
Barton’s Emergency Management/Homeland Security program provides both foundational education and advanced training for those entering the field or professionals seeking to grow in their careers. This flexible, fully online program is designed to meet the needs of working individuals and those new to emergency services.
Barton Benefits
At Barton, our areas of study are designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking necessary to thrive in today’s world. Whether you're just beginning your educational journey or advancing your career, we offer flexible and rigorous programs that support your goals.
- Career-Ready Skills
Gain the training and knowledge needed to enter the workforce, advance in your current position, or transfer to a four-year program. - Real-World Curriculum
Courses prepare you for a variety of roles in emergency planning, disaster response, homeland security coordination, and public safety administration. - Experienced Instructors
Learn from faculty with over 40 years of combined, hands-on experience in emergency management, law enforcement, EMS, and fire services. - Flexible Learning
Study online and balance your education with work, family, or service commitments.
What Do Emergency Management Directors Do?
Emergency Management Directors are responsible for creating plans and procedures to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters and other emergencies. They also play a key leadership role during and after crisis situations, coordinating response efforts and resources.
Where Do They Work?
Most emergency management directors are employed by local or state governments, but others work in:
- Hospitals
- Colleges and universities
- Private sector companies
- Nonprofit and relief organizations
How to Become an Emergency Management Director
While a bachelor’s degree is typically required for leadership roles, many professionals enter the field with a solid foundation in emergency services and gain experience through:
- Disaster planning
- Public administration
- Law enforcement, fire services, or EMS
Barton’s Associate degree program is a great first step, providing both the education and field-specific knowledge to begin your journey or advance your career.
Pay and Job Outlook
- Median Salary: $83,960 per year (May 2023)
- Job Growth: 4% projected increase from 2023 to 2033
- Annual Openings: About 1,000 positions per year
As experienced professionals retire or move into other roles, new opportunities are consistently available, making this a stable and meaningful career choice.
Earn Credit for Prior Learning
Students may be eligible to receive credit for:
- Workplace or industry training
- Military education and experience
- Professional licensure or certifications
- Previous college coursework
To qualify, students must be degree-seeking and submit documentation such as certificates, transcripts, or licenses. All evaluations are conducted upon written request and follow the American Council on Education (ACE) guidelines. At least 15 of the required 64 credits must be completed through Barton.
100% Online – Learn from Anywhere
Whether you're beginning your career or seeking advancement, Barton’s fully online format allows you to complete coursework on your schedule—anytime, anywhere.
Benefits of a career in Emergency Management:
- Competitive wages
- High-demand roles with strong job security
- A meaningful, service-oriented profession
Associate in Applied Science Degree
Emergency Management/Homeland Security (64 hours - degree guide)
Certificates
Emergency Management/Homeland Security Certificate
Emergency Operations Specialist Certificate
Emergency Planning & Mitigation Certificate
View the full list of Curriculum Guides (applicable for students admitted prior to Fall 2024) and Degree Maps (applicable for students admitted Fall 2024 and after).
EMHS 1100 Introduction to Terrorism - 3 credit hours
This course serves as a basic introduction to terrorism. Historical background, definitions, tactics, ideologies, and terrorism’s impact on twenty-first century civilization around the world will be explored. Both current and historical events are analyzed within course context to provide experiential learning and development of critical thinking skills.
EMHS 1900 Emergency Planning - 3 credit hours
This course is designed for persons who are involved in developing an effective emergency planning system. The course offers training in the fundamentals of the emergency planning process, including the rationale behind planning. The focus is on an effective all-hazard emergency planning operations planning process to save lives and protect property threatened by disaster.
EMHS 1905 Developing & Managing Volunteer Resources - 3 credit hours
This course offers training in identifying volunteer resources and recruiting, assigning, training, supervising, evaluating, and motivating volunteers. The course also addresses coordinating with voluntary agencies, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), community-based organizations such as church groups, food banks, professional groups, as well as business and industry. Special issues such as spontaneous volunteers, stress management and legal issues of volunteers are also addressed. “This course does not address volunteer firefighters because of the vast technical scope of the topic.”
EMHS 1906 Exercise Design, Management & Evaluation - 3 credit hours
This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of emergency management exercise design, management and evaluation. Students will design an exercise, identify the logistics necessary for execution and management of the exercise, and develop an exercise evaluation plan. Students will also be introduced to the concept of a comprehensive exercise program used to improve on the four phases of emergency management. The course instruction will follow and meet the guidelines established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency exercise design and evaluation courses and the Department of Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program.
EMHS 1907 Hazardous Materials Response Operations - 3 credit hours
This course provides students with the skills needed to manage or respond to a hazardous materials incident at the awareness or operations level. Topics include Hazardous Materials Laws, Regulations and Standards, Recognitions and Identification, Information Resources, Protection, Protective Actions, Product Control and Air Monitoring, Terrorism Awareness, HAZMAT and Law Enforcement issues. The course follows National Fire Prevention Agency (NFPA) 472 guidelines.
EMHS 1908 Mitigation for Emergency Managers - 3 credit hours
This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of mitigation as a means to reduce hazard risks to our communities and citizens.
EMHS 1909 Basic Skills for Emergency Managers 3 credit hours
This course is designed to improve the first responders and emergency managers skills in the areas of leadership and influence, decision-making and problem solving, and communication.
EMHS 1910 Emergency Management Seminar - 3 credit hours
This course is designed to explore the issues and strategies of emergency management in the following key areas: Legal Issues, Policy & Politics, Organizational Management, Historical and Current Situations, and Economics of Emergency Management.
EMHS 1952 Basic Incident Command System/NIMS - 3 credit hours
This course is designed to train students in the basic levels of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Incident Command System (ICS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Students will manage resources and personnel for incidents ranging from ceremonies to natural disasters. The course instruction will follow and meet the guidelines established by the (FEMA) courses IS100, IS200, and IS700.
EMHS 1962 Disaster Site Worker - 3 credit hours
This course will train students in accordance with OSHA regulations pertaining to construction standards and Safety for Disaster Site Workers that are set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 29, part 1926. This course will also introduce students to the operational skills and procedures required to provide support services, (e.g. utility, demolition, debris removal, or heavy equipment operation) or site clean-up services in response to natural and man-made disasters. All workers at disaster sites need to be aware of the differences between disaster sites and regular construction or demolition worksites and to be able to determine appropriate protective measures for ensuring disaster site worker safety.
EMHS 1963 Introduction to Emergency Management - 3 credit hours
This course provides emergency preparedness personnel with an overview of the skills needed at the community and state levels for emergency operations involving all hazards. This class is appropriate for business and industry, firefighters, Emergency Managers, EMS, police and other interested parties.
EMHS 1964 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) - 2 credit hours
This course provides the student with the skills required by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to serve as a Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) member within their community. Training is to provide the private citizens who complete this course with the basic skills they will need to respond to their community’s immediate needs in the aftermath of a disaster when emergency services are not immediately available. By working together, CERTs can assist in saving lives and protecting property using the basic techniques in this course.
EMHS 1980 Occupational Internship I - 1 to 3 credit hours
This course provides students with the opportunity to explore career interests while applying the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in a workplace setting. The experience also helps students gain a clearer sense of what they still need to learn and provides an opportunity to build professional networks.
Quick Facts: Emergency Management Directors |
|
2023 Median Pay |
$83,960 per year |
Typical Entry-Level Education |
Bachelor's degree |
Work Experience in a Related Occupation |
5 years or more |
On-the-job Training |
None |
Number of Jobs, 2023 |
12,400 |
Job Outlook, 2023-33 |
4% (As fast as average) |
Employment Change, 2023-33 |
500 |
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