9 Best Online Master’s in Emergency Management Programs

About

Tulane University (TU) is located in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana.

It offers a well-respected academic environment and a dynamic history and culture of the Big Easy.

Founded in 1834, TU offers over 75 majors to over 12,285 enrolled students.

Courses Offered

The Master of Public Health in Emergency Management is housed in the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

The 42-hour online degree combines practical skills and community focus to provide a comprehensive program.

Courses are 8 weeks long and can be completed in 24 months.

The emergency management curriculum includes:

• Survey of Environmental Health
• Principles of Toxicology
• Environmental Aspects of Disaster Management
• Planning and Implementation in Disaster Management
• Psychosocial Aspects of Disaster
• Practicum project (required)

The Tulane University degree costs $1,770 per credit hour.

There are also general education fees and practicum costs that apply to all degree levels, including the online program.

Students are encouraged to apply for FAFSA, grants, Stafford Loans, and private funding to offset the final cost.

About

Liberty University was formed in 1971 by Rev. Jerry Falwell as a faith-based university.

Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, this private university offers over 600 undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Courses Offered

Liberty University offers an online Master of Public Safety Administration – Disaster Management.

Throughout the 36-credit-hour program, students will hone their emergency management and mitigation skills.

Most students complete their pathway within 2 years, culminating in a final thesis and defense.

Each course is 8 weeks long. Students study:

• Hazard Mitigation
• Politics & Policy of Public Sector Budgeting
• Terrorism & Homeland Security
• Emergency Management

The total cost for the Master’s in Emergency Management is $20,340 or $565 per credit hour plus program fees.

Financial Aid, grants, and Stafford loans are available for eligible students.

Tuition is discounted to $290 per credit for active military.

About

Arizona State University is located in Tempe, Arizona.

Founded in 1885, the school was originally known as the Territorial Normal School.

The ASU-Online curricula closely mirror on-campus coursework, offering 393 associate, undergraduate, and graduate degrees to over 100,000 students.

Courses Offered

ASU Online offers a core Master of Arts in Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

The degree provides a strong foundation in event and policy analysis.

There are also several specializations to choose from:

• Homeland Security
• Emergency Management
• Community Resilience
• Biosecurity Threats
• Cybersecurity Threats and Management

For the comprehensive degree, the syllabus lists:

• Hazards Governance
• Applied Data Analysis
• Integrated Emergency Management
• GIS for Hazards Analysis
• Capstone Project (required)

ASU Online provides students with technical and academic support.

Full-time resident tuition is $6,584 per semester.

This does not include student fees, books, housing, or course-specific requirements.

Financial Aid, Stafford graduate loans, scholarships, and grants are available in all online programs.

Work-study programs and private loans are also considered.

About

University of Alaska Fairbanks (UA-F) ranks among the top universities, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Founded in 1917, students choose from online, on-campus, or a hybrid class environment.

UA-F has developed over 187 degrees in 106 disciplines across eight campus locations.

Courses Offered

The University of Alaska offers a 100% online Master’s of Science in Security and Emergency Management.

The degree focuses on emergency planning and leadership and is a partner in the FEMA higher education program through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The two-year, 30-credit advanced program in Emergency Management includes courses in:

• Emergency Planning and Preparedness
• Vulnerability and Protection
• Human Security
• Geological Hazards
• Disaster Management Policy

The master’s program also allows for a choice in concentrations from:

• Arctic Security
• Climate Security
• Cybersecurity
• Disaster Risk Mitigation
• Strategic Leadership

Tuition costs for the MSDM program are $20,762 – $22,700.

Financial Aid, military grants and discounts, and professional credit can be applied for.

About

Bellevue University (BU) offers online undergraduate and graduate degrees.

It is a top-ranked school for professional advancement.

Founded in 1966 as a private, non-profit institution, there are currently 19,000 enrolled worldwide.

Courses Offered

The Master of Science in Emergency Management from Bellevue University is 100% online.

Classes are available 24/7 so students can easily study at their own time and pace.

A total of 36 credit hours is required for graduation.

Courses are offered asynchronously, to be taken at a student’s pace.

The advanced syllabus includes:

• Emergency Planning
• Holistic Recovery Process
• Mitigation Procedures
• National Response and Disaster Frameworks
• Planning and Budgeting for Disaster Response
• Capstone Project: Real-World Simulations (required)

The online master’s degree at BU is calculated at $469 per credit hour with additional general and course-specific fees and course materials, and total costs are roughly $14,100.

