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Crisis and Disaster Management
Crisis and disaster management professionals are in high demand in public and private sector organizations alike, offering stability and versatility for your future. Get the training you need for success at the University of Central Missouri.
At UCM, we offer the options you need to begin, continue or advance your career. Become an expert with the comprehensive education of our Crisis and Disaster Management bachelor’s degree — the first of its kind in Missouri and the oldest in the U.S. If you simply need a credential for your current job or want additional knowledge and skills, you’ll get what you seek with one of our undergraduate certificates. With either pathway you’ll get specialized training in one of four areas to focus your studies.
UCM offers four areas of focus for your training:
- Business Continuity: Ensure your organization’s operational integrity and its ability to safeguard employees and others. At UCM, you’ll learn to minimize risk, as well as how to prepare for, respond to and recover from any event — critical capabilities needed in all industries and within agencies.
- Emergency Management: Communities, from college campuses to whole counties, need trained professionals to lead the charge in all phases of emergency management. Understand how to develop plans, establish facilities, use tools and more as you work to protect people and property.
- Emergency Services Management: Do you want to lead and secure those who work to keep us all safe? Gain supervisory skills specific to public safety, as well as knowledge that enables collaboration with other agencies to advance your position from first responder to administrator.
- Environmental Hazards: Hazardous threats are all around us — whether chemical spills on our roadways, machinery accidents in our workplaces or cyberattacks on our critical systems. Be a key player in mitigating risks and managing response to ensure public safety or business operations.
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Public Health Disaster Management: Are you interested in or working in the EMT field and want to use practical knowledge and training in your career? In this area, you will complete a course on public health management which examines the public health response to emerging infections, biological incidents and health issues that arise as a consequence of disasters.
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ContactLaurel Hogue, Ed.D. |
100% online, with some on-campus options
Choose from 4 areas of specialization
Earn credits for experience or licensing
Classes follow an 8-week format
Affordable, hands-on education
Experienced and credentialed faculty
Find your Crisis and Disaster Management future at UCM
You may be a new college student or a transfer student building on your associate degree. You may be a working professional or first responder expanding your career horizons. No matter your standing, you’ll enjoy not only UCM’s flexibility but also these benefits of our Crisis and Disaster Management offerings:
- Service and hands-on learning opportunities: Our relationship with the Institute for Rural Emergency Management enables volunteer experiences that enhance your resume. For example, you could develop evacuation or emergency plans for local agencies or host exercises and training in the workplace. You’ll also regularly engage in hands-on learning as part of your coursework.
- Networking events: Come to campus in Warrensburg to hear guest speakers or to attend the annual Rural Emergency Management Summit. We also regularly attend national and regional conferences hosted by FEMA and state agencies. All these events provide opportunities to meet professionals at all levels of government.
- Support of expert faculty: Your Crisis and Disaster Management courses are led by experts in their fields who hold many diverse certifications. They’ve worked — or currently work — in city emergency management, veterans’ health and fire safety and for the Department of Homeland Security. Grow from their expertise during your time at UCM; they want to see you succeed.
- Job search preparation: As part of your coursework, you’ll leave UCM with a portfolio you can show to prospective employers. You’ll also have worked with faculty to develop your resume and cover letter and will have learned of helpful resources to tap into during your job search.
What can you do with a degree in one of UCM’s Crisis and Disaster Management programs?
Having completed one of UCM’s Crisis and Disaster Management offerings, you’ll be recognized for the quality education and training you received. In 2022, we achieved numerous national rankings for these programs, including “Best Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management Colleges” by Universities.com. Employers will know you have sought-after skills such as grant writing and management, policy compliance, training development, communication and many more, preparing you for roles specific to your specialization:
- Business Continuity opens the doors for roles such as business continuity and disaster recovery planner, business continuity coordinator or continuity of operations. With our bachelor’s degree, you may even lead your organization’s department.
- Emergency Management prepares you for titles that include emergency management coordinator or specialist, emergency planner or homeland security specialist. You’ll also enhance your capabilities as a paramedic or firefighter.
- Emergency Services Management positions you to lead operations and manage personnel as a state emergency management director, fire chief or emergency medical services director.
- Environmental Hazards can qualify you for a job as environmental health and safety advisor, a work, health and safety specialist or for work in waste management risk assessment.
Institute for Rural Emergency Management
IREM is a community outreach center focused on the emergency management needs of rural America.
Key project areas include establishing and disseminating best practices for rural communities, first responder training, safety and health workshops, and educational or professional development opportunities for future emergency managers and current student scholars. Learn more about IREM.
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