Nov 23, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Bulletin 
    
Catalog Navigation
  Catalog Home
  Introductions
  Accreditations and Institutional Memberships
  Academic Calendar
  Organization of the University
  Officers of the University 2023-2024
  The University
  Admission
  Fees and Expenses
  Academic Regulations
  Graduate Degree Policies
  Programs by College
  Programs A-Z
  Course Descriptions
  English Learning Academy
HELP
2024-2025 Graduate Bulletin

Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, MS

Program Description

The Master of Science degree in Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management (DPEM) is an interdisciplinary degree program that prepares professionals to effectively meet the demands of disaster preparedness, mitigation, planning, response and recovery. The program requires 36 hours of graduate-level courses that include a variety of teaching methodologies and activities. The degree culminates in an internship, research project or thesis.

Admission Requirements

Students interested in pursuing a Master of Science in Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management degree must have a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of Graduate Admissions. Students can apply online to the graduate program on the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management webpage. Students should submit a completed application form, a statement of purpose, the required application fee, and official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work to Graduate Admissions. The statement of purpose should discuss career goals and research interests. Admission to this degree program is conditional upon completion of prerequisite course(s) required and approval of the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Admissions Committee.

Students pursuing an undergraduate degree at Arkansas State University may be eligible to apply for admission as an undergraduate to the accelerated masters program. Up to 12 hours of the following courses may be accepted in advance by a DPEM advisor. No more than nine hours may be accepted from the courses with an asterisk:

Prerequisites

The United States Government has instituted a National Incident Management System to standardize the country’s response to disasters and other emergencies. The Incident Command System (ICS) describes the chain-of-command and organizational structure of managing emergencies. Completion of courses in ICS is required by employers and is necessary to receive reimbursement from the Federal Government when a federal declaration of a disaster has been obtained. Courses in the graduate program build on this foundational knowledge. Therefore, students wishing to be admitted to the MSDPEM degree must have completed these four courses prior to admission. They are offered free of charge, on-line, from the Federal Emergency Management Institute. 

The required prerequisite ICS courses include:

  • Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS - 100) There are several discipline specific ICS-100 courses. Students need only complete one and should choose the one most relative to their career goals.
  • Incident Command System (ICS - 200) for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
  • Incident Command System (ICS - 700) Introduction to the National Incident Management System
  • Incident Command System (ICS - 800) Introduction to the National Response Framework

In addition to the Incident Command System Prerequisites, students must have current Core and Basic Disaster Life Support certifications. Information regarding these certifications can be obtained from the Department of Emergency Management and Occupational Health in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, American Medical Association or the National Disaster Life Support Foundation.

Master Curriculum

The program consists of 36 Credit Hours that includes six Core Courses, three Emphasis Courses, a Practicum Experience, and a Capstone. The six Core Courses are each worth three credit hours (18 total) and the three Emphasis Courses are each worth three credit hours (9 total).

The Practicum Experience is worth three credit hours and students can choose between a Seminar Topics Course or a 60 hour practicum at an approved site. The Capstone is worth six credit hours to be taken in two separate three hour terms. Students may choose between completing a Research Project, a Thesis, or a 240 hour internship at an approved site.

Note: At least one EMPHASIS course will be offered each 7 weeks. If desired course is not offered when registering student should contact DPEM office to determine when this particular course will be offered.

Fall Courses

Spring Courses

Summer Courses

Practicum Courses

(Select 3 hours/offered every term as needed.)

Capstone

(Select one of the following/offered every term as needed.)

University Requirements:

See Graduate Degree Policies  for additional information

Program Requirements:

Select one of the following:

Sub-total: 24

Emphasis Requirements:

Select nine hours from the following:

Practicum

(select three hours from the following):

Sub-total: 12

Total Required Hours: 36