Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind of Program Is It?

Walden University's online M.P.A. program with a specialization in Emergency Management is designed to teach you the skills needed to motivate, lead, and manage others during emergency situations. Some of the topics covered in the curriculum also include strategic planning, ethics in preserving public safety, managing public safety issues, public sector economics, and human resource management. IN addition to completing the core courses, a capstone course is also required. The estimate time for completion of the degree program is less than two years but could take longer.

What Are the Prerequisites?

If you apply to Walden University's M.P.A. program with a specialization in Emergency Management, you should have strong interpersonal and decision-making skills and an ability to handle stressful situations. Applicants to Walden University's programs should be at least 24 years old and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent; applicants may need to complete additional requirements for some programs.

What Are the Course Requirements?

The M.P.A. program with a specialization in Emergency Management consists of 66 credits. The degree program is divided into a foundation course, core courses, specialization course, and a capstone seminar. The capstone course is offered towards the end of enrollment.

Core Courses

• Introduction to Public Administration
• Foundations for Graduate Study
• Ethics and Social Justice
• Organizational Management and Leadership
• Finance and Budgeting for the Public Sector
• Human Resource Management: Building a Capable Workforce
• Public Sector Economics
• Strategic Planning: Collaboration, Cooperation, and Coordination
• Public Policy Analysis
• Applied Research and Evaluation Methods
• Public Safety Issues
• Managing Public Safety Organizations
• Ethics in Preserving Public Safety
• Capstone Seminar

What Could I Do After I Graduate?

Career Opportunities

When you have finished Walden University's M.P.A. program with a specialization in Emergency Management, you have an opportunity to pursue related careers in the field. Potential employers include those at the local, state, and federal levels, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross, Amnesty International, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As a job candidate, you should be able to demonstrate strong communication and interpersonal skills and a desire to lead and manage emergency situations that are extremely stressful. Some potential job titles may include:

• Emergency management specialist
• Disaster response specialist
• Director of emergency response and management
• Natural disaster relief consultant

Advanced Degrees

Once you have completed Walden University's M.P.A. program with a specialization in Emergency Management, you have the opportunity to pursue a doctoral program in a related field. A dissertation is required to complete the degree program and must be successfully defended before the degree can be awarded. However, core courses are also required and may include topics such as homeland security, challenges of disaster response, politics and public policy, economics in policy analysis, and public administration theory. Degrees listed are not institution-specific but constitute a sampling of continuing education options for graduates. Degrees you could pursue include:

• Doctor of Public Administration
• Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration and Management (Emergency Administration and Planning)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy
• Doctor of Philosophy in Fire and Emergency Management Administration

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org.