The Crisis & Disaster Management program at UCM began in 2001 to fill an important niche in the safety curriculum at the university. You might think the program was developed in response to the events of September 11, 2001 – but courses had been offered for years. Various CDM courses were ultimately finalized into a degree program that moved through the lengthy curriculum process and accepted its first official degree seekers in August 2001.
Unfortunately, disasters (and the failure to plan for and respond effectively to them) have occurred throughout recorded history. Some were natural, such as the Great San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the Heat Waves of 1980, 1988, and 1995, but many were a result of human activity, such as the Johnstown Flood (dam breach) of 1889, the Texas City Freighter explosion of 1947, and the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989. COVID-19 is but one in a long line of public health emergencies, such as the smallpox epidemic in 1775, the Cholera epidemic of 1849, and the Yellow Fever outbreak in 1878. Prior to 2001 events such as these highlighted the need for well-trained emergency management personnel. Outrage over the terrorist attacks of 2001 and the handling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 spurred this demand.
A solid foundation based on the four pillars of emergency management (preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery) has earned us recognition as one of the Top 10 Emergency Management degrees in the US several times.
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The Crisis & Disaster Management program at UCM is nearly identical today as it was in 2001 – not because we believe in the status quo and stagnation, but because the curriculum was carefully crafted with input from professionals. Some had worked these high-profile disasters, but others contributed their expertise in smaller scale settings, such as private companies, humanitarian agencies, or local departments of health. Industry leaders like these form the core of our faculty pool and will be in the classroom with you.
As emergency management has evolved into a profession, certain curriculum pieces (ethics and diversity) have grown in importance. From the beginning, the CDM program at UCM has emphasized ethical behavior in all courses. Treatment of victims, handling of equipment and donations, and response decision making are all discussed. UCM has partnered with Gallaudet University to develop an innovative collaboration focused on diversity. UCM students share rural and Midwestern perspectives, while GU students share barriers to emergency response for special populations, such as the deaf and those with mobility issues - working together to ensure everyone in our community is safe.
We cannot stop all emergencies and disasters, but our mission is to provide students with an interdisciplinary, hands on course of study that will guide you to a career that makes communities more resilient and stable.
Consider the job descriptions and career pathways below to see if a career in CDM is the right choice.
Courses offered within the Crisis and Disaster Management B.S. program are designed for:
What does a career in Emergency Management look like? Check out these descriptions, minimum requirements, and necessary skills to see entry level, mid-career, and executive expectations.
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What does a career in Emergency Services Management look like? Check out these descriptions, minimum requirements, and necessary skills to see entry level, mid-career, and executive expectations.
What does a career in Business Continuity look like? Check out these descriptions, minimum requirements, and necessary skills to see entry level, mid-career, and executive expectations.
What does a career in Environmental Hazards look like? Check out these descriptions, minimum requirements, and necessary skills to see entry level, mid-career, and executive expectations.
Emergency Services Resource Coordinator
Earn your Bachelor's degree or a stand alone certificate. All CDM core courses are offered face to face at the Warrensburg campus and 100% online so you can complete your degree on your terms. All focus areas are offered 100% online and the Emergency Management and Emergency Services Management certificates/areas are offered face to face, as well.
These four Certificates can be earned independently or as part of the Bachelor of Science degree. Be sure to declare your certificate so it appears on your transcript and diploma! (ask your Success Advisor for assistance)
Crisis & Disaster Management students leave UCM with a bachelor's degree plus:
The FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Association) Emergency Management Institute (EMI) provides free, Independent Study Courses. EMI serves as the national focal point for the development and delivery of emergency management training to enhance the capabilities of State, local, and Tribal government officials; volunteer organizations; FEMA’s disaster workforce; other Federal agencies; and the public and private sectors to minimize the impact of disasters and emergencies on the American public.
You will graduate with numerous FEMA IS credentials, including:
You will earn additional credentials depending upon the focus area you choose.
UCM has MOU agreements with the Johnson County Ambulance District to offer EMS and Paramedic Training as part of the bachelor's degree. These courses are part of the Public Health Disaster Management Area.
Earn free elective credit for Firefighter I & II Training obtained elsewhere.
The Harmon Professional Edge program helps students fill the gap between college and career. In this program, you will gain skills through hands-on experiences that will set you up for success in the professional world. By combining curricular and co-curricular engaged learning experiences, you will graduate better prepared for the workforce and have a competitive edge against the competition.
Martin Chavez is an Assistant Chief Patrol Agent at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Headquarters in Washington, DC. He entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on June 2000 at the Weslaco, TX Station. On May 2013, he accepted an assignment at the Rio Grande Valley Sector, Office of Incident Management. While there he received the CBP Commissioner’s Award for Special Recognition for his work during the 2014 Unaccompanied Alien Children Influx. Martin led the efforts to develop the first CBP-specific All-Hazards Incident Management Team and full-time Emergency Operations Center. In his current role at CBP-HQ, he is part of a team that facilitates and coordinates, with other Federal agencies, the CBP response to natural and man-made disasters (floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, COVID-19), and also to incidents of national significance, such as the State of the Union Address, Presidential Inaugurations, Democratic and Republican National Conventions, and the Super Bowl. He is certified by FEMA as a Master Exercise Practitioner and is in the process to get recognized by the International Association of Emergency Managers as a Certified Emergency Manager
The Crisis & Disaster Management courses are taught by two full time and 16 part-time faculty members. The full-time faculty provide on-campus support for students and teach core and select focus areas face to face. Our full time faculty are experts in the field - watch the video with Dr. Dianna Bryant!
The part-time faculty, often referred to as adjunct faculty, are immersed in the real world issues facing emergency management professionals and represent a wide range of academic disciplines and professional affiliations.
Whether at the Rural Emergency Management Summit at the Warrensburg campus, the Clean Waterways Conference in Cincinnati, or the FEMA Higher Education Conference near Washington, DC, you will get the opportunity to meet professionals working in the field.
The Institute for Rural Emergency Management provides training, service learning, and networking opportunities, as well.
With three Independent Study courses geared towards practical training, you will graduate with not only a degree but the skills you need to be successful in the workplace. Technology Application Study, Field Exercise Project, and the Practicum all provide you the opportunity to demonstrate what you have learned in the classroom as you collaborate with an agency, organization, business, or government entity.
| Alex Kent | kent@ucmo.edu | Last names A - G |
| Julie Carman | jacarman@ucmo.edu | Last names H - O |
| Kerri Lopp | lopp@ucmo.edu | Last names P - Z |
| Natalie Peirce | npeirce@ucmo.edu | Senior/Lead Advisor |
The Crisis and Disaster Management courses are taught by 16 part-time and two full-time faculty members. The full-time faculty mentor students on professional development, networking, and career building. Other duties include maintaining the university support services, such as recruitment, academic advisement, and collaboration with other departments on campus. The part-time faculty, often referred to as adjunct faculty, are immersed in the real world issues facing emergency management professionals and represent a wide range of academic disciplines and professional affiliations.
