Do you have the desire to play a crucial role in the coordination and management of disaster relief, response, and recovery operations? If so, then you could prepare to become a leader in this field when you become a student of Walden University's M.S. in Emergency Management program with a specialization in Public Management and Leadership. Read more about this online master's degree program here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kind of Program Is It?
The curriculum of Walden University's M.S. in Emergency Management program with a specialization in Public Management and Leadership focuses on the development of administrative, communication, and critical-thinking skills while emphasizing public safety, emergency response, and disaster management. Courses in public management and leadership address public administration processes, collaborative strategies for public organizations, leadership communication methods, and change management. The core program offers study in public safety tools and initiatives, risk assessment and management, crisis planning, federal response and recovery policies, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) practices, and business management techniques. Students apply concepts and methods learned throughout the program to the development of a final research project required in the culminating capstone course.
What Are the Prerequisites?
Holding a bachelor's degree and having some experience in the public sector are important for prospective students of the M.S. in Emergency Management program with a specialization in Public Management and Leadership. Applicants may need to complete additional requirements for some programs.
What Are the Program Requirements?
Degree program curriculum and credits are subject to change, and you should contact Walden University for the most current information before enrolling in a program. Students of Walden University's M.S. in Emergency Management program with a specialization in Public Management and Leadership must complete 51 credits to earn this degree. This credit total includes 30 credits in core courses, 15 credits in the area of specialization, a five-credit capstone, and a one-credit foundation course. Courses are taken sequentially as shown below.
Required Courses
- Foundations for Graduate Study
- Public Safety Issues
- Critical Issues in Emergency Management
- Managing Public Safety Organizations
- Applied Research and Evaluation Methods
- Risk Assessment, Preparedness, and Hazard Mitigation
- Disaster Response and Recovery
- Strategic Context of Public Management and Leadership
- Transformative Change in a Shared-Power World
- The Language of Leadership
- Capstone Seminar
What Could I Do After I Graduate?
Career Opportunities
As a graduate of Walden University's M.S. in Emergency Management program with a specialization in Public Management and Leadership, you might pursue administrative or upper- management positions in the public or private sectors. You could work for government agencies at the local, state, or federal levels. You could also seek work in emergency response companies, security firms, community centers, or consulting companies. Positions you could pursue include:
- Public safety director
- Disaster relief director
- Emergency management specialist
- Emergency response company supervisor
Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
Find information on costs, occupation types, completion rates, and median loan debt for this program at http://waldendisclosures.com.
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org.

