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.
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 or local departments of health. Industry leaders like these
form the core of our faculty pool and will be in the classroom with you. 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.
Career Pathways - Emergency Management
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.
Career Pathways - Emergency Services Management
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.
Emergency Services Educator
Emergency Management Supervisor
Director-Emergency Management Agency
Career Pathways - Business Continuity
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.
Intern
Business Continuity Planner
Director of Business Continuity Planning
Career Pathways - Environmental Hazards
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.
Intern
Emergency Services Resource Coordinator
Work, Health, & Safety Specialist
Environmental & Health Coordinator
About the Program
Choices to fit you
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.
Earn more than just a degree
Crisis & Disaster Management students leave UCM with a bachelor's degree plus:
- Begin or continue your career related training:
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:
- IS 42 Social Media in Emergency Management
- IS 100 Introduction to the Incident Command System
- IS 120 Introduction to Exercises
- IS 247 Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for Alert Originators
- IS 700 Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
- IS 922 Applications of GIS for Emergency Management
You will earn additional credentials depending upon the focus area you choose.
- Earn Credit for Professional Certification:
UCM has MOU agreements with the Johnson County Ambulance District to offer EMS and
Paramedic Training as part of the bachelor's degree.
Earn free elective credit for Firefighter I & II Training obtained elsewhere.
- Harmon Professional Edge:
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.