Financial Aid, scholarships, and work-study programs are available.

GRE/GMAT scores are not required for graduate studies.

However, an application fee of $75 is charged.

About

The University of Maryland Global (UM-G) is the digital extension of the University of Maryland.

Based in Adelphi, Maryland, UM-G is ranked by the Military Times as the #1 online school for veterans.

An estimated 55,838 students are enrolled and pursuing one of over 135 fields of study worldwide.

Courses Offered

The University of Maryland Global Campus offers a Master of Science in Emergency Management.

This 36-hour degree prepares students for a career in emergency management.

This 100% online degree lists courses in:

• Hazard Risk and Vulnerability Assessment
• Resilience Planning, Response, and Recovery
• Crisis Communication
• Concepts in Homeland Security
• Strategic Management Capstone (required)

Upon graduation, students are also prepared to take the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) exam.

Online students have access to career services and digital resources.

Tuition for the MS in Emergency Management is calculated at $544 per credit (in-state) and $659 (out-of-state).

Tuition is also discounted for active military and veterans.

Final costs also include specific course fees and general college fund expenses.

Financial Aid, scholarships, Stafford or private loans, and grants can defray overall education costs.

About

Oklahoma State University was founded on Christmas Day, 1890, and has grown into a top-tier research institution.

OSU Online is housed at the Institute for Teaching & Learning Excellence.

Currently, over 35,000 students are enrolled across 10 online degree programs.

Courses Offered

OSU’s Master’s in Fire and Emergency Management Administration is one of the oldest programs in the nation and is ranked #1 by OnlineMastersDegrees.org.

Conducted completely online, the 33-hour program combines a weekly Zoom-style lecture with self-directed studies.

There is a thesis and non-thesis pathway.

The degree is administered by the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology.

Studies have a strong concentration on management analytics and the practical application of real-world skills.

The MS-FEMA curriculum includes:

• Emergency Management Theory and Practice
• Hazard, Vulnerability, and Risk Analysis
• Disaster Response, Recovery, and Mitigation
• Incident Command
• Complex Emergencies

The cost of the online degree is $8,680 per semester or $489 per credit hour.

Total estimates, including books, are $17,300.

The degree also has course and administrative fees.

Professional experience is reviewed for degree credit.

Students interested in tuition assistance can apply for FAFSA, scholarships, Stafford Loans, or grants.

At OSU, the online application is also the application for financial aid.

About

Columbia Southern University (CSU) is uniquely 100% online. Established in 1996, CSU is affiliated with Waldorf University.

CSU is also ranked as a top online university, offering 129+ degrees at the certification, undergraduate, and graduate levels.

Courses Offered

Columbia Southern University offers a Master of Science in Emergency Services Management.

The program provides a strong overview of the disaster cycle and methods for stakeholder management.

The graduate degree is a 36-hour studies program that includes courses in:

• Theory of Crime and Criminology
• Risk Management
• Emergency Management
• Interagency Disaster Management
• Case Studies in Natural Catastrophes and Man-Made Disasters

Tuition for graduate programs is $359.00 per credit hour.

For military students, the tuition is discounted to $250 per credit hour.

Textbooks and resources are included in the hourly cost.

Students in the master’s program can also apply for financial aid, grants, employer scholarships, and loans to defray education costs.

About

Founded in 1951 as the Civil Defense Staff College, the FEMA-supported University has expanded into the National Disaster & Emergency Management University.

The Independent Study Program (ISP) is a distance learning program offered free of charge to the American public.

It provides valuable training and promotes disaster preparedness.

Courses Offered

The institute is designed for emergency management professionals seeking expanded knowledge and skills.

Organized in a traditional academic structure, the NDEMU offers three specializations:

• Emergency Management Institute
• School of Disaster Leadership
• School of National Resilience

Not specifically offering a bachelor’s or master’s degree, FEMA NDEMU provides basic emergency management foundational programs for emergency professionals and independent study courses, such as:

• Science of Disaster
• Foundations of Emergency Management
• Public Communications
• Introduction to Hazardous Materials

The cost of independent training and coursework is free.

Certification programs, available to eligible professionals, have varying costs.