Emergency Management and Homeland Security Certificate

This graduate certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security provides intensive interdisciplinary graduate education for working professionals engaged in or seeking professional careers in emergency management and homeland security.

The curriculum focuses on managing security threats and crises, natural and man-made treats, disasters, or emergencies through the coordination of public, private and nonprofit sectors. In addition to covering the National Planning Frameworks and recent trends in policy and practice in this field, the program will focus on the Florida emergency management and public safety systems. Courses are held in the evenings and taught by experienced faculty members and professional.

The certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security consists of 18 credit hours at the graduate level, including four required core courses and two electives (one from a planning emphasis and one from management/policy). The EMHS graduate certificate program is a face-to-face program; some courses are offered on-line, however, students admitted to the EMHS program are expected to attend each course in person face-to-face. Each face-to-face course is offered one night a week for three hours, on the main campus.

Total Credit Hours Required: 18 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

• Complete the following:
  • PAD6399 - Foundations of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (3)
  • PAD6397 - Managing Emergencies and Crises (3)
  • PAD6716 - Information Systems for Public Managers and Planners (3)
  • PAD6825 - Cross-Sectoral Governance (3)

Elective Courses

• Complete all of the following
  • Complete at least 1 of the following:
    • PAD5336 - Introduction to Urban Planning (3)
    • PAD5338 - Land Use and Planning Law (3)
    • PAD5356 - Managing Community and Economic Development (3)
    • PAD6353 - Environmental Planning and Policy (3)
    • CGN6655 - Regional Planning, Design, and Development (3)
    • PUR6403 - Crisis Public Relations (3)
    • PAD6946 - Internship (3)
  • Complete at least 1 of the following:
    • PAD5850 - Grant and Contract Management (3)
    • PAD6142 - Nonprofit Organizations (3)
    • PAD6037 - Public Organization Management (3)
    • PAD6387 - Transportation Policy (3)
    • PAD6387 - Transportation Policy (3)
    • HSA5198 - Health Care Decision Sciences and Knowledge Management (3)
    • INR6136 - Seminar in American Security Policy (3)
    • PAD6946 - Internship (3)

Grand Total Credits: 18

Application Requirements

Admission is open to those with a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution recognized by UCF. An application to the graduate certificate program and official transcripts must be submitted. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

All applicants to this certificate program will be required to submit:

• One official transcript meeting the minimum GPA requirement of 2.5, in a sealed envelope, from each college/university attended.
• Current professional résumé including experience in the field (paid or voluntary).
• Goal Statement: The goal statement is a key component of the admission review process and serves as an example of the applicant's ability to express himself or herself in writing. The goal statement must be no longer than two pages double-spaced (500-800 words) and should address the following:
  • Personal background and career aspirations in emergency management.
  • Reason for pursuing graduate study in emergency management, including your future career goals and plans.
  • Specific areas of emergency management that interests you.

These documents must be attached to the application. All applications must be submitted by the established deadline date. Applications received after the established deadline may not be considered. Students are expected to be computer literate and have computer internet access upon entry to the program. Admission to this program is competitive; applicants meeting the minimum admission requirements are not guaranteed admission to this program.

Application Deadlines

Financial Information

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.