Earn an MPA with a Homeland Security and Emergency Management concentration
The Homeland Security and Emergency Management concentration prepares students to be highly competitive for jobs in government agencies and other organizations that work strategically to prevent and mitigate natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other issues related to public safety.
The concentration in Homeland Security and Emergency Management will specifically teach students to apply managerial skills to make informed decisions about how to promote safer communities, which includes emergency planning, hazard mitigation and avoidance, as well as emergency response planning.
When a natural or man-made disaster strikes, multiple entities respond. The management and coordination of those agencies is essential for effective and efficient disaster relief. The same is true for the planning and prevention efforts of such disasters from a policy level.
Strategic leadership is required for emergency management directors to understand how to approach these types of disasters and lessen additional damage and loss of life.
Learn to:
Develop emergency management policies, plans, and risk assessments
Apply knowledge of emergency planning and response guidelines consistent with the National Response Framework and the National Incident Management System
Prepare emergency situation status reports that detail response and recovery efforts, needs, and damages
Develop public-private partnerships by integrating engagement with business industries, public and private sector stakeholders, federal and state agencies, and key congressional and legislative bodies
Plan, organize, and implement national communications and engagement strategies to build strategic relationships with the private sector
Career opportunities
Emergency management director
Disaster recovery manager
Emergency response team leader
Environmental health and safety manager
Hospital emergency preparedness director
Counterterrorism analyst
Program analyst
Safety specialist
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent
Degree requirements
In addition to the MPA core, management, and finance requirements, students that choose to pursue a concentration in Homeland Security and Emergency Management must complete the following required courses:
Analysis of concepts, methods, and procedures involved in managing public organizations. Problems of organization, planning, decision making, performance evaluation, and management of human resources are considered. Cases are drawn from a variety of public services found at federal, state, and local levels of government.
The use of geographic information systems to map locations of events and analyze patterns for decision making and facility location in areas of public safety including criminal justice, fire services, emergency management and homeland security; and the management and application of those systems.
The identification and management of criminal justice and public safety crises. Issues of psychological and behavioral responses to crisis, mitigation, contingency and response plans, coordination with governmental, nonprofit agencies and private corporations, crisis decision-making, communication, infrastructure and proactive planning. Practical crisis management techniques for use in public safety.
An examination of theoretical foundations of risk analysis including the history of risk analysis, risk assessment, perception and communications; models for decision-making, techniques for generating alternative courses of action and definitions of risk and opportunity within a context of local, state and federal regulatory guidelines, media and social context.
This course addresses federal policy and management issues related to preventing, mitigating, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from major catastrophic events; both natural and man-made, including acts of terrorism. Topics include emergency management, resource and response infrastructures, public health issues, best practices, crisis communications, and business and governmental continuity.
Some courses required for your concentration may count toward the MPA core curriculum. When this occurs, you may choose elective courses that match your interests and career goals while still meeting the degree requirements. All students pursuing the Master of Public Affairs (MPA) degree are required to complete 39 credit hours.
Solve problems at the crossroads of policy, management, and science.
