Emergency Management and Homeland Security, 4-Year Option, BS
Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security, 4-Year Option (223501BS)
Program Contact
Dr. Stacy Willett
Program Lead Faculty
The Polsky Building 314
330-972-8317
smuffet@uakron.edu
Program Information
Emergency Management and Homeland Security studies events or threats such as natural disasters, terrorist incidents, and technological hazards. Students will acquire specialized knowledge in disaster management through prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery actions utilizing an “All-Hazards” focused approach. This dynamic discipline prepares graduates for careers in the governmental, corporate, public health, and nonprofit sectors. Emergency Management and Homeland Security can be a career that makes a difference in people’s lives. The program offers a Bachelor of Science degree, along with a minor and certificate. There are two program pathways: Students can step-up from responder related Associates Degrees such as criminal justice or fire protection or students can choose to follow a traditional bachelor’s degree curriculum. All university general education requirements must be completed as outlined in this Bulletin.
This program is accredited by:
International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC)
Oklahoma State University
1700 West Tyler
Stillwater, OK 74078-8075
Phone: (405) 744-8802
www.ifsac.org.
Career Information
The Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security prepares students to enter and advance in the field of emergency management through the acquisition of specialized knowledge of disaster planning, preparedness, emergency response, mitigation and recovery. Service learning is incorporated in course work with joint projects involving county emergency management/ homeland security agencies as well as schools and non-profit agencies. In addition, The University of Akron has faculty who are nationally recognized in the field of emergency management, homeland security, geography, hazards, business, education, and leadership.
This degree program supports the primary goal of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Higher Education Project to encourage and support the implementation of emergency management and homeland security education in colleges and universities across the United States. This program has incorporated disaster based research as an area of specialization which will make this program unique from other emergency management and homeland security programs. In addition, disaster management is taught from a well-rounded perspective that includes the public and private sector equally.
For additional information visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov or the Career Center at the Student Union, room 211.
The following information has official approval of The School of Disaster Sciences and Emergency Services and The College of Health and Human Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (Stellic) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor. The College of Applied Science and Technology recommends that students take the General Education courses listed in this recommended sequence. Transfer students should consult their Advisor to identify courses that are equivalent.
Three year accelerated option: for first time students who have earned credits for at least the first year of courses. Credits can be earned through qualifying scores on appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) exams or through College Credit Plus Program (CCP) courses. Credits for qualifying AP scores or CCP courses are determined by the appropriate academic department. Departments may assign varied course credit, depending on the student’s score on an AP exam or grade in a CCP course. Students may also receive credit by examination or via placement tests, where appropriate.
Requirements
Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 36 | |
| Core Courses | 42 | |
| Other Requirements | 40 | |
| Additional Credits for Graduation * | 2 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- *
Bachelor's degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation
General Education Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major. | ||
| Academic Foundations | 12 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours | ||
Speaking: 3 credit hours | ||
Writing: 6 credit hours | ||
| Breadth of Knowledge | 22 | |
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours | ||
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours | ||
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours | ||
| Diversity | ||
Domestic Diversity | ||
Global Diversity | ||
| Integrated and Applied Learning | 2 | |
Select one class from one of the following subcategories: | ||
Complex Issues Facing Society | ||
Capstone | ||
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings. | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EMHS 105 | Introduction to Disaster, Hazards & Risk | 3 |
| EMHS 305 | Principals of Emergency Management and Homeland Security | 3 |
| EMHS 340 | Disaster Research Methods | 3 |
| EMHS 350 | Disaster Preparedness & Response | 3 |
| EMHS 360 | Introduction to Terrorism | 3 |
| or POLIT 337 | Terrorism: Perpetrators, Politics and Response | |
| EMHS 365 | Disaster Mitigation | 3 |
| EMHS 367 | Disaster Recovery | 3 |
| EMHS 401 | Crisis Leadership | 3 |
| EMHS 420 | Disaster Vulnerability | 3 |
| EMHS 480 | Emergency Management & Homeland Security Capstone | 3 |
| EMHS 495 | Emergency Management & Homeland Security Internship | 3 |
| COMM 330 | Principles of Organizational Supervision | 3 |
| COMM 334 | Leadership Principles & Practices | 3 |
| COMM 430 | Leading Project Teams | 3 |
| Total Hours | 42 | |
Other Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Block | 15 | |
| EMHS Electives | 25 | |
| Total Hours | 40 | |
Recommended Sequence
| 1st Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I | 3 |
| EMHS 105 | Introduction to Disaster, Hazards & Risk | 3 |
| STAT 250 | Statistics for Everyday Life | 4 |
| Natural Science with lab Requirement | 4 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 222 or ENGL 112 | Technical Report Writing or English Composition II | 3 |
| SOCIO 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Arts Requirement | 3 | |
| Natural Science Requirement | 3 | |
| Speaking Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 2nd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| COMM 330 | Principles of Organizational Supervision | 3 |
| EMHS 305 | Principals of Emergency Management and Homeland Security | 3 |
| EMHS 360 or POLIT 337 | Introduction to Terrorism or Terrorism: Perpetrators, Politics and Response | 3 |
| PHIL 120 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| Specialty Block Credits | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COMM 334 | Leadership Principles & Practices | 3 |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
| Arts/Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
| Specialty Block Credits | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 3rd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| EMHS 340 | Disaster Research Methods | 3 |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
| EMHS Elective | 6 | |
| Specialty Block Credit | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COMM 430 | Leading Project Teams | 3 |
| EMHS 350 | Disaster Preparedness & Response | 3 |
| EMHS 365 | Disaster Mitigation | 3 |
| EMHS 367 | Disaster Recovery | 3 |
| EMHS Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 4th Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| EMHS 401 | Crisis Leadership | 3 |
| EMHS 480 | Emergency Management & Homeland Security Capstone | 3 |
| Global Diversity Requirement | 3 | |
| EMHS Elective | 7 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EMHS 495 | Emergency Management & Homeland Security Internship 1 | 3 |
| EMHS Elective | 6 | |
| EMHS Elective | 3 | |
| Specialty Block Credit | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Students should be aware that most internship sites require a background check. If students are unable to pass a background check, internship placement cannot be guaranteed. Accordingly, job placement will be difficult. Please meet with the Program Lead to discuss this.
Policy Alert: By the end of your first 48 credit hours attempted, you must have completed your required General Education English, Mathematics, and Communications (Speech) requirements.