Emergency Management, A.A.S.

Degree: Associate in Applied Science
HEGIS Code: 5508
Curriculum Code: 1741
Campus Location: City, South
Business & Public Service Division

Pre-Admission Recommendations: HS Diploma with Regents Math and Chemistry Exams GED Diploma on a case basis
Recommended H.S. Courses and/or Experiences: HS Regents: Math A Math B Chemistry
Career Opportunities/Further Education: Private sector, hospitals, local, state and federal government, non-profit organizations, religious organizations, etc.

Program Description

The mission of the Associate in Applied Science program in Emergency Management is to prepare students with the knowledge and experience to respond to and be effective before, during and after any local, statewide, or national emergency. The need for effective emergency management has become a significant national priority, brought about by the recent concerns with response and recovery operations for Hurricane Katrina.

Additionally, the constant threat of terrorism and events surrounding situations like the attack on the World Trade Center, the documented rise in the number of weather related disasters and increasingly complex world events with regards to other natural and human-induced disasters provides strong evidence for the immediate and long-term need for well-trained highly qualified emergency managers. Individuals completing this curriculum will have gained the necessary skills to contribute to the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Trained with the knowledge and understanding of how individuals and organizations at all levels of government should respond during disasters, students completing the program will be able to face the specific challenges encountered by emergency responders and managers.

Individuals, firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel and safety officers in both the public and the private sectors will enhance career opportunities and be better prepared to offer practical strategies and methodologies for effective response. Learning activities will include fundamentals in emergency planning, leadership and influence, decision making and problem solving, incident command, exercise programs and the emergency operations center.

Graduates will be able to engage, facilitate and encourage community and organizational disaster preparedness to newly recognized national standards.

Program Competencies

• Demonstrate an understanding of emergency management functions, organizations and activities
• Ability to explain the local, state and federal roles in emergency management
• Recognize and understand the role of organizations and individuals, as well as their relationships with one another, in emergency management systems
• Respond to disasters involving hazardous material
• Illustrate methods used to maintain or increase the skill and motivation level of volunteers involved in emergency management
• Ability to integrate knowledge about the different styles of leadership and influence and understand their impact on behavior in an emergency management context
• Recognize circumstances and on-scene key indicators that an incident may be an intentionally caused terrorist event
• Understand and describe defensive considerations associated with biological, nuclear, incendiary, chemical and explosive incidents
• Ability to identify and monitor hazard risks, and identify opportunities to mitigate hazardous conditions
• Understand the operation of Unified Command functions on a multi-jurisdiction or multi-agency incident

Curriculum

Total Degree Credits: 66 - 67