Earning an online emergency management degree can provide students with the knowledge and training they need to respond to crisis situations. Natural and man-made disasters occur on a regular basis and trained professionals need to be prepared to handle tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and even terrorist attacks. People who work well under pressure may be the perfect candidates for an Emergency Management degree.

Online Emergency Management Degree Courses

An Emergency Management Degree can be earned online. Students may choose to earn a Bachelor of Science degree, an Associate’s Degree, or gain knowledge through a certificate program. Depending on the amount of involvement a person desires in an emergency situation, the type of degree program will provide the necessary background knowledge to get a job. Students choosing this type of program will need to take courses in public speaking, writing, and computer basics. Students will specialize in courses concerning crisis decision-making, disaster and emergency response procedures, emergency planning and prevention, and other organizational and business related classes. When choosing to pursue a degree in Emergency Management, the student needs to be able to communicate and maintain composure in stressful situations.

Once a student has decided to pursue an Emergency Management Degree, he or she may need to choose a specialty area. The goal of the degree is to find a job in a field that that student enjoys. Whether he or she plans to work through a government organization or a private sector job, an online degree will provide the needed expertise.

Jobs For Emergency Management Specialists

People don’t often realize when an emergency happens, there are trained professionals who work behind the scenes to organize first responders and other help. An Emergency Management Degree trains students to develop disaster response plans and train other personnel. Most of the people with these degrees work in hospitals, colleges, law enforcement or the military. According to US New Money and Careeers, the field of Emergency Management Specialists is projected to grow by 22% between 2008 – 2018. The average salary for these employees is about $53,000. People who are looking to move up in their current career may choose to earn a degree online.

FEMA is one of the largest employers of people with Emergency Management degrees. They are part of a team that works with other disaster responders to provide people in emergency situations with the help they need. An Emergency Management Degree will allow people to work for agencies such as FEMA to help in the organization of other emergency teams. Once an online degree is earned, employees will be able to move up in an organization and take on more responsibility.

Overall, earning an online degree in Emergency Management will offer students a wide variety of opportunities to help people in need. Students who desire a flexible schedule will enjoy the online environment and can continue working in their current job until they earn the degree they need to pursue their dream job.