capella University has earned several significant accolades. The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated Capella as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense (CAE IA/CD). The Minnesota Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program awarded Capella the Yellow Ribbon for their support of military members, veterans and their families. Capella University was also named a Blackboard Catalyst Award winner in the teaching and learning category. In 2016, Capella was also awarded the Excellence in Assessment award from the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment. In 2014, it earned the WCET Outstanding Work WOW award and in 2010, the International Society of Performance Improvement (ISPI) awarded Capella the ISPI Chapters of Excellence Award.
Capella University Accreditation Details
Capella University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Many of the individual departments are also accredited by organizations that include:
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
- Council on Social Work Education
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management (PMI-GAC)
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Capella University Application Requirements
Students in the GuidedPath degree programs at Capella University must be at least 24 years of age or have military or at least 24 quarter credit hours of previous college experience. Capella does not currently accept traditional college freshmen into the GuidedPath program. Master’s degree applicants must also have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, while doctoral students must have a master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Prospective students should complete an online application, submitted with a non-refundable $50 application fee. Applicants must also submit official transcripts from previous institutions and a university-specific acknowledgment agreement. Prospective students must demonstrate English proficiency and meet the minimum GPA standards for the program they are applying to. Capella does not have set application dates and accepted students may start the quarter after acceptance. Applicants hoping to receive credit for prior life or educational experience should allow extra time for the admissions committee to review previous transcripts.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The average estimated cost of the MS in Emergency Management program using the GuidedPath format is $24,910 or $530 per credit hour. The Ph.D. in Emergency Management program is $697 per credit hour and a total of 96 credits. The DEM program has the same per-credit tuition rate and a total of 90 credits. Capella University uses a quarter system rather than a semester system, meaning that students take one to three courses per 10-week quarter. A semester credit at another university if typically equal to 1.5 quarter credits at Capella.
Capella University offers several ways to make earning a degree more affordable. While Capella students are non-traditional students and may not be eligible for many funding options that traditional students are, they can use federal student loans and work-study. The university also offers merit-based scholarships, employer discounts, transfer credits and a 10 percent military discount for active duty service members and veterans, as well as military spouses.
More information on Capella University’s emergency management degree options can be found on their website.