Emergency Management, A.S.

Degree: Associate in Science
HEGIS Code: 5508
Curriculum Code: 1741.EMA
Business & Public Service Division

Pre-Admission Recommendations: HS Diploma with Regents Math and Chemistry Exams HSE (High School Equivalency) 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 Emergency Management Program prepares students with the knowledge and strategic managerial skills necessary to ensure a secure and resilient nation to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, recover from the effects of any potential technical, natural disaster, and acts of terrorism including cyber security events. Students will utilize SUNY Erie’s multi-scenario simulator and hands-on classroom experience employing comprehensive emergency management knowledge.

Additionally, the constant threat of terrorism and events surrounding situations like the attacks on the World Trade Center, the documented rise in the number of weather-related disasters and the increasingly complex world events with regard to other natural and human-induced disasters provides strong evidence for the immediate and long-term need for highly qualified emergency managers. Students completing the EM curriculum will have gained the necessary knowledge and skills to implement the National Preparedness Goal by identifying, describing, and applying the five mission areas of the emergency management: prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Students will be knowledgeable and have an understanding of how individuals, private sectors, not-for-profit organizations and organizations at all levels of government should prevent, protect against, mitigate the effects, respond to, and recover from emergencies. Students completing the program will be able to face the specific challenges encountered by community leaders and managers.

Traditional students, firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, safety officers, engineers and scientists (all disciplines), nurses, homeland security, health care practitioners, and social workers-in both the public and the private sectors-will enhance their career opportunities and be better prepared to offer practical strategies and methodologies for effective planning, response, and recovery.

Learning outcomes  include fundamentals in emergency planning, leadership and influence, decision making and problem solving, incident management system, mitigation and preparedness, response and recovery, terrorism planning and response including cyber-attacks, national planning frameworks (prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery), training and exercise programs, emergency operations center design and operation, simulator training, and internships. Graduates will be able to engage, facilitate and encourage community and organizational emergency preparedness to newly recognized national standards.

Program Competencies

1. Comprehensive Emergency Management - Demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of all hazards, all phases of an Emergency Management Program.
2. Management Skills - Plan, organize, develop and conduct training and exercises, implement program and be able to delegate.
3. Leadership and Team Building Skills - Demonstrate the ability to integrate the different styles of leadership and influence and understand their impact on behavior in an emergency management context. Ability to explain the local, state and federal roles in emergency management.
4. Networking and Coordination - Understand the need and demonstrate the ability to network and coordinate with all levels of government, private sector, not-for-profit organizations, and volunteer organizations. Maintain and increase the skill and motivation of these organizations involved in emergency management.
5. Standards and Methodology - Demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of risk management. Ability to identify and monitor hazards and risks, and identify opportunities to mitigate hazardous conditions. Understand and describe defensive considerations associated with biological, nuclear, incendiary, chemical and explosive incidents. Demonstrate an understanding of different modeling and the use of GIS applications.
6. National Planning Frameworks - Describe specific coordinating structure of roles and responsibilities for the whole community and integration to ensure interoperability across the five mission areas. Implementation of best practices for planning and managing incidents that range from the serious but purely local, to large-scale terrorist attacks or catastrophic natural disasters and explain the common discipline and structures that have been exercised and matured at the local, tribal, state, and national levels over time. Understand the operation of Unified Command functions on a multi-jurisdiction or multi-agency incident.

SUNY Transfer Path Requirement

Students matriculating in this program are required to fulfill the SUNY Transfer Path Requirement that most closely aligns with the program. Speak to your adviser for details.

Curriculum

Total Degree Credits: 62.5 - 63.5