Curriculum

The MSEM Curriculum

Required Courses (24 s.h.)

EMGT 601 (3):  Principles & Practices of Emergency Management

History and perspectives of the field, hazards concepts and taxonomies, all-hazards approach, phases of emergency management, risk assessment, risk communication, emergency management functions, sustainable development, best practices, the EOC, the disaster plan, CEM, IAEM, forging intra- and inter-government relationships.  Prereq: Program admission.

Offered: Fall & Spring each year

EMGT 603 (3):  Technical & Professional Writing for Emergency Management 

The emergency management professional is engaged in an ever increasing workload involving reporting, budget preparation, grant applications, and communicating with the public.  This course is designed to enhance the necessary skills for the emergency manager to successfully negotiate the increased demands of the profession.  Prereq: Program admission.

Offered: Fall & Spring each year

EMGT 605 (3):  Social Dimensions of Disaster

An overview of the findings of disaster sociology, including, but not limited to, an examination of the social science definition of disaster, the disaster mythology, the impact of the media, organizational challenges during disaster, creating and maintaining a disaster resilient community, national and international disaster researchers and the research literature.  Prereq: EMGT 601 or permission of the instructor and MSEM director.

Offered: Fall, Spring each year

EMGT 607 (3):  Emergency Mental Health & Trauma

This in-depth course provides the emergency responder with a greater appreciation of the challenges, responses, and adjustments encountered by those exposed to disastrous events.  Prereq: EMGT 601 or permission of the instructor and MSEM director.

Offered: Fall & Spring each year

EMGT 614 (3):  Natural Hazards Primer

Natural Science examination of natural or environmental hazards and their associated risks, the overview will possibly include hazards such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods. Prereq: EMGT 601 or permission of the instructor and MSEM director.

Offered: Summer I & Winter each year

EMGT 615 (3):  Emergency Preparedness for  Industry

An examination of industrial and societal risks associated with the manufacture, handling, storing, and transporting of biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological materials.  Prereq: EMGT 601 or permission of the instructor and MSEM director.

Offered: Fall & Spring each year

EMGT 619 (3):  Emergency Management Planning

An in-depth analysis of planning methodologies and constructs as well as pitfalls and limiting factors in the development and execution of emergency management plans at the strategic, operational and tactical levels.  Origins of emergency management planning, applicable policies and legislation, historical incident review and analysis, contemporary and emerging planning doctrine, and advanced planning concepts.  Prereq: EMGT 601.

Offered: Fall & Spring each year

EMGT 693 (3):  Field Experience Practicum

A capstone experience in which emergency management knowledge and skills are applied and integrated within a field experience.  Those already working within an emergency management related career will use their current position as the basis for completing a project applicable to enhancing their current skills and applying best practices.  Prereq: EMGT 601 and permission from the MSEM coordinator.  REQUIRED FORM

Click here for the latest short version of the EMGT 693 Field Experience Practicum Guide

Offered: Fall & Spring each year.  *Summer as Independent Study by request to MSEM coordinator

Elective Courses (At least 6 s.h.)

EDTE 605 (3): Critical Thinking and Decision Making

An exploration of the nature and application of critical thinking toward acts of decision making. Students will learn how to understand, facilitate, and practice the techniques of disciplined critical thinking and decision-making while avoiding the pitfalls of thinking traps such as biases and irrational tendencies. The course has been designed to address a variety of audiences including all teachers at all levels as well as entrepreneurs and individuals from business and industry, the sciences and the technological fields. Prereq: Graduate student standing.

Offered: Every Summer

EMGT 609 (3):  Disaster Response & Recovery 

This course is an in depth investigation of emergency management practices as applied to local, state and federal response, and short term and long-term community recovery.  The course explores disaster recovery efforts with a foundation of statutory requirements, key concepts, core principles, roles and responsibilities of leadership, of individuals and households to governmental entities at the local, state, tribal, and federal levels, and between public, private and nonprofit sectors.  Prereq: EMGT 601.

Offered: Periodically

EMGT 616 (3):  Terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction & Homeland Security

A sociological exploration of what terrorism is, why it occurs, prudent approaches to reducing the incidence of terrorism, and failed approaches; the origins and functions of homeland security, the necessity of maintaining an all-hazards approach and issues surrounding the placement of FEMA within the Department of Homeland Security.  WMD history, an overview of the basic known biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear materials likely to be used as weapons; approaches to inoculation and treatment before and after exposure.  Prereq: EMGT 601 or permission of the instructor and MSEM director.

Offered: Fall odd years

EMGT 617 (3):  Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication

Draws on communication theory to examine common challenges and best practices encountered in emergency, crisis and risk communication situations by public information officers, public authorities, first responders, and health professionals.  Provides the opportunity to develop strategies and communication solutions in interpersonal, mediated, social media, and public contexts.  Prereq: EMGT 601 or permission of the instructor and MSEM director.

Offered: Spring even years

EMGT 618 (3):  Humanitarian Responses to International Disasters

International organizations, challenges and experiences they commonly encounter in mitigating and responding to disaster events; considers if a global economy, global village will help or hinder future efforts.  Prereq: EMGT 601 or permission of the instructor and MSEM director.

Offered: Periodically

EMGT 629-632 (3):  Special Topics Course

In-depth investigation and development of one or more topics of current interest not addressed in current curriculum.  Topics will vary according to the needs of students and the faculty involved.  Prereq: EMGT 601 and dependent upon course offering.  Permission of instructor and MSEM director.

Offered: Periodically

EMGT 633 (3):  GIS Applications for Emergency Management

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with emphasis on their use in emergency management.  Covers the different types of GIS data available, sources of data, and software tools for querying and spatially analyzing data.  Prereq: EMGT 601.

Offered: Spring even years

EMGT 634 (3):  Comparative Emergency Management Systems

Provides a comparative perspective to emergency management by examining different governmental frameworks for emergency/disaster management from around the globe.  Students will gain insight, through a variety of case studies into the connections between a country's political and legal culture, level of political-economic development and disaster vulnerability to the organization of its domestic emergency/disaster management system.

Offered: Periodically

EMGT 653 (3):  Theoretical Perspectives and Methods Applied to Emergency Management

Theoretical perspectives drawn from sociology are applied to emergency management.  The EM professional will develop insight into the common responses to planning, responding, recovery and mitigation.  Prereq: EMGT 601.

Offered: Spring odd years

EMGT 691 (1-3):  Independent Study

Intensive study of a particular emergency management area, topic or event.  Prereq: EMGT 601 and dependent upon course offering.  Permission of instructor and MSEM director.
REQUIRED FORM

Offered: By request to MSEM coordinator

View the Millersville University Graduate Catalog.