Program Description
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 professionals.
Curriculum
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
Required Courses: 12 Credit Hours
Students must achieve a grade of “B-” (80%) or better in every course. Grades ‘C’ or lower cannot be used to fulfill certificate requirements. Students must maintain a program of study and graduate status GPA of 3.0 or higher and can only graduate with a graduate status GPA of 3.0 or higher.
All students must take the following courses.
- PAD 6399 - Foundations of Emergency Management and Homeland Security 3 Credit Hours
- PAD 6397 - Managing Emergencies and Crises 3 Credit Hours
- PAD 6716 - Information Systems for Public Managers and Planners 3 Credit Hours
- PAD 6825 - Cross-Sectoral Governance 3 Credit Hours
Elective Courses: 6 Credit Hours
Restricted: 6 Credit Hours
- Select one course from Group 1
- Select one course from Group 2
Group 1—Planning Emphasis
- PAD 5336 - Introduction to Urban Planning 3 Credit Hours
- PAD 5338 - Land Use and Planning Law 3 Credit Hours
- PAD 5356 - Managing Community and Economic Development 3 Credit Hours
- PAD 6353 - Environmental Planning and Policy 3 Credit Hours
- CGN 6655 - Regional Planning, Design, and Development 3 Credit Hours
- PUR 6403 - Crisis Public Relations 3 Credit Hours
- PAD 6946 - Internship 3 Credit Hours (Internship must show a management and policy emphasis. If an internship is completed as a group 2 elective, a second internship cannot be completed as a group 1 elective. Current or previous employment cannot be applied toward the internship.)
Group 2—Management and Policy Emphasis
- PAD 5850 - Grant and Contract Management 3 Credit Hours
- PAD 6142 - Nonprofit Organizations 3 Credit Hours
- PAD 6037 - Public Organization Management 3 Credit Hours
- PAD 6387 - Transportation Policy 3 Credit Hours
- CCJ 6027 - Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism 3 Credit Hours
- HSA 5198 - Health Care Decision Sciences and Knowledge Management 3 Credit Hours
- INR 6136 - Seminar in American Security Policy 3 Credit Hours
- PAD 6946 - Internship 3 Credit Hours (Internship must show a management and policy emphasis. If an internship is completed as a group 2 elective, a second internship cannot be completed as a group 1 elective. Current or previous employment cannot be applied toward the internship.)
Application Requirements
Admission is open to those with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. 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
| Emergency Management and Homeland Security Graduate Certificate | *Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Domestic Applicants | Jul 1 | Dec 1 |
| International Applicants |
| *Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date. |
The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges to disclose a variety of information for any financial aid eligible program that “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation”. The information provided in the link below is the best that is available to us. This information represents one year’s data only, however, we hope that this information is helpful to current and prospective students, as you make your career and educational choices.
Associate Professor
