If you’re comfortable taking charge in a crisis, then consider pursuing one of the best online Master’s in emergency management degrees.
When the call goes out for emergency response in a disaster, these heroes take command. Even before a catastrophe, emergency managers or directors are often busy developing contingency plans for various situations. They must be excellent both at logistics and at managing various personalities, particularly in high-stress scenarios.
Let’s dive into this degree more deeply and see what it offers.
What Is a Master’s in Emergency Management Degree?
A Master’s degree in emergency management is best thought of as an overseer degree for emergency services. Whether it’s fire, police, or medical, every emergency response team needs someone calling the shots.
As such, these degree programs train their students to effectively respond to the public’s needs and manage lots of people at once. It also teaches students to remain calm under pressure.
While the majority of emergency manager positions can be obtained with a bachelor’s degree, Master’s degrees are great because they make you even more employable. They also prepare you to attain even higher administrative or management positions.
How Much Can You Earn With a Master’s in Emergency Management Degree?
An emergency management director, which is a position that only requires a bachelor’s degree, earns about $74,000 per year. Those with Master’s degrees in the field will be able to bargain for even higher salaries and take more advanced managerial positions. They can expect to have salaries closer to the typical maximum of around $141,000.
This industry will enjoy about a 5% job growth rate over the next ten years. Society will always need capable emergency responders and people to lead them. It’s unlikely that the need for this profession will ever go down, even as emergency response systems get better.
What Is Required for a Master’s in Emergency Management Degree?
An online Master’s in emergency management degree will make heavy use of case studies. Students will study previous disasters to understand what solutions worked and did not in the past. Other classes will focus on logistics, organizational leadership, or even evaluation procedures after responses.
Online degrees may or may not incorporate an on-campus element, depending on the focus and program in question. This may involve traveling to a hospital or fire station for work-study opportunities.
Regardless, most Master’s degree programs in this field require that applicants have some experience in emergency services. Those with bachelor’s degrees in the field will have an easier time being admitted.
What Are the Best Master’s in Emergency Management Degrees?
OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program-specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program-specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.
The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.
Now let’s check out the 10 best Master’s in Emergency Management degrees!
